At first for my students, much of film is invisible. After all, continuity editing hides the cuts as if you were blinking or switching your attention. So many viewers who are very sophisticated in terms of understanding film narratives, are still relatively untutored in noticing camera work, editing, and even the various elements of mise en scene.
Even my I.B. classes start with a technique that was probably designed for very young children – clap at ever edit point. It’s great if you can find a sequence with jump cuts, dissolves and hidden edits. It makes watching a film an active act of analysis.
