EastEnders Analysis - Editing

The episode I am analyzing for my project is the episode dated Tuesday the 18th of October.

I will be analyzing the episode within three posts.

In this, the first post I am analyzing the editing of the episode and how this effects the audiences reaction to the story.

The episode is divided up between the main storylines throughout, this include Ian and Mandy, Syed and Amira, Tyler and Whitney and Lauren and Fatboy. As well as these main storyline developments, the editing also pieces together sections where characters interact outside their current storyline, adding to the dynamic of the show that this is a living environment and all the characters interact on a day to day basis.

A form of parallel editing is used to piece the separate storylines together, while gradually building up the story within each. The cuts between the storylines build suspense within the audience. As we only gradually receive the narrative for each, whilst we're shown a storyline, we're wondering what we might be shown for the story that's just ended, what could happen, or what is happening while the cameras cut away to something else.

The can be seen within the build up to Tyler and Whitney's 'sex' scene, where they are both getting prepared for what might happen, as they talk about their feelings to a friend, the camera then cuts away, to skip over them getting ready and carries on suspense as the audience is anxious to know whats to happen later on.

During a scene with Roxy and the day-care workers, we get shot reverse shot cuts, to show the two are in conversation, the cuts between them vary to reflect on the emotion, as Roxy is anxious the cuts between the two are quicker but then when Roxy resolves the conversation the cuts slow down.

Elliptical editing is used to cut forward in time within certain shots, this is apparent within the earlier scenes in the show with Kat and Alfie, when they are in an empty pub, when they head upstairs, for what the audience is suggested is sex, within the next few shots the time has jumped forward and the pub is open. This type of shot is done in EastEnders mixed in with parallel editing, to seamlessly move time forward, skipping over irrelevant scenes.

Thank You for Reading, Chip James