The Social Network

'The Social Network' (2010), directed by David Fincher, is a critically acclaimed film about the founders of the social-networking site, Facebook. The film won many awards, including the following:

• AFI - Movie of the year
• Oscar - Best achievement in film editing
• Oscar - Best writing, adapted screenplay
• Oscar - Best achievement in written music
• Bafta - Editing
• Bafta - Director
• Bafta - Screenplay

and many more...

I remember watching this film around the time I was about to start, or already had started university. At the time, I found the film to be a marvel in pacing, editing, sound design, cinematography and screenplay. In other words the piece as a whole is brilliantly crafted together.

Angus Wall, one of the two editors involved with the making of 'The Social Network', explains how they had to make sure that Arron's script was brought to life on-screen, whether through a slight thing the actor does with their body, or an inflection in a series of words. Despite the mess of all the different takes, they had to make sure it was completely seamless onscreen.

Angus Wall

He explains how the movie is fast-paced, along with the performances onscreen. The opening scene itself took nearly 3 weeks to piece together.

Kirk Baxter, the second editor involved with the making of 'The Social Network' explains how he was attracted to the fast pace of the film. initially, they created an edit that featured shots nearly entirely of the fast-paced dialogue, and upon watching it back, they discovered it was incredibly over-whelming. There were moments they needed to slow down, creating pauses and gaps.

He goes on to explain how the editing room was a very private place, and that if any problems occurred, all of them would funnel through David (the director) before reaching the editors themselves. I imagine this creates a stable, functional and efficient working atmosphere that can only benefit the editors' work.

The Social Network - Headquarters Scene

 The scene begins with a POV (point of view)

Then cuts back to the person's POV the audience has been looking through. This cuts familiarises the audience with the subject.

The same shot continues to track backwards with the character's movement. By keeping the camera/shot fixed on him, we see his emotion and empathise with him. The lowdown angle looking up at him makes him look more fierce, thus making the audience feel smaller in comparison.

Cut to a wider shot, to establish the setting and the actions he is making.




A shot, reverse shot sequence begins, initially with Mark's reaction to what Eduardo has done to his laptop.




Cut back to Eduardo, once again a low-down position to show his presence, emotion and body language.




Shortly after, we cut back to the boardroom, reminding the audience that what we've witnessed was a 'flashback'. Shot reverse shot of dialogue along with the character's reactions follow.

A soundtrack slowly fades in during the boardroom scene, creating a tense atmosphere filled with suspense. The soundtrack evolves into a mellow backtrack when the pair continue to argue. Emotion is conveyed throughout the scene, and with the combination of med-close-ups, the soundtrack, body language and facial expressions, the scene put together with great effect.