Film & TV Language: Editing

Find a film/TV clip on YouTube that you feel has been edited in a distinctive way and write a 750 word analysis of the clip.

ARROW

After Oliver Queen (the protagonist in Arrow) decides that he needs to see his mum, an establishing shot of 'Queen Consolidated' is shown briefly. This alerts the audience that the following shot is taking place in this building. The establishing shot is transitioned in to the next over-the-shoulder-shot of Moira Queen (Oliver's mother) via a dissolve as she is having a business conference with her employees.

At 0:10 Oliver enters the building as 'The Arrow' by breaking in to the window. From then on, the slow pace has heightened drastically. Fast pace editing is used as well as match on action to make the audience feel engaged. The narrative of this scene is based around continuous editing so the shots have to match the performance to enable the interest of the audience. The sound effect also play a major role in achieving this. Suspenseful, non-diegetic music is used in the background of the action to increase the anxiousness the audience are feeling. The sound effects of Oliver punching the men and firing his arrow are perfectly timed which further keeps the audience anticipated.

At 0:22, Oliver uses a voice changer to hide his identity as he tells his Mother that she 'has failed this city'. The pace slows down once more. The music in the background lowers as he says this so that the audience can clearly hear him but the sound increases once more after he is finished. The camera zooms in to a close-up on Moira's frightened expression as the Arrow tells her this. This effect illustrates the drama in the scene. 

At 0:33 there is a long shot of Oliver as he is pointing his arrow to his mother. The audience is able to see the damage that has been done to the office and also realise the darkness that now engulfs the scene because Oliver had burnt out all the lights. The use of the low lighting creates mystery and a sense of secrecy which is fitting to this scene as Oliver is trying to figure out if his Mother has anything to do with the kidnapping of his Step father. Cross-cuts are used throughout their exchange of words.

The long shot returns at 0:52 when Moira crouches down, essentially begging for her life. She uses a picture of her children (Oliver and Thea) to try and persuade the arrow not to kill her. A high angle is used to show the distressed expression on her face which highlights how vulnerable and weak she is in this moment. When Moira mentions the name 'Oliver' there is a cross-cut to the Arrow. This is a deliberate cut used to allow the audience to view the irony of the situation- Moira is using Oliver to beg for her life to Oliver. It also allows the audience to sympathise with Oliver as he feels extremely guilty for doing this but he has no other choice.

The music in the background has changed to a slow, dramatic tone which emphasises how Oliver must choose to make the right decision in this situation. It also gives the audience time to digest everything that is happening. The long sot returns on match on action while Oliver puts down his bow and arrow and decides he is not going to hurt Moira. 

Moira then abruptly drops the photo frame at 1:17, breaking the glass. In this exact moment the music heightens once again which alerts the audience that the action is not over yet. At 1:19, Moira proceeds to take a gun from her draw and starts shooting at the Arrow. This comes as quite a shock for the audience as they realise how sly and cunning Moira is- she used her children to manipulate the Arrow so that she would have a chance at shooting him. The pace returns to being fast as successive bullet shots are heard firing from the gun and the glass breaking.

Oliver manages to escape while Moira hides and calls for help. She then slowly gets up from hiding under her desk while police sirens can be heard. There is a pan to the floor which reveals a stain of blood on the ground. This alerts the audience that the Arrow has been wounded and also frightens them as this now means that the police can use his blood's DNA to reveal his true identity as Oliver. 

The scene ends with a close up of the relieved expression on Moira's face and then cuts the digital opening of the TV show. This leaves the audience in anticipation as to what will be the consequences of this moment.