Editing technique · used in 2 films
Changing the look of the picture mid-film, such as its aspect ratio, color or film texture. The shift marks a change in time, mood or reality.
Examples
Peter Jackson · 2018
The film starts in a boxy black and white frame like old newsreels. When the men reach the front, the picture opens into a wider color frame. Reviews describe the jump as a shock that puts you in the trenches with them.
Where to see it: Arrival at the front: The boxy black and white picture opens up into a wide color image as the men head toward the trenches.
Bo Burnham · 2021
Burnham changes the shape of the picture to match the mood. A narrow frame can feel like a phone call, and a wide frame can feel like a release. You notice the change before you can say why it hit you.
Where to see it: FaceTime with My Mom and White Woman's Instagram. The first uses a narrow frame that mimics a phone screen. In the second, the frame expands to full size during a verse about a character's mother's death.
Questions