Examples of Editing Techniques in Film

Contrast

The scene I decided to use to show an example of contrast is Departed's 2006 famous phone call scene.  This scene is very important because the two characters have actually never met each other in person. This scene shows the characters interacting by using contrast. The opening clip is Colin picking up the phone and calling billy. Once the two are both on the line, they don't speak. The filming jump cuts between each character on the phone but not saying anything. The two different characters and different settings make this scene a great example of contrast. 

Leitmotif

All throughout Jaws (1975), there is a reoccurring leitmotif theme. Whenever there is a scene where a shark is present, or most evidently ready to attack, and danger is nearby, there is music that gets faster and faster. In this scene, "you're going to need a bigger boat", the music starts to play when the shark is spotted, and the music speeds us as the shark gets faster and faster. Since this music plays throughout the movie at various points, it really ties the whole suspenseful feeling together.

Parallelism

A great example of parallelism in a very well known movie is in 2014's American Sniper. The opening scene of this movie switches between what Chris Kyle sees through his eyes, and what is happening on the ground battle. This is very important to the movie because it shows the significant role Chris Kyle plays and that he must stay focused on his one job while he relies on his team to do the best. Unlike contrast, the scenes are shot for a greater amount of time, and in the same setting- both in the war zone. 

Symbolism
A very famous scene known for its symbolism is in Snow White, originally produced in 1937. The scene where the little old lady, aka, an evil witch, gives snow white an apple and tells her if she eats it her dreams will come true. In this scene, the apple can symbolize the devil, because snow white falls to sin, or temptation that the old woman posses upon her. The scene is mostly focused on the apple for about five minutes. The old woman comes to the house, wanting Snow White to make apple pies, showing snow white the apple. Then she gets her to try it first, which causes her to fall to the floor and die.

Simultaneity
In 2010's hit, Inception, simultaneity is shown very well. In this scene, or few scenes, so to say, the setting changes and so does the perspective. First, we are shown a man walking down a hall, very calm, and soon we are taken to a car race. Soon this car race turns into a manhunt and fight. Then, we are taken back to the hotel hallway and the calm man, is not so calm after all. Once the action breaks out in the first car scene, the fighting breaks out in this scene as well. Long cuts give these two scenes enough time for the viewer to fully understand what is going on, even when switching between the few scenes.