~ Motivated Editing ~

All about motivated editing. 

        Motivated editing is a technique that is inspired by what you see or hear by the scene, previous scene or shot. When there is another reason for a completely different shot, motivated editing is used, being the least disruptive to the film or sequence. An example of using it is if an actor is looking at something, with a dramatic look on his face, it will instantly cut to whatever he is looking at. That is a motivated edit. Or, a motivated edit can also be used if in a scene the audience hear a noise, or a loud noise can be heard. It will suddenly cut to what is making that noise. So the audience can get a visual insight on where the noise is coming from in the scene. With motivated editing, it is important you cut at the correct time, to ensure the narrative of the film runs smoothly and audiences can see the story line develop further. Different timing of cuts are used in motivated editing, depending on the genre. Motivated editing is usually used on horror films. In horror films, motivated editing cuts are very fast pace and dramatic, Motivated cuts are usually use to show what the person is getting scared of, or unusual sounds, when finding out what it is making them, make the audience surprised and scared, finding out the soloution. Which helps them engage with the film and persuade them to keep watching. 

     The purpose of motivated editing is to engage the viewer. It is to engage the viewer on every detail going on in each scene or film. Motivated editing are there to give the audience an explanation on where the noises come from they hear in the scene, why a character is acting that way, what the character is looking at etc. It is to help the audience to understand what is helping in the scene more and also expand the story line for them, knowing why they are hearing a noise or a character is looking that way. The purpose of this technique can also be relationship to genre. Being motivated editing is used in horror films more then any other genre, it is used to show the viewer why the character is looking scared, what is making the viewer to feel so frightened. Also most cuts used in motivated editing are quick, to give impact to the audience and to feel frightened like the character about the ghost or monster that is giving the character a fright. Compared to a drama genre, where in a scene that is emotional and crying is involved. Motivated editing is probably used at a slow pace. Slowing down the pace of the film to show that it is turning sad and the mood is changing from happy and sad. Also cutting to someone who is crying, it will most likely stay on their face before cutting to the other persons reaction or what they are looking at. So the audience gets an impact off the character crying, feeling sad for them or sympathy as they watch there sad and emotional face. 

 Also being linked to development of drama. 

     An example of a horror film that uses motivated editing is Psycho, that was released in 1960. The famous scene while the girl is having a shower and Norman Bates comes through and stabs her with a knife, uses motivated editing. The scene shows Norman coming towards her in the shower, then it quickly cuts the women, wanting to show the reaction of her to the audience seeing him with a knife. It then cuts back to Norman, showing again to the audience, where the women was getting more and more scared as it first cut to her. It gives the audience answers about both characters and both of their actions and reactions to one another in the scene. Giving the audience further narrative and answers so they know which both characters are doing and feeling at a dramatic and scary time. 

   

            Another example, that uses motivated editing, but is a film from the fantasy genre. Is Harry Potter  and the Deathly Hallows part 2, released in 2011. The scene shows the scene cutting to each character, concentrating on their emotions before cutting to Harry Potter, the person who is making them show these types of emotions. The scene persuades the audience to feel scared and anxious for Harry Potter, as most characters in the scene are acting happy and sinister as Harry arrives, especially Voldemort, ready to kill him. Apart from Hagrid, who acts sceptically and shocked that Harry has shown, also acting sad and shocked, not wanting him to die. All before cutting to Harry, who also looks anxious about the situation, which makes the audience feel anxious for him also that most characters in the scene are happy to see him die.