Friday 12 June 2015

Task 1: Developments in Editing

In-Camera Editing
This is editing that does not require any additional equipment other than the camera and is simply reliant on filming shots one after the other, this editing requires good organisational skills when shooting.

Following the Action
When shooting a piece you may be required to shoot an action scene using vehicles and movement in which a standard tripod will not really work smoothly if you have to move and follow. You would use specialised equipment such as dolly's and mounts so you can keep track and follow the action.

Multiple Points of View
This means different views of the person on screen as in their different perspectives of what is going on in the story.

Shot Variation
This is technique of using different types of shots with the camera to get different feelings and look on the characters. Types of shots include:
  • Long shot
  • Extreme long shot
  • Full body shot
  • Mid shot
  • Close up
  • Extreme Close up

Manipulation of Diegetic Time and Space
This is the technique where the editor will change the speed of the film so he can make a supposed long period of time into a short period of time so they can skip hours, days, months and even years.


Film
Film editing is technique of assembling shots into a logical and consistant sequence. This involves putting film together, cut film and adding text.

Analogue
This form of editing is given to the traditional video production using film this like in camera editing you have to film in a linear fashion shooting the scenes one after the other.

Digital
This is media that is stored on computers where digital devices such as hard drives are used to store, move and keep information such as digital video, augmented reality (CGI), digital audio and digital art.

Task 1: Purposes of Editing

Editing is very significant and important to film for many reasons. It can change the way you view and feel about the film.
The Purposes of Editing include:
  • Storytelling
  • Development of drama
  • Relationship to genre
  • Creating Motivation
  • Combining shots into sequences
  • Creating pace
Editing is classed as an 'Invisible' art form. Being able to edit to a professional standard not only makes the film visibly pleasing to watch but it also enables the viewer to understand and engage with the film. Editing can also be used in different ways to create various feelings towards how you interpret the footage this can create emotional pieces, used as a guide to the telling and pace of the story it can even create illusions for example the illusion of danger when there is none this makes the film more exciting to watch. Editing can also create a vital emotional connection to the viewer there are so many more possibilities of what editing can do to footage. 

Task 1: Conventions and Techniques

Continuity Editing
This is used a lot on both film and TV. It is the arrangement and sequence of shots which progress into events. Continuity editing runs smoothly and helps narrating a story. It is used to get the editing seem invisible. It can be very effective during the process however it is very difficult and doesn't always run as smoothly and it may cause confusion.

Motivated Editing
This is a form of editing that cuts the scene to another scene that was not in the previous. This has to be discreet as it can be a break of continuity if it is not done correctly. They are used to create flashbacks to create tension.

Montage
Montage editing is a technique where the editor will put various shots and scenes together in a fast paced manner that is used to present the audience a lot of information in a short, compressed amount of time.

Jump-cutting
This is the technique of taking shot of the same subject with the camera slightly varying it's movement in a sudden fashion usually used to create focus on people or to create a sense of time passing with the environment or person change/age.

Parallel Editing
This is the technique of essentially jumping between people in different locations doing different actions but are still related to the same situation. This is done to make what is going in the scene more interesting to the viewer if the build up is dull.

The 180 Degree Rule
This rule is a guideline that directors will follow to ensure that two characters in the same scene should always have the same either left or right orientation with each other. If the rule was broken it would confuse and distract the viewer so they wouldn't focus on what was on screen.

Splicing
This is the technique used with film when you join two pieces of film together. This is done after the editor has cut the film so they can join them together in their new places so it becomes a whole piece of film again.

Transitions
This is the technique in editing that is used when combining footage. Editors use various different transitions such as:
  • Cut
  • Dissolve
  • Fade
  • Wipe
to create different emotions, create moods, suggest time passing or simply to separate parts of the story.

Cutaways
This is the technique of inserting a shot during a continuously filmed shot. This is done to make the footage on screen not appear on screen for too long as this could make it feel like a drag to watch.

Point of View Shot
This is a shot that involves filming in the position of where the character would be looking and seeing what they see. This is done to show that the character is looking at something or to represent what they are seeing for example if the character was drunk the camera would be shaken and blurred. 

Shot-Reverse-Shot
Shot reverse shot is usually used when two or more characters are having a conversation and the camera is switching back and forth to each character when they are talking or looking this is done to involve you more into the conversation and to make it more interesting to watch.

Providing and Withholding Information
This is a technique usually used in drama and crime investigating programs which depending on if you are providing or withholding information can cause confusion or for the audience to ask question. Providing information would be the program to show and tell you information that the characters within do not know. Withholding information would be giving a scenario and the audience have to follow and figure out the information along with the characters.

Editing Rhythm
Is the technique of pacing your cuts to match up with the feel and action on screen. Slow edit cuts and fades have a very calming and slow feel to them whereas fast cuts have very aggressive and a loud in your face sort of feeling.

Crosscutting
This technique is the same as the parallel editing technique of showing the action in different locations to give of the idea they are happening at the same time.

Cutting to Soundtrack
This is the technique that is most commonly used in music videos as this technique follows the music and is usually edited to match the beat and rhythm.

Task 2: Preperation Techniques

Checking Material for Faults
This is simply checking all of the footage that has been shot to see if it is all perfect and usable to edit with. If you do not do this the editing will have to stand on a halt if you find out some footage is not working will be costly and time consuming so it is very important you check before you begin.

Synchronising Rushes
This is simply synching up audio that needs to be re-recorded, soundFX's and music that has been to video that has none of this it is done by selecting where usually the clapper starts merging the clips in editing.

Producing a Rushes Log
A rushers log is a document containing all the shots and scenes with the content written next to it along with the duration, the evaluation of the clip, The sound and if there are notes.

Marking up a Script
This is when the script is created they will usually mark the script by highlighting and writing notes with instructions of what the editor will have to do with the scene.

Labelling Tapes
This is not as common now due to advances in filmmaking but this was used to keep track of the tapes for films allowing the editor to keep track of what he was editing.

Storing Tapes and Films
This is simply keeping tapes and films in places to store to keep it organized.

Produce an Editing Decision List
This is a draft note of what clips the editor will be using, where they will cut and if know what they need to do to the footage.

Creating Bins
Bins are where you import you footage in editing software so you can actually use it in the editing software if the footage is digital. for film bins are the same concept but are using
physical tapes.

Clarifying the purpose of the work with a client or director
This is the client or director making sure and checking with the editor on exactly what they need to and what the client or direct wants to feel and see from their footage.

Task 2: Preparing to Edit

Importing Clips
When editing it is essential to import the clips and sound that you have got or else you will have nothing to edit. Importing is shown below:

Bins
This is where you store your imported clips and sound in editing software for ease of finding and being able to types notes on the clips you need to use.

Timelines
The timeline is the chronological order of the edited footage that is placed horizontally in the software.


Storage and Folder Management
This is where and how you store your footage that is used in the edit so that you can find it easily and keep it in safe and multiple places this applies to both digital and film editing.

Online and Offline Editing
Offline editing is when raw footage is copied and edited without affecting the original footage. Once this is finished the original footage will be online edited. Online editing is the final stage of video production and replaces the original footage.Formats
There are multiple formats used when editing which control the amount frames that are relevant to where and what you are creating for.

Resolution
The resolution refers to how many pixels are on screen measured in length and width Examples of the different resolutions that are used in film:

Task 3: Editing Technology

Software Applications
This is the software when using digital footage where you can edit on. Nowadays there is a lot of editing software including:
  • Adobe premiere and after effects
  • Avid
  • Sony Vegas
  • IMovie
these are the most commonly known and industry standard editing software.

Non Linear Editing
This is the newest form of editing thanks to digital. This is giving the ability to not have to film and edit the footage exactly how you filmed as there is no longer need to cut and place film together. This means you can get more creative and try out editing techniques as you go.

Linear Editing
This is the process of creating the edit in the order you film this was done when using film due to there not being any other way to edit.

Standard Definition
Standard definition is simply the resolutions that are less than 720p.

High Definition
High Definition is the term used for resolutions from 720p and above to 4K.

Tapes
This is data storage device used to store your edited footage in the earlier years of editing. this being a tape you could only store and edit footage in a linear order.

Hard Disc
Hard discs are hugely important for video editing as firstly the bigger your hard disc the more video you can store as well as it relates to how much data you can store which affects the edits and quality of your video.

Data Transfer Rates
For video editors data transfer rates are one of the most important specs. There are two specs for data transfer these are burst transfer which is the fastest speed the hard drive will reach. There is also the sustained transfer rate which is the slowest speed the drive will read and write data. For video you must have a sustained rate of 3.5MB/s.

Exporting Productions
Exporting is essential after video editing. It is the process of compressing and formatting your videos into a single file and quality.

File Types
When exporting your edit you have to choose what file type and format you are exporting a video out there are various different file types such as:

The different file types affect the amount of frames for the video as well as the quality of the video.

Compression
Compression video involves lowering the quality of the video to make the file size of the video smaller. This is done if the video takes up too much space which it is likely as raw footage and edited footage can take up a lot of space.

Task 3: Editing Process


There are various different techniques you can use when editing footage which include:
  • Seamless
    • An great example of this is in film "Birdman" where they use panning shot so the audience doesn't notice the cuts
  • Continuity
    • A good example of this is in "Britney Spears' Till the World Ends" where the camera looks like it floats upwards.
  • Motivated
    • An example of motivated editing is in a "Band of Brothers" scene with the use of flashbacks.
  • Montage
    • A great example of montage editing is in the "Hot Fuzz" opening scene.
  • Jump cutting
    • An example of jump cutting is in "Royal Tenenbaums" where the main character is shaving
  • Parallel editing
    • A good example of this is in "The Godfather" where things are happening on screen seemingly simultaneously.


There are also various different editing transitions that are used within editing which include:
  • Cut
    • Cuts in editing are the simplest form of editing which is simply when you put two clips together. For example:



  • Dissolve
    • This transition looks like this:


  • Fade
    • The fade transition looks like this:




  • Wipe
    • "Star wars 3" has many different wipe transitions these include Iris wipe, Matrix wipe and Invisible wipe

There are also different appropriate conventions in video editing such as:
  • Cutaways
    • An example of cutaway is in "300" where with each cut we assume we are looking at something from the main characters perspective.

  • Cutting on action
    • An example of this is from "The Matrix" cutting to the characters when the action begins


  • Creating juxtapositions
    • A good example of this is in "The Godfather" baptising scene where there is the opposition of the baptism and murder within this scene

  • Intercutting
    • An example of intercutting is in "Dracula" that contrasts the religion and demonic scenes.
Dracula Intercutting
There are also different techniques used in editing for example:
  • Pace effectively
    • In editing editors change the pacing of the story to create different feelings for example in action films the pace would be very fast. Slower paced footage would be used in drama piece


  • Use sound to create impact
    • This is used to create tension and bring focus to certain points in the film. For example the "Inception Bwong" which is used in most trailers.


  • Synchronise sound and vision
    • This is used in every film and animation where you have to re-create sounds for the footage that you have filmed so that the audience cannot tell that the sound is has been created. It is important that the audience cannot tell that the sound has been reproduced.


  • Mix soundtracks
    • This is the combining the individual tracks for the different instruments and vocals to create one soundtrack.


  • Overlap sound
    • This is the process of putting different sounds and music over each other for example in "Mission Impossible 2" there is the motorbike noise, gunshots and music overlapping.


  • Offline edit
    • This is part of post-production where the raw footage is copied and editing not affecting the original footage.


  • Online edit
    • This is part of the final stage of video production that happens after offline editing this is now done using video editing software that operate on non-linear editing software.