What is Editing Within the Shot Space in Film?
You’ve prepared a script and you’re working on your shot list as well as preparing your production schedule. Most filmmakers take this time to make sure that they are organizing their shots, scenes and other elements in such a way that they can maximize their principal photography schedules gaining the most out of the time that they have either in-studio or on-location. This usually involves shooting scenes out of order and later editing to rearrange footage, but editing within the shot is another option.
Editing within the shot is rarely the chosen method for several reasons, but it does occur occasionally. So, what is editing within the shot space and what does it mean when a cinematographer chooses editing within the shot?
What is Editing Within the Shot?
Editing within the shot is a technique that cinematographers use when they essentially film in order and edit each scene as they go so that they finish a film with all (or almost all) clips and scenes in the order in which is most suitable for the final production. While it may seem like editing within the shot would be something that a cinematographer might frequently consider, this type of cinematography technique is actually rarely practiced, but why?
Why is Editing Within the Shot Rarely Practiced?
You’re probably wondering why few cinematographers engage in editing within the shot? The reality is, editing within the shot, also known as in-camera editing, is a technique in which the cinematographer shoots in strict order so that they can edit from their camera and are not required to do any heavy lifting in terms of editing in post-production – at least not when it comes to rearranging clips or scenes in order to make the most out of the film.
Editing within the shot space in film is rarely practiced because there are almost always better ways of capturing the footage and filmmakers can usually save time and money by editing in post-production rather than editing within the shot.
How Does Editing in Post-Production Save Time & Money
Are you wondering how editing in post-production could possibly result in the cinematographer (or multiple cinematographers) saving time and money? Rather than editing within the shot, which is a technique that would potentially require the filmmaker to capture clips in the order in which they arise thus resulting in the need to build, take down, and rebuild sets over and over again. This isn’t the only way that editing within the shot costs more and wastes time.
Editing within the shot also results in higher costs for talent fees. This is because, in traditional filmmaking, particularly when shots and scenes are planned for filming in a way that allows the cinematography team to capture all of the shots from a particular location or scene at one time, generally costs significantly less. This allows the film crew to call talent in for various shots and to get all of the shots from a particular location out of the way before moving onto the next location.
If in-camera editing were the chosen method for a film in which there are multiple locations that filmmaking was to take place, and in which the scenes from each location were mixed, so that the story unfolds in location A, then B, then C, then back to B, then C again, and then A – the cinematography team would have to build and rebuild these sets over and over again as each new scene would come up within the narrative. This is sure to cost substantially more in terms of time, manpower hours, and location rental expenses.
When is Editing Within the Shot Space Appropriate?
Now, you’re probably wondering when (if ever) is it appropriate to engage in in-camera editing or editing within the space? While it’s definitely not appropriate to engage in in-camera editing or editing within the shot space if you’re filming a story that is going to have a narrative that replays out of order, there are some instances in which in-camera editing can work.
For instance, if you’re filming a documentary or a biography, you might be able to get away with editing within the shot space. Certain types of docuseries, documentaries, biopics, and stories in which it is acceptable to deliver the narrative in the exact order in which is occurs and when there is filming on in one location can be achieved through this method without costing a fortune.
In fact, interviews can also be filmed in this capacity – sometimes. Editing within the shot represents a frequently used method of film editing that can work for shorter films, particularly those that do not require advanced editing techniques or do not take place over multiple locations. If you’re trying to decide whether to edit within the shot, or if you’d be better off with post-production editing after you film your scenes and shots in the order that is most appropriate for saving time and money in principle photography, it’s important for you to know that the majority of the time, editing in post is more suitable than editing within the shot space – it’s just that simple!
