Unit 16: Task 2- Be able to prepare moving image material for editing

Editing Diary

• Firstly i uploaded all of my footage from the SD card into iMovie 

• Then I went through the clips and made a note of all the ones that are suitable and that i will be using within my music video (Log of rushes) 

• I then downloaded the music track and inserted that onto the timeline first 

• I went through each clip in the narrative order so that it fit in time with the music 

• Once i had all of the clips where i wanted them, i went about doing the online editing. This involves colour correction and transitions and special effects etc. 

• After I had finished all of the editing I asked some family and friends to give me feedback on the music video. From the feedback given they suggest cutting some of the clips that were a bit shaky out and adjusting some of the special effects so i did. 

• After this i got them to re-watch my video and from the feedback they were satisfied, therefore my production was complete. 

Reflective Log

Draft 1

My first feedback meeting was with members of my family and a few friends. I wanted to know what their opinion was on my first draft for my music video and see where i could improve it. I thought it would be wise to get their opinions as they are members of my target audience therefore i need to know what my target audience will like and dislike. 

The general consensus was good. A lot of the feedback i got was positive saying how i have managed to capture the emotion of their relationship really well through the use of flashbacks and a variety of different shots.

However some constructive criticism was given. This involved some of the shots i had featured within the video. Many commented on a particular section of the video (the river scene) being a bit long winded with some unnecessary and shaky shots. To overcome this i simply deleted the shaky shots and only included shots that were valid to the narrative. 

Draft 2

After i had corrected everything mentioned in my first feedback session, i went on to show my music video to one of my tutors. The feedback i received from her was also positive with a few suggestions on how i could tweak it a little for it to be the best it can possible be. 

My tutor suggested that in some of the shots at the beginning of the boy walking, a smirk was clearly shown on his face. She suggested cutting this out as it makes the video look unprofessional. Also, my tutor suggested inserting a still photo or another clip in-between the different clips of the actor walking along the road as she felt this was a bit long winded but the shots were too good to delete. 

To overcome these issues i cut out the images of the boy smirking and also fitted in a still photo of the couple to use as a flashback between the scenes of the boy walking. This made the video more dynamic and interesting as the sudden change of picture keeps the audience alert and questioning his adventure.

Final Draft

Once I had exported my music video and had touched on everything suggested in the feedback sessions I asked another one of my tutors for her final opinion on the production. There were no negative comments given back about the editing of my music video, simply some content errors that i could not do anything about i.e the age of the gravestone used. 

Edit Decision List

After i noted down my log of rushes and what clips i would be using due to their suitability, i made an edit decision list. This helps me to remember what clips are going to be used within my music video and it quickens the process as i won't need to trek through all of the takes again to find out what one I need to use; the ones i need to use will be noted down on the EDL. Below is my EDL for my Music Video.

Conventions of Editing

Unit 16: Film and Video Editing Techniques

 

 

Conventions of Editing

 

Continuity

 

Continuity is a term that describes a style of editing featured within the film and television industry. Continuity is used to make sure the cuts are as smooth as possible and so the audience can't notice the edit between each shot. When making continuity within a film it is important that the audio runs smoothly across the different clips as this indicates to the audience that it is still the same scene and there is no jump in time. This shows us that continuity also makes it more pleasing for the audience to watch as they are not disorientated with time and location etc.

 

Here is an example of a video that I produced which shows continuity:

 

(Unit 29: Produce a Music Video)

 

This music video contains many examples of continuity. The beginning shot for example shows the actor looking in the mirror and then reaching into his pocket to grab his phone. In order to show this action I have only used two different shots (OVS shot of boy looking in mirror and close up of phone screen) as that is all that is needed to portray the action taking place. If I were to film the whole process of him picking up his phone and sending the messages the audience would get bored as it is unnecessary footage that is taking up valuable time.

 

Montage

 

A montage is also a technique used within the film and television industry. This technique is used to condense time and information through a series of fast paced shots. Montaging is often used to convey a particular meaning to the audience without directly saying what is happening.

 

Another type of montage is 'Intellectual Montage'. This involves the audience taking an active (not passive) role and physically thinking and working out for themselves what the montage is telling them. Montages such as this can have different meanings and it is for the audience to decipher which message they think it is.

 

The above music video demonstrates montage as towards the end of the video a series of flashback shots appear quickly across the screen showing many images of the girls life. This montage conveys the message to the audience that she has died as once this montage ends the next shot is the boy standing at her grave.

 

 

The 180 Degree Rule

 

This rule is one of the most important when it comes to filming. The 180 degree rule ensures that an understanding of space and positioning is clear to the audience so that they can relate to the scene. The rule also makes sure that when it comes to editing a conversation, for example, the actors are on the right side of the camera and are not jumping from side to side.

 

This image shows a basic understanding of the 180 degree Rule.

 

 

Rhythm and Pacing

 

Rhythm and pacing is very important when it comings to editing. If the wrong pace is used within a film or video the entire narrative can be ruined for the audience. For example if the pacing in a dramatic death scene was fast, the audience wouldn't understand what the emotion is they are supposed to feel. This is because death scenes are more often than not meant to be sad and emotional and if a slow paced is used then the audience have time to get emotionally attached to the action that is happening. However if the pacing was too quick then the scene would be over too quickly and the audience wouldn't be able to feel anything towards the scene. This is also the case vice versa, as if the story within a film was supposed to be really intense such as a car chase, if the pacing was slow then the intensity wouldn't be noticeable and the audience wouldn't understand how important this car chase is. Whereas if fast cuts were used between different shots of the car chase then the audience would be able to see how fast and furious the scene is supposed to be.

 

In my music video featured above, the pace and rhythm of the music fits in with the pace and rhythm of the cuts used. As the narrative reaches it's climax when it is revealed that someone has died, a fast series of shots flash across the scene quickly. This sends a message to the audience that the montage used is in relation to the previous image of a grave. The pace of the shots quickly changes after it is revealed that it is the girl who has died, and the pace becomes slow as we see the boy standing at the grave alone.

 

Manipulating Time

 

 There are many ways that one can manipulate within editing. It is rare that a film will based on real time. This means that say the film is 1 hour long, everything that happens within the film is only based in 1 hour.

 

In order to manipulate time, you can use many different techniques:

 

Compressed time: This is the most frequently used manipulation of time in films and TV programmes. For example, say within a dramatic narrative, a man is running down the corridor, the editor will only use a shot of him at the start of his run and then again at the end of the run. This is because the audience will understand the journey that he is taking and do not need to be shown how long it takes him to complete this action.

 

Simultaneous time: This when events that are happening in different places can be represented as occurring at the same time. This is edited through the use of parallel editing or cross-cutting, by multiple images or split-screen. These shots become clear to the audience either by being inserted into the main action or alternated with each other until the two different shots somehow come together.

 

Slow motion: This is where action that is shown on the screen takes place at a slower rate than it would in real life. Slow motion is used in many situations such as to make a very fast action visible for the audience (a bullet being fired from a gun) or to emphasise a dramatic moment (two lovers running towards each after a long time apart).

 

Flashbacks + Flashforwards: This when there is a break in the chronology of the narrative where the past or future events are briefly exposed to the audience. Flashbacks are used to make the audience know more about characters and their lives so they have more of an understanding of the characters and the story. Flashforwards on the other hand are used to leave the audience questioning what is going to happen and leave them in suspense.

 

Within my music video I featured many of these techniques in order to manipulate time such as Compressed time, slow motion and flashbacks.