Pioneers of Editing and Products used.

D.W. Griffith

He was born in Crestwood, Kentucky and attended a one room school house , which he was taught by his  sister. However, he got started in the performing arts as a play writer, but had a minuet amount of accomplishment at the start of his career. So he attempted acting, but yet had little success.

Griffiths first big break as an actor was in Edwin S. Portner’s new motion pitcher at the America Mutoscope and Biograph Company, the company nearly went bust.  However, after Edwin S. Portner’s death and lack of opportunities he was given the main director job and directed over four hundred short length films, which helped him develop his skills as a storyteller.

Griffith’s inspires upcoming film makers with his preciseness & accuracy to edit.  Griffith uses techniques such as: flashbacks and cross cutting to create effect and emphasis. D.W. Griffith’s most known and respected film is the ‘’The Birth of a Nation’’, which demonstrates precise camera shots and angles.

Images of D.W. Griffith.

Products used to set a landmark in the film industry 

During this time period, Moviola was introduced to film making, which allows editors to watch the film, whilst being able to edit. This significant piece of film making and editing equipment was invented by Iwan Serrurier in 1924. Also, the flat-bed editing machine was used for motion pitcher film editing and designed for pitcher and sound, brands such as Keller-Elektro-Mechanik and Steenbeck created products.

The photograph is of Moviola.

Current Outlook of Editing in the Film Industry

Current Outlook of the Film Industry 

The most common way an independent film maker would edit films is digitally, using software such as final cut pro and Sony Vegas pro, the programs allows film makers to edit whilst watching footage and being able to add non diegetic sounds/music to create effect and meaning.

Home Alone Trailer (1990)

For film trailers it is common to have a voice-over/narrator to help tell the story. Don Fontaine is the epitome of voice-overs; his voice has been heard in iconic films/film trailers such as: the Transformers, Cast Away, Cheaper by the Dozen and Home Alone( which is shown in the video clip above).      

Taken from Avatar (2009)

Avatar (2009) set a landmark in the film industry by being the first full length 3D film, by using brand new motion pitcher effects to capture the imagination of the audience. Incorporated with composed music by James Horner who composed the transcending film and has worked with the iconic film director James Cameron on films such as; Titanic and Aliens. 


Cameron conducted himself with a team of 900 visual effect workers, to work on the blockbuster that changed the film industry with the use of: new and improved sound effects and computer generated imagery.

Early Days of Film Editing

Early Days of Film Editing 

Film editing is used to create effect and is used for collaborations and sequences. Cinematography editing was first notably introduced in the early century. But the risk that film makers had was to adapt different shots due to the audience be uneducated and may result in them be confused and provoke them to lose interest.

The early stages of film editing led to ‘’primitive ‘’ editing that was used to makes basic sequences and combinations. Directors found that it was a good technique to tell story’s/plots. Early examples of ‘’Primitive’’ editing was used in; Rescued by Rover (1905) who was directed by Lewin Fitzhamon and Cecil M. Hepworth, the film is about a dog with the combination of a woman kidnapping a new born baby. These two story-lines combined together with the use of ‘primitive’ editing, captured the hearts of the audience with the story and sequences used in the film. Examples of ‘‘primitive’’ editing has been used in the video clip just below with the title: ‘’ Cecil Milton Hepworth: Rescued by Rover (1905)’’

Cecil Milton Hepworth: Rescued by Rover (1905)

The Great Train Robbery (1903) is known for one of the earliest narrative film story line which captured the respect of fellow film makers and led by example, the plot is based on a group of wiled cowboys who result in kidnapping passengers on a nearby train. This film was a landmark in cinema, because it includes; multiple exposure techniques: which is where there is one platform with multiple shots over a period of time. Cross cutting was also introduced in the film which is: where there is more than one action shot taken place and by cross cutting it allows the director to capture the importance of the action shot with a variety of camera angles. Also the use of on location shot, that is demonstrated in the clip from ‘’The Great Train Robbery (1903)’’.

The Great Train Robbery (1903)