In the first masterclass session on ‘Why some edits feel right: The psychology of editing – Exploring how human perception influences editing choices,’ Moses Marks delved into the psychology behind film editing, exploring how human perception influences the choices editors make. He explained that editing is not just about stitching scenes together — it shapes the flow of a narrative, sets the rhythm of a story and deeply impacts the audience’s emotions.
Throughout the session, Marks discussed various editing techniques, from continuity editing and montage to jump cuts, match cuts, and cross-cutting. He also touched on more nuanced methods like J-cuts, L-cuts, and the use of dissolves, wipes, and fades to create smooth transitions. Techniques such as freeze frames, smash cuts and invisible cuts were highlighted as tools that not only move a story forward but also heighten its emotional and psychological impact.
A crucial part of the discussion was the role of sound in editing. Marks emphasized how sound does more than complement visuals — it shapes the cinematic experience by establishing atmosphere, enhancing emotions, building tension, and guiding the audience’s focus. He explained how sound adds depth and realism to scenes, defines a film’s style, and often carries symbolic meaning, allowing subtle messages to unfold within a story. Marks emphasized trusting your instincts as an editor, “Follow your gut, prepare to adapt, and make bold cuts.” The first session by Moses Marks offered a clear reminder that impactful editing isn’t just technical - it is psychological, shaping how stories are felt and remembered.
In the second masterclass session, Moses Marks presented on the topic "Editing for emotion: How cuts can make audiences laugh, cry or feel suspense - The emotional impact of different editing styles.’ The masterclass explored the nuances of using cuts to evoke specific emotions, from building suspense to eliciting fear or tears. Marks stressed on the importance of editing in emotional storytelling and demonstrated it through examples of how pacing and focus directly influences and shapes audience engagement and evoke emotions among the viewers. He showed a clip of the movie ‘Momento,’ directed by the legendary filmmaker Christopher Nolan and explained how he masterfully uses non-linear editing style in creating a disorienting yet emotional impactful experience for the viewers at the same time.
Participants were introduced to various video editing techniques, including the strategic use of pacing, rhythm, juxtaposition, and the power of the pause. Marks illustrated how these elements can be manipulated to create a desired emotional impact, drawing on examples from his own film ‘Paper Airplanes’ and other internationally renowned films like ‘The Godfather.’
Marks explained how a well-placed cut can amplify a scene's tension, while a prolonged shot can allow the audience to fully absorb a character's emotional state. He emphasized the importance of an editor in filmmaking and how their editing choices directly impact the audiences’ emotional journey and ultimately how they perceive the movie. Marks’s expertise and experience on directing and film editing provide a valuable learning experience for aspiring filmmakers in Nagaland, offering them a unique glimpse into the art of emotional storytelling through film editing.
The masterclass concluded with a Q&A session in which a wide range of topics ranging from filmmaking and editing to documentaries were addressed. Moses Marks also encouraged the attendees, especially the students, to take up filmmaking as a career option.
In the second session of the masterclass on ‘From script to screen: evolution of story,’ Professor in Film and Television, Dominic Sangma from Meghalaya highlighted on his first film ‘Mamma’ and the impact of filmmaking in his life. While sharing about the struggles in the beginning of filmmaking, he encouraged the gathering hat one should not give up but achieve the target. He said that films are a reflection on oneself and our emotions are expressed visually. Sangma also added that it is the right time for young filmmakers from the North East to venture into this field.
(Siizo Kikhi, Molungnenla & Samuel, IAs)
