Inhalt

1. History and Development .............................................................. 1

1.1 Silent movies as influence ............................................................ 1
1.2 Other influences ........................................................................... 2
2. MTV-Editing in the 80s ................................................................... 2
2.1 Thriller ( 1982 ) ............................................................................. 3
2.2 Flashdance ( 1983 ) ....................................................................... 3
2.3 Footloose ( 1984 ) ......................................................................... 3
2.4 Top Gun ( 1986 ) ........................................................................... 3
3. MTV-Editing in the 90s ................................................................... 4
3.1 Natural Born Killers ( 1994 ) ......................................................... 4
3.2 The Rock ( 1996 ) .......................................................................... 5
3.3 Lola rennt ( 1998 ) ......................................................................... 5
Closing Word ...................................................................................... 6
 MTV Editing and its influence on modern cinema

The cutting style we are nowadays referring to as MTV-Editing has its origins in the
famous TV-Network MTV which gained huge popularity quickly after foundation in 1981.
It turned into one of the worlds biggest Networks and fascinated people from all over
the world. Parallels to the MTV-Editing as we know it today can be found in early music
videos that MTV broadcasted. It comprises amongs other things a quick series of cuts
that displays a accelerated action. This montage style is characterized by mostly
motiveless, non linear jumps cuts, that emphasize action, emotions and visual appeal
over story- or character development. This cutting-technique is nowadays one of the
most popular ones and is used in a variety of ways all over the world.

1. History and Development

1.1 Silent movies as influence

The origins of MTV-Editing can be found in the very beginnings of cinematography. In the
early days of the silent film era oft he 1920s first lines of the Jump Cut method were
invented. In Man with a Movie Camera the polish cinematographer Dsiga Vertov shows
us scenes of urban life from different camera angles in a very quick succession1.These
scenes are accompanied by a fast paced concert for strings which was added much later
by Michael Nyman in 2002. It fits the characteristics of the film very well and adds more
excitement to it. Another great exmaple of an early successor is An Andalusian Dog,
hi h as reated i the ery sa e year a d sho s a si ilar approa h as Verto s fil . It
is considered the perfect example of surrealistic filmmaking and conveys a very
incoherent plot that is held together by fast cuts. One extract of 1 minute contains about
30 short cuts. The quick succession of jump-cuts imparts an accelerated story and a
feeling of disorientation2. But both short-films never lose track that is laid down by the
story in An Andalusian Dog and by the music in Man with a Movie Camera.
Essentiall components oft he MTV-Editing as we know it today can be found in these two
exmaples and are listed below:
- A very high frequenz of cuts
- A often unrelated combination of scenes
- Frequent change of camera angles
- A unified musical arrangement

1
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-man-with-a-movie-camera-1929
2
http://evergreen.loyola.edu/rjcook/www/sm/pdf/dog.pdf
The Beatles made another step to the development of the MTV-Editing as we know it
today with their famous music video for their hit-song Help3. Music videos already
were extremely popular and established themselves as inherent part of the current
media culture. Until that point all music videos were arranged very straightforward.
Incoherent pictures and ordinary visual effects were what people at that time pictured as
high quality music videos. Often the actual music was the only thing that held these
pictures together and reminds of early silent movies. The Beatles actually took it a step
further and integrated a plot into their video that runs through the whole film. They
built a bridge between ordinary music videos and the elements of film and paved the
way for a new form of cinematography.

1.2 Other influences

Besides the influences MTV already gave us there were other inventions that contributed
to the moulding of the MTV-Editing. One oft hem was the invention of the remote
control for TV. A simple device that allowed the user to switch between TV-Channels as
often an das fast as they wished to4. People created tendencies to zap between several
channels and to stay at what seemed most interesting. Several tendencies can be seen in
the human behaviour that also helped characterizing the MTV-Editing. A quick change of
scenes/channels and became more common and actual movie plot became more and
more unimportant which led to a change of perception in speed and film-coherence. The
human impatience is exactly why music videos with high cut-frequency became so
popular and why MTV-Editing still influences modern filmmakers. Another invention that
strongly influenced the development of MTV-Editing was the video recorder5. This
invention also fed the human impatience by allowing the user to record, play, pause and
fast forward any programm. Boring scenes could be skipped which gave users complete
power over the TV-Programm. MTV-Editi g as t a artisti i spiratio ut ore of a
consequence of human nature.

2. MTV-Editing in the 80s

The usage of this style found its way very quickly into our media world. The Beatles
created a movement in the 60s that caused ripples that still could be felt in the 80s. One
of the most expensive music videos our time was filmed during this time.

3
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/beatles-help-review/
4
http://www.lgblog.de/2012/11/21/die-geschichte-der-fernbedienung-vom-kabel-zur-bewegungssteuerung/
5
http://video-rekorder.blogspot.de/
2.1 Thriller ( 1982 )6
Michael Jackson and Director Stephen R. Johnson created one of the most innovative
and experimental music videos ever and brought profundity and new elements into the
usi ideo s e e. It as t just the first usi ideo to e er ha e the udget a d le gth
of a feature film but it was the first one to double its o ru i g ti e i a usi ideo.
Now this kind of music videos are extremely popular and very common. This music video
was a continuation of the freedom that started with the invention of the remote control
and the video recorder and created new ways and freedom for future filmmakers.

2.2 Flashdance ( 1983 )7

MTV-Editing now started becoming more and more popular and was used in feature
films.
One example would be the movie Flashdance which was released in 1983. A dance-
movie that vivified its choreographic scenes with quick jump cuts and close ups on
details. The choreographies were filmed from different perspectives which captured
every single movement from all angles. The close shots of the protagonist breathed life
into the movie and gave it a very artistic element which let it seem like a music video. 2
scenes out of the movie (workout;gym) actually are perfect examples of MTV-Editing.

2.3 Footloose ( 1984 )8

Another movie that works with similar elements as Flashdance was Footloose. The
ope i g s e e sho s a series of lose shots of feet da i g to the o ies ai s ore
Footloose by Kenny Loggins. Here is where you can see the clear influence of music
videos on movies. Unconventional perspectives in a rhythmic succession were only seen
in music videos before. Another special feature ist he build up of the music scenes. As
soon as the music plays in all conflicts and the current emotions are worked out in a
dance. The shots change from artistic pictures that emphasizes choreohgraphy to the
protagonists emotions which are shown through close ups on his face. All these things
are more similar to music videos than to cinematography but we still are in fact in a
transition phase between music videos that set this whole movement in motion and the
movies as we know them today.

2.4 Top Gun ( 1986 )9

The beginning of the 80s was a transitionphase that originated iconic dance-movies
which shaped MTV-Editing. In the middle of the 80s MTV-Editing was already used as
stylisti de i e as see i To Cruises reakthrough o ie Top Gun. The o ies
opening credits are a perfect example of MTV-Editing. The main score underlines the
visually protruding scenery which is shown in rhythmic patterns. Top Gun also released

6
http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/thriller-video
7
http://www.macromedia-elearning.de/moodle/mod/book/view.php?id=133635&chapterid=7272
8
http://www.macromedia-elearning.de/moodle/mod/book/view.php?id=133635&chapterid=7272
9
http://www.macromedia-elearning.de/moodle/mod/book/view.php?id=133635&chapterid=7273
the first trailer that used MTV-Editing. It should be a common stylistic device in the
future and the trailer revolutionized the way trailer are shown now.
The fast moving nature of MTV-Editing established itself in such a way that the viewers
got used to it. The perception has changed permanently and filmmakers all over the
world used MTV-Editing so frequently that music was used even more excessively in
order to experiment with it. The era of MTV-Editing ended with the 80s but the works
originated in that time had such a deep impact on our perception of cinema that it still
inspires filmmakers. MTV-Editing can be found in all current blockbusters. I will now
elaborate on 3 specific aspects that were especially characterized by MTV-Editing: Pace,
Social-Criticism, Incoherent material.

3. MTV-Editing in the 90s

3.1 Natural Born Killers ( 1994 )10

An example for all 3 aspects would be Natural Born Killers by Oliver Stone and Quentin
Tarantino.
This movie was released in an already very controversial time and seized all current
events and displayed them in an exaggerated way. This movie is considered a radical
satire and was purposely filmed to provoce its viewers. Natural Born Killers is easily
one of the most brutal movies ever filmed and points the finger at the media society
hi h is portrayed as rai less tool. The o ie is t a out the serial killers Mi key &
Mallaroy Knox but about the publicity the media grants these two killers. They give them
the same attention as a hero. The media acts so greedy for news stories that they
advocate the murderes actions who feed them with daily atrocities. The viewer realizes
how pathetic our current society is which Mickey & Mallaroy Knox are a part of.
To accomplish that the viewer notices that a mirror is being held up to them Oliver Stone
uses a variety of recordings from different sources that are often shown and flash up
when they are confronted with violent scenes. The material that is being shown is a
constant mix of documented and animated scenes and flashes up for just fractions of a
second. The material is never in unity and creates a form of chaos.
As just stated the pace of the movie increases as violent scenes are shown. The viewer
sees all these different excerpts in a very short amount of time. Whenever Mickey &
Mallaroy Knox are in rage the amount of jump cuts increase and so do the changes of
perspective11, which is also a definite characteristic of MTV-Editing.

10
http://www.macromedia-elearning.de/moodle/mod/book/view.php?id=133635&chapterid=7276
11

https://books.google.de/books?id=vm9EBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA262&lpg=PA262&dq=natural+born+killers+einfl%C
3%BCsse&source=bl&ots=HTVd16jZlc&sig=48I4nHX5vBPYBkJbpd-
3.2 The Rock ( 1996 )12
Another slightly less controversial exmaple for the usage of MTV-Editing is the incredibly
famous car chase scene in The Rock, directed by Michael Bay. The cutting speed
increased since the 80s. Parts because of inventions that changed the viewers perception
of speed and parts because of MTV-Editing that turned into a very common stylistic
device. This car chase scene is actually the fastest cutted scene in film history. Viewers
were only able to keep track of the action because the most important car was very high
lighted.

3.3 Lola rennt ( 1998 )13

Lola rennt by Tom Twyker is a great example for fast paced cutting and the usage of a
variety of different filmsources which really bombards the viewers with pictures. Tom
Twyker accelerated the story which was already very fast paced by using a lot of cuts.
The story is held pretty simple: Manni is an underground messenger in Berlin. When he
accidently loses 100.000 DM, that he was supposed to deliver by 12, he starts the story.
It begins at 11.40 when he calls Lola who promises him at the end of their conversation
she will find the money in 20 minutes. These 20 minutes are the playtime of the movie.
The plot of the movie is very simple and the visual appeal is very emphasized. The movie-
plot dictated the pace. Tom Twyker found a way to combine the artistic elements of
MTV-Editing to create a masterpiece of a short-film. A lot of people view Lola rennt as
a 20 minute music video. I have to disagree with that. It seems a lot more like a video
game in which Lola is the main character who we as viewers accompany through all
stages of the game. The cutting technique is very unique and 360 camera spins remind
of a 3-D modell. Similar to Natural Born Killeres we jump from real recordings to
animated scenes to documented footage.
The uniqueness of this movie is that the story has a sequence that shows the same
action in 3 different versions. They all have a similar beginning but completely different
outcomes. These 3 versions are shown in real-time. To further accelerate the action the
movie uses several techniques :
Black/White:
The pictures often change from black to white. Black/White represents the past while
colored pictures show the present.
Animated Scenes:

w68xANcs&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwilseW8m9TKAhUHfywKHRWQCjkQ6AEIPjAH#v=onepage&q=natural%2
0born%20killers%20einfl%C3%BCsse&f=false
12
http://www.macromedia-elearning.de/moodle/mod/book/view.php?id=133635&chapterid=7277
13
http://www.macromedia-elearning.de/moodle/mod/book/view.php?id=133635&chapterid=7277
Since the movie is about possibilities in life Tom Twyker wanted to research the
possibilities of filmmaking. The animated scenes are supposed to show that there are no
limits to fantasy.
Snapshots:
To narrate the consequences of an action in a few seconds Tom Twyker shows a series
of polaroid pictures. By doing that the movie doesnt lose its pace but gains depth and
encourages the viewer to think further.
Splitscreens:
The split screens give us as viewers the opportunity to see several places at the same
time or to behold an object from different angles. Both is being used a lot during the
opening scene of Lola rennt to immediatly build up pace because it would take too
much time to establish all places and people one after another.
Slow-Motion:
To emphasize a few scenes Tom Twyker uses slow-motion to slow down the action and
to speed it up to normal speed afterwards. In one scene Lola gets shot severely and
breaks down. Slow-motion intensifies the moment and increases the drama.
Jump Cuts:
Lola rennt creates a lot of parallel actions that are being connected by fast cuts. These
so called Jump Cuts help the viewer to connect complicated, incoherent actions and
create more tension and emotions e.g.: Lola shouts at her father and we jump to a
shattering glas.

Closing Word

It has to be stated that MTV-Editing is often being misused to narrate complicated

actions simpler. Jump-Cuts offer an easy way of entertainment and very often dialouges
or relations between characters are being displayed by fast cuts instead of using more
time to establish these. Tom Twyker showed us that MTV-Editing can be used in a very
artistic way but nowadays directors feed hollywood with washed up versions of visually
appealing footage. Tension is not being build up anymore but bein short cutted. MTV-
Editing has without a question stamped our perception of filmmaking and is now one of
the most important stylistic directions we have ever had.