Just read a fascinating idea about performance editing from Karen Pearlman’s book, ‘Cutting Rhythms’.
‘Throwing energy is what the editor is doing with cuts. An editor chooses the first shot’s duration and frame to throw a certain kind of energy. This shot is then juxtaposed with another shot. The second shot receives the energy the first shot throws. The editor is creating an impression of cause and effect, an impression that the energy and action in the first shot causes the responsive motion seen in the next shot. Because the energy thrown creates a cause-and-effect relationship with the energy. For example, if a character smiles gratefully in one shot (the gratitude being the energy or intention
that propels the movement of the smile), and another character shrugs awkwardly in the next shot, the gratitude appears to have caused the awkwardness. The timing, pacing, and trajectory phrasing of this exchange are a little piece of emotional rhythm built from the rhythm of the performance.’
Still one of my favourite editing pieces, I would say this scene between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro from Michael Mann’s film, Heat, has some great examples of energy being thrown back and forth between characters. Heat was co-edited by Paquale Buba, William Goldenberg, Dov Hoenig and Tom Rolf. I have used this following clip with fair use and do not intend to gain any monetary value from it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QIWdNRkH0Q
