Week 8: Montage & Rhythm

Module Notes

What Is Montage?

Montage is more than “rapid cutting.” It’s the deliberate collision (or harmony) of shots to create meaning and emotion through intellectual, tonal, rhythmic, and overtonal relationships.

Key Concepts

• Metric Montage – cut by fixed length regardless of content.
• Rhythmic Montage – cut by visual continuity of movement.
• Tonal Montage – mood & lighting guide the cut.
• Overtonal Montage – cumulative effect of metric+rhythmic+tonal.
• Intellectual Montage – juxtaposition creates abstract idea.

In-Class Group Exercise: Mini-Montage Lab (Under 30s)

1. Pick your focus: Choose any two montage types:
   • Metric (equal-duration cuts)
   • Rhythmic (cut to motion or beat)
   • Tonal (mood, light, texture)
   • Overtonal (layered metric, rhythmic, tonal)
   • Intellectual (idea through juxtaposition)
2. Capture Shots: 6–10 short clips and find or generate one audio track (music or sound collage).
3. Edit: Each student edits (from group clips) one montage under 30 seconds that clearly demonstrates your chosen montage types.
4. Export and share: Export H.264 720p or 1080p. Post to Slack with a one-sentence caption naming the two montage types used.

Montage Assignment · 30-60‑Seconds (5%)

DUE: Oct 24

Goal: Build a 30-60s video that communicates an idea or feeling purely through shot relationships and rhythm.

1. Mix music, voice-over, AI generated audio tracks to accompany video montage.
2. Employ at least three montage types (metric, rhythmic, tonal, intellectual).
3. Add one superimposed word or graphic to punctuate meaning.
4. Export H.264 720p or 1080p; upload to Vimeo/YouTube; submit link on Canvas + share on Slack
5. In Slack caption, list which montage types you used.