The technique of film editing (1958)

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exposition of the inside workings of machinery which can normally not be photographed. Many instructional films have used the device of introducing a sectional model of a piece of equipment at the appropriate stage in the argument (by matching its position on the screen with the position of the actual apparatus in the previous shot), and then dismantling the sectional model piece by piece. The camera is not moved so that bit by bit the " works " of the model are made visible, while the relation of each part to the whole is kept clear. This is only a simple example, but it shows the kind of continuity which must be aimed at when complete clarity of exposition is desired. To illustrate how an instructional film can be made visually clear by using the continuity devices which we have briefly noted above, let us look at a sequence from a film which uses no commentary but attempts to clarify an intricate process in pictures alone. CASTING IN STEEL AT WILSON'S FORGE1 Extract from Reel 2 Part I (Making a Mould) shows the various processes concerned in preparing moulds for mine-tub wheels. It ends showing a line of moulds ready for the molten steel. Part II, quoted here, shows the preparation of the steel, and Part III (Pouring and Finishing) shows how the molten steel is poured into the previously prepared moulds. The film is silent throughout. TITLE : Part II : Melting and Converting Ft. Fade in 1 Exterior Foundry. M.S. Base of Cupola. Ladle on crane-hook standing 24 under spout of cupola. One of the furnacemen is unplugging the tap-hole with an iron tapping bar. 2 C.S. Spout. Shooting across top of ladle. Furnaceman moves away. A 23 long-handled " pricker " is pushed in from out of picture and finishes unplugging the tap-hole. Molten iron runs down into the ladle. 3 M.S. Base of Cupola. As in I. The molten metal running into the ladle. 9 A " tap-hole rammer " comes into picture and is rested on the cross-bar of the ladle. It has a plug of clay pressed on to the end. 4 C.S. Spout. As in 2. The ladle is now nearly full of molten metal. The 12 rammer is pushed in and twisted until the flow of metal stops. 5 M.S. Base of Cupola. As in 3. The rammer is withdrawn and the furnace 20 man comes into picture. He skims off the slag from the top of the ladle. His mate comes in past camera and takes up his position at one side of the ladle. 6 M.S. Furnaceman. He throws the slag on the ground, camera panning, 17 where it is " killed " by throwing a spadeful of floor-sand on it. Camera pans back to previous position. 7 M.S. Base of Cupola. As in 5. The furnaceman finishes skimming and 4 throws down his spoon. 1 Director and Editor : R. K. Neilson Baxter. Basic Film Unit for Ministry of Education, 1947. 173