Michael Sanchez
Non-Linear Editing
Alex Bordino
Spring 2015
From the point where you choose to begin the narrative to whom you choose to tell the story for you, there are many ways to tell a story. Most commonly you are seeing the narrative from the very beginning with an omniscient narration, however Orson Welles decides to switch things up in his hit film Citizen Kane. The film begins with the death of Charles Kane, the film’s titular character and biggest mystery. Following his death we are treated to a short film about Kane’s life, but the film, as journalists determine, does not really explain who Charles Kane was and so begins the story. Instead of beginning with the life of Kane leading to his death, Orson Welles decides to heavily use flashbacks to give us a glimpse of who Kane really was. Through the use of a restricted narrative, we follow Mr. Thompson, a journalist, as he interviews those who were close to Kane thus allowing us to learn about Kane as Thompson does. This use of restricted narration also helps add to the mystery of Kane. As the story progresses we travel back and forth from present to past through the use of flashbacks and learn more about Kane along the way – it is this use of non-linear structure that makes the film stand out. If Orson Welles had decided to use a more traditional, linear structure we would have been robbed from the mystery surrounding this complex character. This non-linear back and forth allows us to, as Mr. Thompson put it, gather the pieces to the puzzle that is Charles Kane. Over seventy years later and Citizen Kane is still regarded as a game changer because of Orson Welles’ creative decisions.
Non-Linear Editing
Alex Bordino
Spring 2015
From the point where you choose to begin the narrative to whom you choose to tell the story for you, there are many ways to tell a story. Most commonly you are seeing the narrative from the very beginning with an omniscient narration, however Orson Welles decides to switch things up in his hit film Citizen Kane. The film begins with the death of Charles Kane, the film’s titular character and biggest mystery. Following his death we are treated to a short film about Kane’s life, but the film, as journalists determine, does not really explain who Charles Kane was and so begins the story. Instead of beginning with the life of Kane leading to his death, Orson Welles decides to heavily use flashbacks to give us a glimpse of who Kane really was. Through the use of a restricted narrative, we follow Mr. Thompson, a journalist, as he interviews those who were close to Kane thus allowing us to learn about Kane as Thompson does. This use of restricted narration also helps add to the mystery of Kane. As the story progresses we travel back and forth from present to past through the use of flashbacks and learn more about Kane along the way – it is this use of non-linear structure that makes the film stand out. If Orson Welles had decided to use a more traditional, linear structure we would have been robbed from the mystery surrounding this complex character. This non-linear back and forth allows us to, as Mr. Thompson put it, gather the pieces to the puzzle that is Charles Kane. Over seventy years later and Citizen Kane is still regarded as a game changer because of Orson Welles’ creative decisions.
No comments:
Post a Comment