The editing is a true master move to capture the attention of the audience and works also as an indication to activate the hearing sense along with visual aid. The choice, shape and length of the shots tend to shape our response to everything we see on screen and therefore, choosing between a wide or a close up for the same action becomes a crucial call for the editor.
Editing is one of the most under-appreciated roles in the filmmaking process. But editing is the thing that makes or breaks the film.A good editing is vitally important for a film’s success. Every movie is assembled through editing, but great movies use editing to enhance the storytelling process. When it comes to editing sound also plays a major role in a film. It is the responsibility of the editor to create the ambience of the film, to establish the characters and the scenarios.
It adds to suspense
An interesting example of great editing can be of Sultan Qureshi's assassination scene from the movie Gangs of Wasseypur (Anurag Kashyap, 2012). This scene has been superbly linked, meticulously shot and excruciatingly edited.Suspense has been constructed through rapid succession of cuts, but the audience can follow everything. The intense scene has been shot in a way to give it a comic touch too. Tension has been built with characters talking about the Jackfruit and various vegetables.
It can shake you up
A good editing also shakes you up and rattles your soul. One of the most iconic scene is from the British Drama series Peaky blinders (David Caffrey, Tim Mielants, 2013) where the protagonist Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy is nearly killed but saved at the last moment by Churchill's man.This was one of the most powerful scenes in the series and has been edited in a way to give chills to the audience. The editing is mathematically mesmerizing and elevates the scene into a fine art.
The famous Psycho sequence
The famous shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s classic ‘Psycho’ is a scene that blows audience away. It is an eye opening scene that teaches you that you don't need to take anything to everything while editing.The shower scene exhibits a variety of key camera angles and shots which create a visual whirlpool of tension for the audience. The frantic high-pitched music further raises the heat and creates an overall horrified atmosphere.
Conclusion
The role of an editor is important for the film because they decide what is to be shown on the screen and in what way. It took us while to realise the importance of editing in the movies but it is better late than never.
