Elliptical Editing: What is it and How is it Used in Film (With Examples)

If you’ve watched a lot of films then there is every chance that you have seen elliptical editing taking place. 

In fact, elliptical editing in films is the norm, and most fiction has some form of elliptical editing. It is a way to ensure that the viewers can enjoy every aspect of the film and that a story is told without having to go through every single detail. It is possible that certain parts of the narrative can be suggested, or that viewers can fill in some of the gaps on their own.

In this guide, we’re going to dive further into elliptical editing film techniques and how they work. They can be used in all types of film, and though used most frequently in storytelling, the technique is also usable in non-fiction.

What is Elliptical Editing in Film?

You may already be familiar with the term “ellipsis”. The way it is defined in terms of literature and writing can actually help us to define elliptical editing, too.

That intentional leaving out is where the term provides its main meaning for editing, too. In film, elliptical editing is a way to cut between shots, and allow the viewer to fill in the gaps of what has happened in the meantime. It is a way to cut down on boring footage that is not required. Things that aren’t necessary to the story get cut away and the scene often gets to the business of what is happening much more quickly. There is an art to this, and to making it look and feel natural to the viewer. 

 

When you watch a movie, there are usually huge chunks that are cut out without any explanation, but you are still able to work out what is happening, thanks to elliptical editing techniques.

 

Considering some elliptical editing examples is an excellent way to start to get your head around what is happening in elliptical editing.

 

Imagine a film where somebody gets a call asking them to go into work at the last minute. They may need to rush into work, and it could all happen very quickly, but the chances are that the editing will still be elliptical editing. You may see the person scramble to put their shoes on or grab their keys quickly while running out of the door. The director of a film or TV show is unlikely to show you all of the action as it is simply not necessary. Even from pre-production, they will have planned to omit some details.

 

If they go on to show the person’s journey to work, they might infer that they are in a hurry by showing them frustrated as they sit in traffic, for example, but the shot will likely only last a few seconds. It is implied that the person sat in that traffic for a lot longer, and the audience is able to infer this from the context.

 

Another example of elliptical editing could be showing the development of a relationship just by showing a few “snapshot” style edits. A few seconds of an awkward meeting, a date, and eventually a wedding, and the couple moving into a house together. You can see how just a few seconds of these shots can be impactful. 

 

A technique of elliptical editing can be seen in our work, within our video SAVOLA -Saudi National DAY. A child is shown being inspired in a classroom, before an elliptical edit shows them again as an adult. The implication of time passing can be seen. 

 

We can look at an elliptical editing film example to show what we mean. In Batman Begins, this scene shows our protagonist covering a huge amount of ground in a matter of seconds. The way it is edited shows him at the start of his walk, and small clips through his hike to his destination, but does not show the whole thing. To show all of this would take hours, but the viewer can get the information that they need in a matter of seconds.

 

 

This example excellently shows how the audience is able to suspend reality and understand what has happened in spite of not seeing it all. 

 

A good analogy is to consider the highlights of a sporting event. When you watch the highlights, you are seeing all of the action that you need to understand what happened in the event, but you are not seeing all of the game as it unfolded. You will see the crucial things needed to understand the plot and what happened in the game, but you will miss out a lot of the smaller details that aren’t considered necessary. This is a type of elliptical editing.

Are There Films That Don’t Use Elliptical Editing?

It is fair to say that elliptical editing is a very common technique. Without elliptical editing, films and television shows would last for a very long time, and crucially, the plot would not particularly move forward any quicker. This is about getting to the point more quickly in a way that keeps the audience interested. 

 

There are films and television shows that don’t use elliptical editing. You will often hear this referred to as “real time” editing. This refers to watching a movie or show as it unfolds, and events happen in the same time frame of the movie. In a two-hour movie, only two-hours worth of time can pass in this sort of editing, meaning only very specific types of film can be made.

 

It could be that the events could unfold in real time before being separated with a “One Year Later” title, or the like, but you could argue this is still a form of elliptical editing.

Uses of Elliptical Editing

So, let’s look at this from a filmmaking point of view, and explore the different ways in which elliptical editing can be used. Though we have described it in the context of leaving things out to save time, there are many uses of elliptical editing. It is not always about just getting rid of what is dull and unnecessary.

To Make a Point or Statement

There can be a real impact made when using elliptical editing. One example is in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. A match cut is made using elliptical editing, where an ancient ancestor of man throws a bone up in the air, and is then “match cut” with a spacecraft that is a similar shape. In this period, thousands of years have passed, and the director is making a point with the edit that is demanded.

To Leave the Audience Guessing

Elliptical editing can also be used as a way to add more mystery to a movie. Like most aspects of videography and filmmaking, there is a potential creative use of elliptical editing. The things that are omitted might not be clear cut, and there could be some things that the audience may be able to work out on their own. A director will usually make these decisions and it is down to the editor to make the actual edits. An example could be when there are potentially different interpretations of what happened in a scene, such as who is responsible for a crime. It could be left for the viewer to decide for themselves.

To Cut Down on Time

This is still the most common reason for elliptical editing, to cut down on the time that is required. When you watch a movie, you don’t follow every single step of all of the characters. Even when they are engaged in an activity, the editor and director is not likely to show you the whole of that activity. A condensed version is often enough to get the message across.

 

There are some directors who do not do this. They may decide that they don’t want to use elliptical editing to cut the time required in all scenarios. For instance, some directors believe we may learn more about the characters if we watch the minute details of how they act and what they do.

How Elliptical Editing Looks

Most of the elliptical edits are seamless and don’t look any different to those we are used to seeing in most film and television. The edits may involve a fade to black, a screen wipe, or other transition effects. A good editor is able to include edits during post production that look and feel natural in the movie rather than making you think about the passing of time. Most audiences are so used to this kind of editing now that elliptical editing in film doesn’t feel like anything unusual.

Starting Your Film Project

If you are looking to understand these kinds of techniques with a view to starting a film project, we can help. Our expert editors and directors know exactly how to tell a captivating tale and use elliptical editing as both a creative tool and a functional tool, all while making your video project look as good as it possibly can. If you’re ready to explore the ways in which Insight Studios can help you, reach out to us today.