Editing and Transitions Blogpost

 Editing and Transitions Blogpost- Inception (2010)

Opening Scene #1 | Inception (2010) Movie Clip 1080 HD

Notes

1. The first part of the clip is an establishing shot. This part of the clip begins with a wide shot of the ocean and Cobb on the beach (0:00–0:04). The impact it leaves on the audience is that shows an isolated, outlandish setting, which means that the environment is foreign and almost out of a dream.
2. The second part of the clip has the cut of cut on action. In this part of the clip, as Cobb is laying on the sand, a close-up shows waves breaking near him (0:05). The impact it leaves on the audience is making a sense of disorientation, which lets the audience feel Cobb’s confusion and helplessness.
3. The third part of the clip has the cut of an eyeline match. In this part of the clip, Cobb looks towards to a kid playing nearby, which is followed by a close-up of that kid (0:07–0:11). The impact it leaves on the audience is showing Cobb’s emotional bond to the child, making the audience wonder about his connection to that child and being able to see Cobb in a wholesome light.
4. The fourth part of the clip uses the transition of fade out. In this part of the clip, Cobb passes out and the screen fades (0:14). The impact it leaves on the audience is it emphasizes the mysterious feeling and shows that Cobb is fragile.
5. The fifth part of the clip uses a smash cut. In this part of the clip, Cobbs is surrounded by armed guards as there is a sudden cut to the inside. The impact it leaves on the audience is that it changes the scene's tone from calm to tense, which provides the audience unexpected action and engages and surprises them.
6. The sixth part of the clip uses a cross cut. In this part of the clip, there is switching between Cobb’s perspective and Saito’s guards (0:20–0:28). The impact it leaves on the audience is that it contrasts Cobb being in a vulnerable position with the threat given by the guards.
7. The seventh part of the clip uses a match cut. In this part of the clip, it cuts from Cobb's face to the calm look on Saito's face (0:29). The impact it leaves on the audience is that it emphasizes the power imbalance between Cobb and Saito, which spikes the audience's curiosity about their dynamic.
8. The eighth part of the clip uses a jump cut. In this part of the clip, time seems as if it's skipping as Cobb gets brought further inside (0:35). The impact it leaves on the audience is that this scene shows broken-up time, making them see Cobb's instability with his consciousness and how the narrative feels like it takes place in a dream.
9. The ninth part of the clip uses a dissolve transition. In this part of the clip, the scene dissolves as the setting changes from the beach to the inside of the room (0:38). The impact it leaves on the audience is that it makes it difficult to tell between reality and imagination, which increases the film's dream-like feeling.
10. The tenth part of the clip uses a fade in transition. In this part of the clip, light slowly comes back as Cobb gets consciousness back (0:45). The impact it leaves on the audience is that it brings the audience back to Cobb's experience, which suggests that he is waking up to something very important.

Questions

1. How do the technical aspects of the editing contribute to the construction of meaning?

Answer: Each cut or transition gives more information about Cobb's experience, which creates a sense of mystery and shows the lines are blurred between dreams and real life. The fades and dissolves put more emphasis on the theme of mixing realities, which is an effect the film focuses heavily on.

2. How is the audience encouraged to feel and respond to the characters, and how do they understand what the storyline is about?

Answer: The editing causes the audience to empathize with Cobb by helping the audience see his disoriented point of view. The drastic changes in tone and setting causes the audience to wonder about Cobb's frame of mind and his consciousness.