This study explores the impact of editing and shot-scale on film comprehension. Participants (n = 120) viewed a film depicting a man and woman performing a modern dance. Two versions employed editing to focus on either the male or female dancer; a third version was from a single objective camera position. After viewing, participants were asked to recall what they saw. These recalls were analyzed to examine how the editing choices influenced viewers’ sense of narrativity and character.
The Role of Cinematics on Understanding Filmed Narratives