Storytelling

In the pattern of editing we expect to see in the usual film / drama is as follows: Establishing shot → Medium Shot → Close up. This enables us to understand the basic plot of the story because the first shot establishes the setting and the medium shot most commonly presents the audience with the character and they’re appearance and the close up is usually used on an item of importance or to show us the emotions felt by the character within the scene.

 

This example of Jurassic park starts with a close up of trees rustling followed by a close reaction shot of somebody looking over to the trees, and carries on cutting between the two using shot reverse shot with just the sound of rustling, this builds tension and suspense, this enables us to understand the plot of the scene knowing something big is about to happen and this further intensifies when you see the crate being lifted via crane whilst emerging from the trees. Once the crate is properly introduced music starts to play giving the sense of mystery, creating a lot of interest into what could be within the crate. Once the scene is opened up and given a sense of setting using the editors choice of crane shot and super imposed titles reading 'Isla Nublar' you get a better idea of how important the affair that is about to take place is due to the amount of people and industrial equipment in the middle of this jungle. This example is a reversal of the stereotypical Establishing shot → Medium Shot → Close up and actually reveals the setting once both close ups and medium shots have been repeated a few times, this helps give the scene even more mystery as you have no idea where this is all happening.