Editing Analysis

This analysis compiles all the aspects of film and tv language with a focus on interesting editing techniques. I decided to write mine on the 1997 science fiction/sport movie 'Space Jam' which included a crossover between the animated and real world, it's post production efforts and overall cult success made it an attractive film for analysis. The below extract is from a scene involving the characters first introduction to Michael Jordan as well as a line admittedly breaking the concept of the movie.

Space Jam [1997] Dir. Joe Pytka, Cinematographer; Michael Chapman, Edited by; Sheldon Kahn. 

Space Jam is admittedly one of the most classic films of the family genre, it's doused in the charm of the late 90s and works in perfect synergy of a media comfort zone and advances within the editing industry. This specific scene, involves a crossover from the animated and the live action worlds. This movie, may not have been the first to indulge this concept but is arguably one of the most famous. The use of cartoon characters in conjunction with Michael Jordan, someone with a lot of star power at the time, connotes a revolution in editing, it creates a good storyline but allows nostalgia and the childishness of their target audience to be exploited. The use of straight cuts adds to the fluidity of the scene and the audience almost becomes unaware of the behind the scenes reality of this production; Michael Jordan alone talking to thin air and the dependence on post-production to turn something ridiculous and simple into a complex, realistic final product. The atypical composition of this scenes cinematography is also rather intriguing - the use of close up shots of the juxtaposing the predictably cartoonish reactions of the looney tunes plays on the 'elephant in the room' without disrupting the audiences absorption of the movie. The editing also works with the conventional 90s r&b of the movies soundtrack which makes the slow paced editing and slight speed with character introduction, all that more noticeable. My favourite aspect is the opening with the cartoon 'cast' watching a real world exercise programme on an animated tv, an obvious addition from post production as the setting is 3D however this small touch communicates the blurred line between the animated and real world without being too explicit. Cartoons can enjoy real world content as people enjoy cartoons and it is a humorous scene - it should be unnerving in theory as it is a complete juxtaposition of what the target audience of the late 90s would have known but it's seamless placement allows it to be admired from a more positive perspective. This movie is revolutionary in it's ways, it stands out during the mediated age as CGI was not as prevalent in the late 90s especially for whole movies, post-production had never been so obvious, this made the film risky- it had to incorporate childish tropes and cult characters whilst still appealing to the realism and high tension conventional to sporting movies. The costumes also capture the late 90s with ease due to the sporty style and casually oversized clothing choices of the era, which are slowly making their way back into fashion in recent times, this movie was able to uses the ease of the 90s and the popular icons to use stereotypes in order to communicate quickly and easily and take attention away from the unrealistic tropes. An issue that may arise however is the outdated ideologies concerned with the 90s- use of slurs, high global tension and a mixture of pop culture scandal however Space Jam, seems to avoid these aswpects to create a movie, just under an hour, of pure family fun. The characters, arguably cavalier attitudes towards danger and a few plot holes which should, theoretically act as a deterrent for parents to want their children to absorb these mannerisms if this was a complete realism project but due to the use of cartoons instead of children it has the opposite effect - a movie for movies sake, a conformity for genre whilst subverting the expected and a revolutionary use of cross-universe caricatures to allow, for lack of a better word, an easy watch. Despite this, Space Jam may be at risk from the changing social climate- R. Kelly, one of the features on the movies soundtrack, has been under fire for his sexual crimes that took place in the 90s/00s which could perhaps make watching and supporting this movie rather taboo. The rise of the #MeToo movement has provided an exposure of the unjust, shocking actions of the creative industries particularly film and music. This leaves many films on a grey zone of whether supporting the movie is justified by its nostalgic offerings or tarnished by the actions and beliefs of those involved in the production. Space Jam made way for a new CGI experience in cinema, although seldom revisited, it used cinematography and editing in an extremely unique way (as seen above, the use of close up shots forcing the audience to recognise the difference between skin and sketch) and has a place in the history of family cinema.