What are the Three Main Aspects of Editing Film Juxtaposition?

Juxtaposition represents the comparison of two or more elements in proximity to one another. Juxtaposing films and movies makes most sense when you envision film for the creative, visual medium that it is. If you think about the fact that juxtaposition is the comparison of two or more elements in proximity to one another. Then filmmakers can juxtapose many elements during the filmmaking process from screenwriting. To ensure each word can be visualized to post-production. When shots are juxtaposed to create the desired connections, energy, or conflict. But what are the three main aspects of editing film juxtaposition?

Throughout filmmaking, juxtaposition can take place during each creative stage of the pre-production, production and post-production process.

Thus, the three main aspects of editing film juxtaposition includes: screenwriting, cinematography, and film editing. Notice that these three aspects of juxtaposition align closely with the filmmaking process? 

Juxtaposition when Writing a Screenplay

Screenwriting juxtaposition represents an opportunity for the screenwriter to describe something or someone. Screenwriters will often juxtapose a character description before introducing the individual within the story.

Screenwriters use juxtaposition for a variety of purposes as follows:

• Contrast character traits against another character in the story.
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• Further explore nuances of a particular idea. Or character trait that the audience may otherwise miss.
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• Link seemingly unrelated images or ideas.
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• Argue the plausibility of one idea over another.

Juxtaposition when Filming a Scene

Cinematography juxtaposition represents the filmmaker’s desire to create meaning and connection that cannot be found in the dialogue by juxtaposing character placement within the frame, or when juxtaposing prop placement in relation to characters or other elements in the frame.

Cinematographers use juxtaposition for any of the following reasons:

• Compare the changing of scenes, emphasizing a shift in setting.
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• Create connections with a scene, without dialogue.
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• Make inferences and establish connections while developing stronger narrative.
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• Create suspense, or otherwise elicit feelings among the audience.

Juxtaposition when Editing a Film

Finally, in post-production filmmakers can juxtapose scenes or shots to create the desired meaning, conveying different thoughts or underlying connections that may not otherwise have been established without the comparison or contrast having been juxtaposed.

Juxtaposition in film editing allows filmmakers to develop shots and shot sequences that appropriate compare and contrast elements of the story without words.

Film editors use juxtaposition to:

• Produce various meanings that single, stand alone images could not produce.
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• To create meaning by combining shots that would otherwise have not conveyed the same connections.
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• To connect various scenarios, events, or actions from the film and infer meaning.

In Essence

So, what are the three main aspects of editing film juxtaposition? Cinematographers are likely to analyze foreground, middleground, and background.

But we also see juxtaposition of various elements in pre-production during the screenwriting as well as in post-production editing sequences in filmmaking are used to drive the story.