Whiplash’s final scene was edited by Tom Cross and directed by Damian Chazelle. It is said that the final scene of this film is the one that concluded the decision for the film to be awarded best edited film. The use of cuts throughout the scene build up the tension and make the viewer more and more anxious to see if he successfully performs the song that he failed at so many times during the rest of the film. The song (caravan) is an indication to the viewer that he will fail, we get this feeling because until the final scene very time the song is played he fails and annoys his teacher Terence Fletcher (JK Simmons: Oscar for Best Supporting Actor) so when Andrew completes the song successfully we are filled with joy.
At the very start of this scene there are 2 distinctive shots that are held for longer than most other shots in the film, these shots are close ups of Andrews face after he has been embarrassed by his former teacher, Terence Fletcher, These shots are held to express Andrews emotions and allow the audience to sympathies him even more. After the first held shot it cuts to a shorter shot of the audience who all look very unimpressed and judgmental, It then cuts back to another held shot of Andrew, this is an example of the Kuleshov effect (The Kuleshov effect is a film editing effect demonstrated by Soviet film-maker Lev Kuleshov in the 1910s and 1920s. It is a mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation) the shot begins with Andrews face and then cuts to the audience and then back to his face again showing his emotion and reaction towards the second shot (the audience).
When Andrew comes back on to the stage and begins to play again and the rest of the band join in there is a montage of all the different musicians, a Montage is a technique in film editing in which a series of short shots are edited into a sequence. this particular montage is in time with the music which is aesthetically pleasing for the viewer. This excites the viewer and allows us to feel a sense of pride for Andrew because of how good the music is and the camera cuts make it even better for the viewer.
