Video Editing Techniques

I watched Frontline: Breaking the Bank on PBS. The video editing technique used that was most intriguing to me was the use of aerial views of downtown New York, headquarters of various banking institutions, and the shot of Manhattan’s Columbus Circle, which was used numerous times throughout the show.

The numerous aerial views were used, I believe, to symbolize the enormity of the banking crisis with the players, or culprits, shown through huge lavish skyscrapers. The shots of Columbus Circle are interesting as it is a major transportation hub in Manhattan, so it fits within the context of the story. It also fits metaphorically using the circle to convey the infinite nature of the crisis where everyone seems to be chasing their tail.

The broad overview shots were usually followed by black and white still shots of bank CEOs or Treasury Secretary Paulson. I believe these shots were used to depersonalize these people and keep the mood of the documentary as desensitized as possible. The black and white photos also lend credibility to the story as it plays out more as a news story with shots that could also appear in a hard print newspaper.