This
blog will contain three tasks. Task 1 will be about understanding the
development and principles of editing. Task 2 will be about being able
to prepare moving image material for editing. Task 3 will be about being
able to edit moving image material. In each task, I will be explaining
some of the the main things that relate to the topic of the task.
Extras: Class Tasks
The following includes some class tasks that we have conducted over the first year of the course:
Using Storyboards
To show my understanding of how to use a storyboard, I have created a
mini-scenario where I dropped my phone, hoped it did not break and then
finding out that it did not break. There are 6 shot numbers used in this
storyboard, with 2 different shop types (Medium Close-Up and
Point-of-View).
Slating
One thing that we learned in this year is what 'Slating'
is and how Film and TV crew use it. During the process of making a film
or television program, slating is completely necessary. Without it, the
footage that they film would most likely get all muddled up, they would
not know what shot is what and it will delay the process of editing
etc. This is why is it compulsory to use a clapperboard when filming.
To
demonstrate the use of a clapperboard, we were set a class task where
we were put into teams and told to film some test shots with a
clapperboard, using the correct order of words. The following is the
outcome of my group's task:
1 Minute Short Film Exercise
We were set a task in class to produce a 1 minute film in a group using multiple camera shots. Our
short story is about someone trying to take a college bag, which
involves a college student and a security guard. Here is the outcome of
what my group produced:
Task 1: Understand the Development and Principles of Editing
Development of Editing:
Shot Variation: It is important that when a film/television program is being made and edited for the moving image, that they film and use a variety of different shots. Sticking with the same types of shots can make the final product rather dull overall.
This video shows many examples of different shot types. All of the shots shown in this video are well-known in the media industry and are all used in film and television.
Multiple Points-of-View: Multiple Points-of-View is when the camera is used to show what is happening to more than one character. For example; in a fight scene, we will see what is happening to both people who are involved in the fight.
This video is a visual example of Multiple Points-of-View being used in the moving image. The film that is used to show these Multiple Points-of-View is 'Magnolia', which was released in 1999.
Following the Action: A follow shot (also known as a tracking shot) is when the camera follows the subject that is being filmed. They are normally used in films/television programs to create audience alignment with the viewpoint of the character being followed.
This video shows examples of some follow shots that are used in moving image. Most, if not all of this shots are used in modern day films and television programs.
In-Camera Editing: In a nutshell, in-camera editing is editing before digital editingexisted.When digital editing was not available to mankind, film shots had to be filmed in order. It's near enough portable editing during the progression of filming something.
This video shows a modern example of in-camera editing. This also shows that old techniques are still used today, which is important to know. This is because nearly all editing is done digitally nowadays because of how far digital technology has come, however, it's important to remember that old techniques/ways of editing are still used today.
Purposes - Storytelling:
Engaging the Viewer: In order to keep a product alive and active, a sustainable relationship between filmmakers and the audience is needed. The way they can do this is that they can allow the audience to participate in the storytelling of their films/television shows, which undoubtedly enables the viewer's emotions and imagination participate in the film/television show. Here is an interesting quote from a Russian film-maker.
"Never try to convey your idea to the audience - it is a thankless
and senseless task. Show them life, and they'll find within themselves
the means to assess and appreciate it."- Andrei Tarkovsky.
Development of Drama: For films and television shows that focus on drama, it is down to how the footage is edited that determines how intense the scenes can be. In drama films, many reaction shots are used to help show how one or more characters respond to a situation that has happened.
Here are some examples of reaction shots, however, these reaction shots are from an animated film (Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs), not a drama film.
Creating Motivation: When producing moving image, creating motivation is key to keeping the audience intrigued. In order to correctly edit moving image, the editor has to always look for and identify motivation in their cuts/editing, which overall affects how the audience's feelings/emotions about the end product. Creating motivation incorrectly could ruin a great piece of moving image.
This scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a great example of successfully creating motivation in the moving image.
Creating Pace: Pacing is when the editor for a film or television program changes the length of the footage. Faster pacing suggests to the audience that what is happening visually is exciting. Slower pacing suggests to the audience that what is happening is relaxing/calm.
Here is an example of Faster Pacing in Moving Image. It is from the film 'Kingsman: The Secret Service'. It has a fast pace because near enough all of the visuals shown in this scene involves action, violence and death.
Here is an example of Slower Pacing in Moving Image. It is from 'The Godfather 2' and it has a slow pace because near enough all of the visuals shown in this scene involves dialogue, no action etc.
Conventions and Techniques:
180 Degree Rule: This is where a camera must remain on one side of an imaginary line that is drawn vertically to the camera's viewpoint in the beginning shot of a scene. An example of this rule is; a jogger is running from left to right. In the next shot she must enter the screen from the same side that she entered the previous one in, so she must enter from the left side. This is very important to follow when in the production for moving image and breaking this rule will most likely confuse the audience and more.
Continuity: To be able to produce a successful piece of moving image, continuity is very important. Continuity is a structure of cutting, which is used to keep narrative action strong, interesting and continuous. It does by following a few rules.
The rules are to use the following:
The benefits of continuity editing are:
Montage: Montage editing is the procedure where an editor cuts up film/footage and edits it into a screened sequence, and this is done to save time in a production. An example would be that an editor could take 20 minutes of footage of a women preparing for a marathon and edit it into a montage (which usually just has a soundtrack playing over it, not much dialogue etc.). The end result of the montage turns out to be 2-4 minutes. Just by doing a montage, the editor has saved over 15 minutes of time in the film, as well as has shown to the audience that the women has done many activities to prepare of a marathon.
Here is a visual example of montage editing. This montage from the film 'Rocky 4' shows the main character, Rocky, preparing for a big fight against a Russian boxer. This montage has a fast pace and it also uses music that helps show to the audience how much Rocky is working out and preparing for his fight.
Parallel Editing: This is an editing technique which consist of the editor cutting between two or more actions that are related and that happen in two locations that are separate/points that are different in time.
The following is a brilliant visual example of parallel editing in moving image that is from the film 'The Silence of the Lambs'.
Jump-Cutting: Jump-cutting in an editing technique for moving image where the editor cuts two shots of the same subject (the shots being consecutive) that are recorded from the same camera positions/angles (which could potentially differ). The effect that this editing technique is supposed to give off to the audience is that time has jumped/leaped forward.
Transitions: Cut: Cutting in editing is where you cut a piece of footage into many parts, which is possibly the most common part of editing, as well as trimming. Editors may cut for many different reasons, one of which could be cutting a clip in half to place a different clip in the middle.
Point-of-View Shot: A Point-of-View shot (also known as P.O.V) is when the camera is representing what a character sees in first person in moving image.
This is a small visual example of what a Point-of-View shot looks like. The shot shows someone looking down as they walk.
Fade: This is an editing effect where one shot fades out (normally to blackness) and the next shot fades in (from blackness to shot). This is one of the most common editing effects that are used, especially for learners, as it is simple to do and it can be used rather effectively.
This is a visual example of fading. As you can see in the video, one shot fades into blackness and the next shot appears from the blackness and leads to the actual shot. Dissolve: This is an effect that is used in editing rather commonly. It's when one shot dissolves into the next shot. This means that you can still partly see the first shot for a small amount of time when the second shot appears.
This is a visual example of this effect. As you can see, one shot is still partly visible for a short amount of time when the next shot appears.
Crosscutting: This is an editing technique which is very commonly used in films. It is used to show action happening at the same time in two different locations. The camera will normally cut away from one piece of the action to another piece of action, and it usually has a fast pace.
This video shows a good, short and accurate visual example of crosscutting being used. It involves a man in a hoodie looking for and eventuality chasing after a women.
Wipe: This is an editing technique that involves one shot gradually being replaced by the next shot in a regular pattern. The wipe itself could vary between simple straight lines to multifaceted shapes. It is quite a common technique to use, as it is easy to use etc. If an editor wants to show a way of a change of viewpoint or location, this effect would be good to use.
This is a good, short and simple visual example of this transition taking place. In this video, it shows a teddy bear disappearing from a flat surface.
Task 2: Be Able to Prepare Moving Image Material for Editing
Preparation Techniques:
Creating Bins: Creating bins before you edit is absolutely vital, as bins are used to store everything. Bins are used to store footage, music, sound effects and much more, so it is important that you create bins correctly before you can edit.
So that you don't lose track of where everything is, it is important to try and make it as easy for yourself as possible. This could keeping track of what bin is for what and even how tall and wide each of your bins are. It may also be a good idea to make your most important bins the most easiest to locate. In 'Avid Media Composer', it is possible to create folders which you can store your bins in. This is mainly done if editors that use 'Avid' have large projects with many clips etc.
The following video down below is a tutorial that shows you how to visually create and manage bins (and more) in 'Avid Media Composer'.
Checking Material for Faults: It is very important when filming and editing that you check everything and make sure there are absolutely no faults, no errors at all in anything that you have produced. For footage, some of the faults that it could potentiality have includes; exposure (if footage is underexposed or overexposed), playback failure (if footage can not be watched properly without technical errors etc.) and many more.
Examples of faults that could occur audibly include; sound of speech/dialogue recorded poorly (the microphones could have been too close/too far away from the character's mouth), playback failure (if recorded sound cannot be played back without technical errors etc.) and more.
It is also important to make sure that the editing software you plan to use is fully working. This can include making sure you can import clips, sound, create bins, create folders, making sure that you can save it and open it up correctly from the save and more.
Labeling Tapes: Labeling tapes is a very important process that you must remember to do. If you fail to label everything that you film, your footage will undoubtedly get all muddled up and it will delay the process of editing, and in the world of work, if you fail to do something on time, in this case, edit, you will most-likely lose your job.
A way to ensure that an editor knows what piece of footage is what, professional film crews will/should always use a clapperboard to slate. If you go to the introduction section of this blog, you will see that I have already talked about slating, and I have even done some slating of my own with a group in my college class.
Once your footage is in your editing software, it is recommended that you name it so that you remember what shot is what and what take it is (etc.), just in case.
Storing Tapes or Film: Once you have your tapes/film, it is important that you store them and that you store them well. Film/tapes are quite dedicate and sensitive, if you handle and store them without care, you could potentiality ruin them. On top of this, it is possible that the tapes/film can decay.
A good way to think about storing your film/tapes is that with your film/tape, you have to potential to make tons of money that will forever keep you financially secure. Use this as motivation to keep your film/tapes as safe and as secure as possible. Good locations that you could use to store your film/tapes are dark places that are away from the sun and damp.
Producing A Rushes Log: A Rushes Log are pieces of paper that are designed to help you with your footage. They normally vary with what sections are included, but they all have the same meaning. The type of sections that you can expect to see on a rushes log includes; file names (the names of each piece of footage recorder, for example; MVI_9989.MOV), the duration of each piece of footage (how long each piece of footage recorded lasts for, for example; 00:3:09), a description of each shot (short information that says what is happening in each shot) and comments for each shot (comments could include if you are happy with the shot, how you want the shot to look after editing etc.)
Here is an example of a rushed log used for a music video:
Preparing to Edit:
Importing Clips: This is the one of the first stages of editing, importing your footage. In 'Avid Media Composer', it is recommended that you create bins for your footage. Importing clips can take a while, especially if the file size is big.The good thing about importing clips is that you normally only have to import each clip once and then you're done. In 'Avid Media Composer', once you have imported a clip in a bin, it stays there throughout the entirety of your editing process.
This video show you how to visually import clips into 'Avid Media Composer':
Timelines: The timeline on 'Avid Media Composer' is rather advanced, as there is a lot that you are able to do. Unlike editing software such as 'Windows Movie Maker', 'Avid Media Composer' allows you to add multiple effects, pieces of audio, clips. For beginners, the timeline takes a bit of getting used too, but overtime with practice, it is pretty easy to pick up. When adding effects to your footage, you can actually find the effect you want and drag it onto the timeline.
Here is a visual image of what the timeline looks like on 'Avid Media Composer':
The following is a tutorial video explaining how to use the timeline and more. Tutorials are very useful and can help beginners dramatically:
Online and Offline Editing: There are two ways of editing in the media industry; offline and online. Offline editing is where you pretty much produce a rough cut of your edit. Clips that are imported in come out at low resolution (poor quality) which allows a good amount of footage to be imported and available to use. All of the big, important and creative decisions are made in this version of editing, such as what shots to use, what cuts to use, what effects to use and so on.
Online editing is near enough a completing session, where the footage that you imported in offline editing is re-digitized to the highest possible resolution (for films and television shows, the lowest could usually be around 1080p, and the highest resolution varies) and the cut is more or less rebuilt based on the timecode from your offline edit.
Formats: File formats are the construction of how digital information is kept within a computer file. Different file formats exist for different things, for example; for digital images, JPEG, PNG and TIFF are some of the file formats that are they there to store the type of information the images have. For videos; AVI, AAF, 3PG, MOV and many more are there to store the type of information the videos have.
