Media Laguage- Editing

Some say that editing is the most important part of the film making process. It certainly is what allowed film to move from simple visual records of events to complex story telling.
Because of the importance of editing, the editor’s role may equal that of the director. Regardless of the footage shot for a film, it will be worthless unless care and creativity is invested in deciding which shots will appear; in what order; and how long they will remain on the screen.
This assembly process must done with sensitivity, perception and artistic appreciation of the film’s theme and the director’s intentions. In most cases, the director and the editor are almost equal partners in making a film and they usually work together to create the first version of the film (the “director’s cut”).
The role and power of the editor is totally dependent on the freedom allowed by the director. Alfred Hitchcock, for example, would plan the angle and length of each shot so carefully, the editor had little more to do than splice the shots according to the script.
On the other hand, director Stanley Kubrick was well-known for shooting up to 70 or more “takes” of the same action and then making the final decision during editing with the advise of his editor.
Other directors, such as Martin Scorcese and Steven Speilberg, use their editors’ talents from the first day of the project, calling upon their expertise during the scriptwriting and shooting phases of the production.

Editing Techniques
http://www.lavideofilmmaker.com/filmmaking/film-editing-tips.html

cut A visual transition created in editing in which one shot is instantaneously replaced on screen by another.
continuity editingEditing that creates action that flows smoothly across shots and scenes without jarring visual inconsistencies. Establishes a sense of story for the viewer.
cross cutting
Cutting back and forth quickly between two or more lines of action, indicating they are happening simultaneously.
dissolve A gradual scene transition. The editor overlaps the end of one shot with the beginning of the next one.
editing The work of selecting and joining together shots to create a finished film.
errors of continuity Disruptions in the flow of a scene, such as a failure to match action or the placement of props across shots.
establishing shot A shot, normally taken from a great distance or from a "bird's eye view," that establishes where the action is about to occur. eyeline match The matching of eyelines between two or more characters. For example, if Sam looks to the right in shot A, Jean will look to the left in shot B. This establishes a relationship of proximity and continuity.
fade A visual transition between shots or scenes that appears on screen as a brief interval with no picture. The editor fades one shot to black and then fades in the next. Often used to indicate a change in time and place.
final cut The finished edit of a film, approved by the director and the producer. This is what the audience sees.
iris Visible on screen as a circle closing down over or opening up on a shot. Seldom used in contemporary film, but common during the silent era of Hollywood films.
jump cut A cut that creates a lack of continuity by leaving out parts of the action.
matched cut A cut joining two shots whose compositional elements match, helping to establish strong continuity of action.
montage Scenes whose emotional impact and visual design are achieved through the editing together of many brief shots. The shower scene from Psycho is an example of montage editing.
rough cut The editor's first pass at assembling the shots into a film, before tightening and polishing occurs.
sequence shot A long take that extends for an entire scene or sequence. It is composed of only one shot with no editing.
shot reverse shot cuttingUsually used for conversation scenes, this technique alternates between over-the-shoulder shots showing each character speaking.
wipe Visible on screen as a bar travelling across the frame pushing one shot off and pulling the next shot into place. Rarely used in contemporary film, but common in films from the 1930s and 1940s.

Why is editing so important ?

At the end of the film making process it is the editing that brings the film together and can make a bad or amateur film appear professional, it can add to the tension and build up of a film or completely take it away. It takes these short snippets of recordings and sound and turns them into a coherent film.