An Introduction to Film

mass destruction to end the world. The problem is
that Spottswoode has to make a complete soldier of
Johnston in “very little time.” Johnston naively asks,
“How are we gonna do that?” and Spottswoode
replies, “I think I know justwhat we need.” Thus
begins a musical sequence called “Montage!”—set
to a lively disco beat—in which a time-condensing
montage sequence (using many split screens) is
accompanied by lyrics breathlessly announcing the
technique and style of the conventional montage
sequence:

... show us the passage of time—we’re gonna need
a montage!
... show a lot of things that are happening at once
to remind everyone of what’s going on
... with every shot, show a little improvement;
to show it all would take too long—that’s called a
montage!
... even Rockyhad a montage

and

... always fadeout in a montage; if you fadeout, it
seems more time has passed in a montage.

This sequence provides an excellent example of a

montage as it simultaneously satirizes action

movies. The “Montage!” song itself was borrowed

from South Park.

In order for these various editorial manipula-

tions of time to be understandable to viewers, edi-

tors must employ accepted conventions of editing

350 CHAPTER 8EDITING

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3

Montage Although these still shots do not convey the pace
of the lively lyrics in the “Montage!” sequence of Trey
Parker’s Team America: World Police(2004; editor: Tom
Vogt), imagine a driving disco beat accompanying these
images of Spottswoode overseeing the process by which
Gary Johnston is being made into a complete soldier: close-
up of Johnston [1], Johnston practicing on the firing range
[2], running on a treadmill [3], lifting weights [4], and
engaging in karate with Spottswoode [5].