Alfred Hitchcock explains about Cutting, Assembly, Montage and Editing.

Summary

This script delves into the intricate art of cinematic editing, particularly focusing on montage and assembly techniques in filmmaking. Using *Psycho* as an example, it explores how the manipulation of film pieces, such as close-ups, shadows, and rapid shots, can evoke emotions and create suspense. The speaker emphasizes the power of montage to shape character perception and viewer engagement, illustrating how the size of images, the orchestration of film elements, and the careful assembly of shots can transform storytelling in film. The discussion provides a fascinating look at the psychology behind film editing and its impact on audiences.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cutting in film is not just about severing; it's more about assembling pieces to create a montage or whole.
• 😀 Montage refers to the assembly of pieces of film that move rapidly in succession to create an idea or emotion.
• 😀 The basic content of montage involves juxtaposing imagery in various sizes and arrangements to create meaning.
• 😀 Cutting is often misunderstood as simply jumping between shots, but it can have deeper emotional and psychological impacts.
• 😀 The 'Psycho' shower scene uses impressionistic film techniques, showing fragments like heads, feet, and shadows to depict a violent act subtly.
• 😀 In the 'Psycho' shower scene, 78 pieces of film were used in just 45 seconds to convey the murder without directly showing nudity or violence.
• 😀 Film editing can be likened to music, using elements like loud and soft notes or abrupt changes in rhythm to evoke emotions.
• 😀 In the second murder scene from 'Psycho', the suspense builds by manipulating camera angles and size, creating visual shocks.
• 😀 The size of the images and how they're arranged in sequence can influence the emotional impact, creating tension or surprise.
• 😀 Changing a single element in a sequence, such as a woman's image to a bikini-clad girl, can drastically alter the character's perception, demonstrating film’s power in shaping narrative and emotion.

Q & A

What does the speaker mean by 'cutting' in film editing?

'Cutting' refers to the process of editing film, but the speaker suggests it should be called 'assembly mosaic' because it involves putting together pieces of film to create a whole, rather than simply severing something.

How does the speaker define 'montage' in film?

Montage is the assembly of pieces of film that move in rapid succession, creating an idea through the juxtaposition of imagery in various sizes and forms.

What is the significance of the shower scene in *Psycho* according to the speaker?

The shower scene in *Psycho* is significant because it uses impressionistic editing to depict the murder without showing a nude woman being stabbed directly. It uses fragmented images such as parts of the body, shadows, and the shower itself to convey the violence.

How many pieces of film were used in the shower murder scene of *Psycho*?

There were 78 pieces of film used to create the shower murder scene in *Psycho*, which lasts about 45 seconds.

What does the speaker mean by 'orchestration' in the context of film editing?

In film editing, 'orchestration' refers to the careful arrangement of shots, akin to the dynamics of a musical composition. The speaker uses the second murder in *Psycho* to illustrate how different sizes of shots, such as close-ups and wide angles, can create tension and shock.

How does the use of shot sizes contribute to the suspense in the second murder scene in *Psycho*?

In the second murder scene, the camera transitions between a medium shot of the detective and a high-angle shot of the killer, using varying shot sizes to heighten the suspense. The shift from small figures to a large close-up of the killer's face creates a dramatic effect.

What is the concept of 'pure cinematics' as discussed by the speaker?

'Pure cinematics' refers to the creative use of film editing to change the context and meaning of a scene. By altering the sequence of shots or replacing elements in a scene, the emotional or thematic interpretation of the film can be completely altered.

How does the speaker illustrate the impact of changing a film's content on its meaning?

The speaker demonstrates this by suggesting a scenario where a character smiles after seeing a woman with a baby, portraying him as a benign figure. If the scene is altered to show him smiling at a woman in a bikini instead, the character's personality changes, showing how film editing can influence audience perception.

What role does the manipulation of imagery and size of shots play in creating emotional impact in *Psycho*?

The manipulation of imagery and shot size in *Psycho* creates emotional impact by emphasizing specific elements at key moments. For example, a large close-up of a character's face during a tense moment can create shock, while a smaller shot of a knife being raised can build anticipation.

What is the significance of the audience being 'aware' of the danger in the second murder scene?

The audience's awareness of the danger in the second murder scene adds to the suspense. The speaker explains that while the audience knows something is wrong, they do not know when the threat will occur, which heightens the tension as the detective ascends the stairs.