Perspective

In my last post, I talked a lot about the importance of editing.  In particular, I focused on the unbelievable amount of behind the scenes work that editors dedicate to film productions.  Editors have the unique ability to manipulate the story they have, into the story they want to tell.

So do storytellers.

The storyteller is the person who is – what else? – telling the story!  It’s the narrator, but it is not necessarily always very obvious as to who the storyteller is.  See, not all storytellers tell their story via voiceover, or having a main role.  The storyteller is just the perspective the story is told in.

In “Point of View,” an article by John S. Douglass and Glenn P. Harnden, the authors further explain the importance of the storyteller’s viewpoint.  In a sense, they explain, the viewpoint demonstrates how the entire story is depicted.

Think about the last time you and a friend saw something significant happen.  Take, for example, a confrontation between two of your suite mates, that you and your roommate both saw happen.

Think about the different angles you saw it happen at.  Think of the distance between you and the incident, versus between your friend and the incident.  Think about what you knew about the people involved in the incident, prior to the incident actually happening.

It’s likely that when either of you would tell the story back, and actually go through it play by play, you may have noticed different things.  You may have differing opinions about who is right and who is wrong.  Maybe you saw something happen that the other person didn’t.  It’s all about the perspective.

This article reminded me of the proverb we’ve all heard – before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.  It’s all about perspective, isn’t it?  It’s very important to put yourself in other people’s shoes . . . to think things through . . . to see where else the story can go.  That’s why it is so important to have a storyteller.

The questions this brings me to though, is why do perspectives sometimes differ only slightly, and other times differ completely?  What causes those differing interpretations?  Can they be prevented?  Also, I wonder how perspectives are taken into consideration and context when witnesses testify in court cases?  Perspective can change so much about a case, after all.

The Story of Editing

The variety of steps involved in producing film is amazing to me.  I mean, think about it.  There are so many steps involved that don't get their fair share of credit.  Take editing for example.

Editing has the opportunity to take a film that is good to something great.  Editing allows for manipulation of the film, to switch up timing, scenes, and transitions, to cover up cinematography mishaps or poor acting.  Different camera angles and shots are crucial to the success of a film, but without the talent and work of an editor, they make no difference.

Although I certainly recognized the importance of editing with regard to movie and filmmaking, it wasn't until I learned more about the inside steps of editing that I began to understand just how great an impact it has.

In "The Aesthetics of Editing," an article by Osgood and Hinshaw, the authors describe the vital role editing plays, particularly with regard to television commercials.

Think about it.  Advertising companies get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce very short - even twenty or thirty second long commercials.  

Now let's take this a step further.  What about Super Bowl ads?  What about Olympic sponsor ads?  Those advertisements are worth millions of dollars, and last less than half a minute!  And it's not so much the idea behind the ad, although that is important.  It is about the editing, the put together of footage, that counts in the end.

Take the Best Buy commercial from the 2013 Super Bowl for example:

How many different times did Amy Poehler really say those lines?  How many extra shots were filmed?  Probably a significant amount.

Because the reality of filmmaking is, most of what is shot doesn't get used without being manipulated.  Audio is enhanced, order is switched around, soundtracks are put in, mistakes are eliminated.  Without editing, videos would not look like they do.  They would be much longer, much more heavily laden with mistakes, and much more unprofessional looking.

So my question for discussion is, why is editing so overlooked?  Why aren't the roles of editors more recognized?  Why aren't they more glamorized?  Editors may not be in the spotlight, but their jobs are integral to the success of video footage.