Editing in TV Dramas

Editing determines how shots are joined. We can consider the transitions and relations from shot to shot, from scene to scene and throughout the film as a whole. while a clean break from one shot to another is described as a 'cut', we can be far more specific about the kind of cuts and other transitions that join shots together.

Axis Match: The angle of the camera in realation to the object remains the same from shot to shot.

Cross-cut: Editing that alternates shots of two areas of action occuring in two different places, usually simultaneously, and which are often related.

Direction Match: The direction of a person or object is consistent across the cut.

Dissolve: Shot A gradually disappears and Shot B gradually appears in its place with a momentary superimposition of the two.

Duration and Pacing: The duration and rhythm of shots and scenes.

Eye-line match: A cut in which two characters in different shots appear to look at each other because of the direction of their glances.

Fade-in: A gradual lightening of the image from black to light.

Fade-out: A gradual darkening of the image to black.

Graphic match: Any juxtaposition of graphically similar images.

Iris-in: Image gradually revealed from blackness through expanding circle of light.

Iris-out: Reverse of Iris-in.

Jump cut: A break or jump in time, cause by removing a section of a shot and then splicing together what remains of it, on-screen the result is often jerky.

Movement match: An action begun in one shot is continued or completed in the next shot.

Parallel cut: Editing that aternates shots of two or more areas of action occurring in two different places, usually simultaneously, tha often run together later in the narrative.

Straight cut: Two shots joined together with no obvious continuity device.

Wipe: One image is gradually replaced by another at a boundary that moves across the frame. this boundary is often a straight line, which moves vertically across the screen (but may also take other directions and shapes).

For editing we looked at a period drama called Rome. Period Dramas use similar conventions to Literary adapted dramas:

• Based on a famous historical event or literary fiction.
• High profile cast.
• historical figures as recognisable characters and character types, e.g. Dashing Hero, Beautiful Heroine, Cruel Villain, Helpless Victim, etc.
• Big Budget for expensive locations, cast and post-productive effects.
• An easily recognizable period and authenticity.
• Largely historically accurate - through foregrounding spectacle.
• Entertaining subject matter often involving romance and/or conflict.
• Comfortable historical 'distance' from the drama of the past.
• Pro-filmic camerawork, editing and use of sound.
• Formal or achaic speech for authenticity.

Rome did not follow some of these conventions which i think they should because it changed the effect on the audience.
Firstly the speech was modern use swear words which took away the authenticity and style of the period and in my opinion the camerawork was not professional, framing was confusing, the continuity rule was broken which interrupted the flow of the drama and the 180 degree rule was broken, also the eye-line match did not correspond to where each character was meant to be looking at.
All these mistakes confuse the audiences and make it difficult to understand the situation and what is going on.