Video Editing

Video Editing 

Continuity Editing- Refers to the arrangement of a sequence of shots which suggests a series of events. This is done to fulfill the viewer’s expectations of a linear story. 

Accelerating Time- In film production time in the universe of the film is often condensed and expanded. For example; someone going out for the night in real life could take quite some time, but in film it’s often cut down to mere minutes.

Expanding Time- This is when in post-production a scene is edited to make it longer than it really is and create suspense.

Showing Causality- This involves showing cause. E.g; a film wouldn’t just show someone walking up to answer the door, without showing that there is someone at the door. Editors must understand this or they’re film will appear to be unrealistic.

Insert Shot- This helps to further the continuity within a scene. It involves showing a close up an important aspect of the scene that can usually be seen within the previous shot.

Cut Away Shot- This involves cutting away to another part of the scene to add information to it. E.g; during a massacre cutting away from the carnage to show the reactions of onlookers.

Relational Editing- This is when a scene is edited together to show continuity in a sequence of events in a way which work to logically show a sequence of events on the basis of the viewers expectation of how an interaction would logically go. E.g If he we see someone wave at another person out of shot, we expect to see the reaction of the person who is out of shot.

Thematic Editing (Often referred to as a montage) - This is when various separate scenes are edited together, not on the basis of a logical continuity, but on the basis of portraying an overarching theme. The shots are shown in rapid succession. A famous example of this would be the training montage in ‘Rocky’.

Parallel Cutting- This is when multiple different stories are cut together into segments. Often done with a couple of smaller stories within a larger one. E.g; Game of Thrones- there are many different characters in different parts of the world- meaning that parallel cutting is consistently used throughout the show.

Initial Ideas

Our opening titles will begin with a man waking up in a corridor next to 2 dead bodies, he  doesn't know or remember where he is. He slowly stands up and begins to make his way to the exit at the end of the room as he walks towards the door he examines the dead bodies which are out in front of him. Both of the bodies have guns next to them and and one of them will have a police badge next to him, which will have his name on it, too. Both bodies will be visibly bloodied, it's clear that they've been murdered. The protagonist is bloodied too but not to the same degree. After he's examined both bodies he picks up one of their guns and walks through the exit..

Preliminary Task Evaluation

1. At a micro, technical level, how well did you observe the conventions of continuity  and the language of editing?

Our scene showed an illegal trade of 'The Room' DVD with an added supernatural twist, we used several editing techniques to ensure that the scene flowed naturally and that a conversation was presented coherently. We showed majority of the conversation using an over the shoulder shot reverse shot while still adhering to the 180 degree rule.

2.What were you pleased with? What seems to work well and why?

I was pleased with how well our story was presented and how  the joke of having one speaking actor came out in the end. I also liked how we cut together two separate pans at the end of the scene to create the illusion of a continuous shot.

3.What mistakes did you make? What would you have done differently?

When we originally shot the scene we didn't adhere to the 180 degree so we had to re-shoot the entire scene. Next time, to ensure this doesn't happen again I would pay more attention to the direction of the scene and the position of the camera.

4. How did you manage the group dynamics, equipment and resources?

Everyone in the scene took in multiple roles- I personally acted a body double, filmed several shots and assisted with the writing of the scene. 

5. What problems did you encounter logistically?
We found that our original shooting location was impractical and unfitting for the theme of the scene, so we had to choose another location.