Skip to main content

The Basic Rules of Editing

The Basic Rules:
  1. Pace is very important - always make sure the footage flows together
  2. Quick cuts don't always create tension, sometimes the most tense scenes are just one shot
  3. Increasing or decreasing the pace of the cuts can change the mood of the piece
  4. Sometimes you can over-complicate your edit - it is good to know when your edit is finished
  5. Use the same process every time and make sure you organize and store the footage correctly
  6. Always 'cut with your gut' - does it feel right?
  7. When using music make sure you always cut to the beat
The Process:
  1. Upload your footage
  2. Watch the footage
  3. Re-watch footage and make notes
  4. Create a first edit - the basic structure
  5. 2nd edit
  6. Consult the director
  7. Make alterations to the edit after getting feedback (at this point you can go back to point 3 or 4 and go from there)
  8. Walk away - sometimes you can over think things (it's good to take a break!)
  9. Create a final edit - fine tune the clips, make sure the audio levels are correct and that the piece flows
  10. Consult the director again - just to make sure they are happy with it and if they have any more suggestions/ constructive criticism
  11. Final edit 2 - make changes depending on the feedback from the director
  12. Effects, colour grading, mastering

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

STORYBOARDING: The Chess Player

A few months ago I was presented with the opportunity to create the storyboards for a student project at the University I had graduated from. Having always storyboarded my own projects, and used to drawing what I could see inside my own mind, I jumped at the chance to help visualise someone else's film. Everybody sees things differently. We imagine, we visualise in different ways. Maybe because our brains are wired differently, maybe because we all rely on different experiences or the things we've read. A wide shot to one person might be a close to another; or someone might prefer a high-angled birds eye view, whilst another a fish-eye lens effect. There are endless ways to visualise a story and we are all unique when it comes to this. So being tasked with aiding in the visualisation of someone else's film is by no means an easy feat. One must be able to see inside the director's mind, understand their vision and translate that into something that will reach and ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kid's & UFO's: Title Sequence

Testing and creating the title sequence: To achieve a childlike style many different drawing styles were looked at to see which would appeal most to children and young adults. The detailed ones were fascinating to look at, however placing too much detail into a stop motion animation would clutter the screen. Simpler drawings with black outlines - similar to the style of Rachel Ryle - were more suited. Sketches were made and the colouring was tested. Felt-tip pens created too harsh a tone, whilst colouring crayons provided a softer layout that was pleasing to the eye. The title sequence for 'Kids and UFO's was made up of 147 different photographs. The basic idea was this: A girl in a rocket is launched into space from her back garden, flying past stars, planets, aliens and ufo's. The rocket then flies away to reveal the title of the film: 'Kids and UFOs'. Drawings were created on paper, coloured in using crayons and cut out. These were then placed on a col...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cardiff Film and Comic Con Event - Sat 1st March '14

Cardiff Film and Comic Con ( also known as the Film and Comic Convention)   was on at Motorpoint arena on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd March 2014. Following the success of the first Cardiff  Film and Comic Con, the event was full of promise for hundreds of people across the UK.  Comic Con events occur approximately four times a year, if not more. It is a convention that joins everything from films, Tv, games and comics together and welcomes everyone who is interested in those worlds - as well as those who are just discovering them. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet like-minded people and famous actors, actresses, screenwriters, authors, publishers and directors; many of whom take part in discussions, panels, signings and photo booths. The Reluctant Blogger , Lifeline and Shirley Holmes At Comic Con it is a tradition to dress up and come as your favourite character from a film, Tv programme, game or comic. At Cardiff in March 2014 one of the most pr...
Post a Comment
Read more