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Cinematic Storytelling Crew Role

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“In cinematic storytelling, the role of the editor is no more or less important than any other crew role.” - Discuss.

It could be argued that the role of the film editor is equal to any other crew role when it comes to cinematic story telling. The editor constructs the story out of the raw footage produced by the director and cinematographer. The role of the editor is often overlooked, as is almost every other crew role bar the director and actors. Editing is a relatively recent development. In the early days of filmmaking the film would be made in one continuous shot.
All the action of the film would happen within that shot. The director simply filmed whatever they wanted. This can be seen in the Lumiere Brothers’ Tables Turned on …show more content…

They give the film direction and guide the rest of the crew to follow that direction. Although the director provides the vision, it could not be captured realistically without the use of the set designers and actors. These are the people that create the world the director is operating in. Without these roles the story would not be made translated to film as there would be no purpose there or actors within it. Within cinematic storytelling the editor is crucial. They allow the story to be more than filmed theatre. They make it possible to use different locations and add in subplots. The can mould the film created by the director and give it whatever meaning they want. They can arrange the footage to create the meaning they want. They can make heroes look like villains and vice versa.

Without the use of editing, films such as Battleship Potemkin (1925) could not be made. This movie contains a key dramatic scene of a pram falling down steps along with the soldiers storming. The dramatic cuts between a flurry of action sequences heighten the intensity of the scene. Before editors, films were shot in one continuous take. It was initially just random scenes of everyday objects and occurrences, whatever held the director’s interest. …show more content…

They could be considered an ombudsman for the audience. They fix the problems with the film and create something the audience can understand and connect with.

In cinematic storytelling the cinematography is like the pages of the book. It creates what we see and how we see it. Without footage the editor has nothing to work with. Therefore, the editor is reliant on the cameramen and sound mixers for the physical material. The gaffers and grips create the moods within the scenes. In cinematic storytelling this is important. It allows the audience to know who or what is important based on what music is playing or what mood is trying to be conveyed. They too, are also responsible for making the audience connect with what they are seeing and hearing. Without the right shots being taken the story can fall flat and lack the suspense and drive that will make the audience see the film through to the end.

Actors are also important in cinematic storytelling. They can undo the work of the other crew members by giving bad performances. If the chemistry between the actors does not seem genuine the audience will pick up on that and it will detract from the story itself. The

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