Editing Techniques
Parallel Editing
This technique can be also referred to as 'cross cutting' is the technique of altering from two or more scenes which often happen simultaneously but in different locations. Due to them being simultaneous they occasionally meet in one place, when the two parties confront each other. It can be used to make a sequence more exciting and build suspense. By having two things going on at once it can build suspense waiting for those two moments to interact and also to film makers they are more visually pleasing.This technique is achieved by using quick snappy shots, in order to create tensions and show most scenes happening. You also have to shoot different scenes and lay them together in order to create a impact within the sequence. I found an tutorial on YouTube explaining how you format a parallel edit and put one together in order for it to be effective. A good example of parallel editing is in the film the 'The Godfather' with the Baptism Murder scene. The technique of parallel editing works effective as it helps to build tension within the scene and we begin to feel apprehensive as we can see many people dying after being shot, we are just waiting for the two scenes to interact and for bad stuff to happen. Harvard Reference Gabe Moura. (2014). Parallel editing . Available: http://www.elementsofcinema.com/editing/parallel-editing/. Last accessed 07/11/2017. Johnathan Paul. (2016 ). Master the Hollywood Technique of Parallel Editing. Available: https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/parallel-editing-hollywood-way/. Last accessed 07/11/2017. |
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Cutting to the Beat
Cutting to the beat is a way of editing a video so that each clip changes at the same time as the beat of the track. Most clips use a 'cut' transition, so you generally 'cut to the beat' of the music. This style of editing works effective my matching the visuals to the audio the sequence has a bigger impact and creates more meaning for people watching. It can be used to make something more snappy for example in a action film and therefore more intense and enjoyable for the audience. This technique is achieved by listening to the soundtrack or music you are going to use and seeing how it feels and things you can cut to it. Like this tutorial where the music changes you can cut it and add in another clip or maybe use a jump cut to the next moment, later on in the clip. An example of cutting to the beat is from the film 'Baby Driver' the action sequence is played alongside the song tequila, the editor used the song in order to construct their clips so that they went in time with the music. This made the moment powerful and yet comical as every shot had more meaning and power behind it. Harvard Reference KT Lawther. (2013). Cutting to the beat. Available: https://prezi.com/znodwqq6pvlv/unit-29-cutting-to-the-beat/. Last accessed 07/11/2017. |
Jump Cuts
A jump cut is an abrupt transition, typically in a sequential clip that makes the subject appear to 'jump' from one spot to the other. This can be with two sequential shots of the same subject in the same scene are cut together form camera positions that vary slightly. Also, when cutting between two sections of footage shot fro the same exactly angle. They can be a bad thing as they are very jarring. Yet, they can be used strategically and in a creative way to make something appear chaotic, show time passing, used in a comical way and keeping an attention span. Jump cuts are created by cutting out sections from a shot with a long duration, You can do this with simple cutting and deleting within an editing software program. The technique really is within knowing where to cut and how much to cut out, before the sequence doesn't work anymore and isn't effective. It also needs to be done in a specific place within the film otherwise it won't work. For example 'The Royal Tenebaums' used it at the correct time which made is work well. This tutorial explains the easy way to edit a jump cut. A good example of a jump cut is from the film 'The Royal Tenenbaums' which shows a man going through the process of shaving his beard off. To quicken the process a jump cut is used, it jumps in a jarring manner from one part to the other. This gives an disturbing feel to the sequence and foreshadows him later on cutting his wrists. This makes the sequence more engaging to the audience and less boring as we feel that something bad is going to happen. It's effective due to its shock appeal. Harvard Reference Riley Hooper. (2013). Understanding Jump Cuts . Available: https://vimeo.com/blog/post/understanding-jump-cuts. Last accessed 07/11/2017 |
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Montage
A montage is a technique in which a series of short shots are edited into a sequence to condense space, time, and information. It is generally used within films to show time passing in a more efficient way, rather then spending one hour of time on how that character got to that point within the narrative. It works effective as it gets the point across in a quick time scale. Montage editing is achieved by cutting together short length clips and placing them all together in a sequence, the shorts have to have a short duration in order for them to have a fast pace when put together. Also, it involves continuity editing due to the sequence being put together in chronological order and each scene flowing into the next. A good example of this is the opening sequence to the film 'Hot Fuzz', this opening sequence is very effective due to it quickly informing us on the main character, we gain an understanding of him through an engaging way. The short shots make the pace of the montage quick and therefore it keeps the audience attention for the rest of the film. The montage has comical style, which gives us an insight into the film as a whole. We can see the time passing from when this guy joined the police force till now, which if wasn't a montage would take up a lot of screen time. Harvard Reference N/A. (N/A). What is a monatge . Available: http://www.elementsofcinema.com/editing/montage.html. Last accessed 07/11/2017. |
L and J Cuts
This technique is used very frequently and is all about changing the audio around with the clips. In a J-cut, the sound of the next scene precedes the picture, and in an L-cut, the picture changes but the audio continues. This can allow your scene to flow better and to increase the pace of the scene. Also, it can be used to show the relationship between the two shots being shown for example if someone was talking about someone and the shot cuts to that person but the audio still remains this will be an L- Cut. It shows the characters interacting and the subject at hand. This can be a more powerful tool as the camera can linger on someone face longer when the audio changes, you can get more expression from the actor and feel more of the emotion from them. You can edit this style of sequence by making sure that your video editing software is able to separate the audio and the video and move them independently and then you can cut and drag clips to where you want them. This technique of editing is used very frequently in films so there are many examples, one that I found was from the film 'It's a Wonderful Life'. In a scene George Bailey says 'You want the moon? just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down,' the editor uses an L-Cut as the shots changes from the couple staring towards the moon to the moon, yet the audio continues and stays the same. This works effectively as we can see the connection between the shots, the moon and the couple staring at it. Also, it allows the scene to be more engaging and visually pleasing as we see more then one shot. In horror films the L-Cut can be used for meaning, for example is a supernatural being haunts a house and kills the resident as you hear their screams it shows another house. This L-Cut illustrates to the audience that the next person being killed will be the person living in that house. Therefore it foreshadows that persons death and gets the audience scared for it. Harvard Reference Cameron Christopher . (2012). J-Cuts & L-Cuts. Available: https://vimeo.com/blog/post/j-cuts-l-cuts. Last accessed 7th November 2017 Kyle Cassidy. (2008). Tricks for J and L Cuts. Available: https://www.videomaker.com/article/13532-tricks-for-j-and-l-cuts. Last accessed 7th November 2017. |
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Cut-in and Cutaways
Cut-ins and cutaways are related to the primary subject or action at hand in the film. They show something that may or may not have occurred simultaneously with the primary action. Both cut-ins and cutaways fill gaps between scenes where the action does not match. The use of cut-ins and cutaways can account for a lapse of time or they are used to create or enhance the mood of a film. Cutaway shots cut away from the action for example a cheering crowd, cutaway shots should have continuity so the audience don't even realise the film has cut away from the action. With Cut-in shots it is just a close up of a shot to show that it actually happened and the realism behind it, you will have to do this by using various camera operator. The editing process for this technique is simple you just add in shots that work within the sequence and keep the continuity, for example you can do a close up of a object like a football being kicked (Cut-in) and then you can show a crowd screaming (Cutaway) in various moments within the sequence. This make the sequence more engaging and enjoyable for the audience to watch, the Cut-in makes the situation seem more realistic and the cutaways bring a new engaging perspective to the scene and can help in building tension. A good example of this technique is from the film 'Friday Night Lights' which is an American football film. The film uses this technique through out the game sequence. A cutaway shot is shown of the coach and the crowd screaming in anticipation for the win, the clip has also been slowed down so we feel the intensity of the emotion. This cutaway shot is effective as it shines a light on the characters and how the game impacts them, as an audience we root for their team to win as we can defer from their faces this games means a lot to them. Cut-in shots are also seem within this sequence, there are close up of football helmet being dropped to the floor and the ball in the guys hands, this builds realism to the sequence and makes the scene have a bigger impact. We feel the characters sorrow when they lose the match, due to all these layers of shots which have been put together to build tension and anticipation. Harvard Reference N/A. (N/A ). Cut-in and Cutaway. Available: http://www.tpub.com/photography1/ph209264.htm. Last accessed 7th November 2017. |
Cutting on Action
This technique is way of preserving continuity and helping cuts flows together. This style makes your cuts invisible and allows the viewers to be drawn into the story. It can sometimes be called cutting on motion, it is very useful way to transition between shots, especially shots which may otherwise have nothing to tie them together. It doesn't have to necessarily be full on action sequence, just the motion from one shot to the other has to carry one. It's cutting from different angles in order for the sequence to be more impactful for the audience. In this tutorial of YouTube we learn that by cutting on action is makes the sequence more entertaining and effective in grabbing the audiences attention, due to it appearing seamless we are taken out of the world of the film and indulged to another. This can allow us to align with the characters on screen, for example in a fight scene due to the cutting from different shots we feel involved within the fight as well. This technique is achieved by simply cutting together loads of short durations shots and having them have the correct placement of the cut to create a seamless action. A good example of this is from the 'Fast and Furious' film in 2009 with a chase scene. The chase scene involves many shots from all different angles and the editor has edited them together in order to get one move smooth sequence with no jumps in it, seamless. The editor has purposely used very quick staccato like shots with a few seconds duration each, they did this to quicken the pace of the chase and make it more intense for the audience to watch. It works effective as it causes an adrenalin amongst those viewing it,. The sequence flows nicely with continuity editing, chronological order of events, from all different angles. There are close up of the characters so we can see their expression on their faces and how they are feeling. This allows the audience to align with the character they are rooting for. Also, there are shots of them running to show how close they are from each other which makes the moment very tense. The more shots they use the more engaging and overwhelming it becomes for the viewer. Harvard Reference Kyle Cassidy. (2008). Cutting on Action . Available: https://www.videomaker.com/article/c10/13536-cutting-on-action. Last accessed 7th November 2017 |
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Examples of Technique
Parallel Editing
The first clip comes from the Christopher Nolan's film 'Inception', during this sequence the film uses parallel editing in order to show different levels of dreams the characters are in and how they all work together. For example one person is in the mountains where another ones in a hotel. The editor cuts from different scene to scene illustrating how all these people are working together and all have the same motive. This sequence produces tension due to the quick duration shots cutting from different scenes, as an audience we can see the chaos occurring in each scene and how everything isn’t going to plan. Due to out alignment with the characters we want their mission to be successful therefore from cutting from scene to scene we become nervous and start to doubt that this mission is going to be successful. We align with the characters on screen and want them to be successful in what they are doing, this engages the audience and allows them to have an emotional attachment.
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This sequence from Francis Ford Coppola's film 'The Godfather' illustrates parallel editing with many people being killed simultaneously next to a scene of a baby being baptised. The juxtaposition between Michael renouncing Satan and the simultaneous scene of people being shot and killed which is an evil act, makes the parallel edit very impactful. It engages the audience due to the irony of the situation and makes it a bit humorous. The sound of church bells throughout the parallel edit in both scenes shows the connection between them, church bells are supposed to illustrate and happiness yet the killing of people opposes this idea. This makes this sequence disgusting and haunting for the audience watching.
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This scene from 'American Sniper' involves parallel editing, it illustrates of gun men ready to shoot someone and the soldiers waiting to fight. The cut between these two simultaneous scenes foreshadow that something bad is going to happen, it appears very eerie like the calm before the storm. This is very effective as this technique helps to build tension and helps to set the action up. As an audience we have to sit and wait for the battle to begin and the action to occur which makes this parallel edit so much more impactful.
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This John Lewis advert involves parallel editing to illustrate the difference between when John Lewis started to now. It shows the character going through basic task for example getting ready for the day. The parallel edit is used to reinforce the difference between when they started and what they are like now. The juxtaposition between the past and present reinforces how life has changed since their opening, yet it reinforces that John Lewis as a brand are always relevant in any age. They want to reinforce their impact on society and their importance. It's engaging to the audience as we can see the difference but the similarities between the decades of John Lewis and allows the audience to relate to this love story on screen. Everyone watching will feel an emotional connection to the story line and what its trying to tell.
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Cutting to the beat
This scene from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film 'Rodrick Rules', during this sequence cutting to the beat is shown. This is done in the form of taking photos to the song 'shake shake shake senora' where the music changes the clip is cut in order to make it very rhythmic sequence. This makes the sequence more engaging due to the music matching to the visuals. The audience can engage with the party and get involved as they see the full excitement of the party nights through a montage of photo shots.Thus this is a good example of cutting to the beat in which it makes the scene comical to the audience.
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This sequence is from the opening of the film 'Baby Driver' this film is well known for having an intense sound track playing in the background. The clips within the film cut to the beat, at the beginning the initial banging noise cuts between each character within the car. The cutting to the beat with the music allows the scene to be more powerful and makes the sequence more intense due to tension being built. However, due to how in control the music is with the clips this defers to the audience how in control our main character Baby is, thus we learn a lot about his character throughout the opening sequence.
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This is the music video for the song 'Swalla' by Jason Derulo. Due to the song having a strong beat throughout the song the editor has reinforced this through the edit, cutting to different clips on the beat. This makes the music video more dance focused as the dancers within it dance to the music played. This makes the video more impactful as we see every movement and everything appears more powerful. Overall, it allows the audience enjoy it more as they want to get up and dance to the music as its played with its tight beats.
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In the Taylor Swift music to 'Blank Space' the editing is very effective due to cutting to the beat. The repetition of the hitting noise through out the video allows the editor to cut according to the noise. This gives a more poppy style to the video and makes the music video more engaging due to everything being on time and looking very slick. Overall, this technique was used very successfully in making the video look good.
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Jump cut
This is an example of a jump cut from a film, it works very effective. Jump cuts are really good in showing time passing within films, by the editor cutting the shots to show the characters changing positions it shows how long the characters have been waiting. This illustrates clearly time passing effectively.
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This jump cut example from the film 'Royal Tenenbaums' works effective in foreshadowing something bad is going to happen to the character at hand. The jump cut illustrates the character is in a faze and doesn't know what he is doing, this random jump cut also makes the audience wearies as this type of cut is very unnatural within films, usually continuity editing, this makes the audience tense and scared of what's going to happen next.
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Montage
This montage is from the Pixar classic 'Up', this film as well as a montage is a back story into one of our character, by showing this characters past with his wife as an audience we can understand why he is so sour and grumpy. This gives us an insight into why this old man is the way he is. It illustrates key events in this man and his wife's life to cause an emotional reaction from the audience, we begin to empathise with this character and align our own loses in life with his. This montage allows us to like his character as now we know why he is like he is. This is an effective montage of time passing.
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This is a training montage from one of the Rocky film franchise using the iconic Rocky theme song 'Gonna fly now'. This montage illustrates Rocky preparing for his fight, generally this montage is used to show time passing in a more engaging way. We see all Rocky's emotions and determination in a short sequence, this shows his character adapting and changing for the better. Due to this as an audience we align with him and some what get behind Rocky in his fight, we want him to win.
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This sequence is from the Tom Hanks film 'Forrest Gump', this sequence is a montage due to it showing Forrest running through different scenery as his facial hair grows, illustrating time is passing. This montage isn't just used to show time passing but is also used for comical purposes, as people are questioning his motives to running as its bizarre he just wanted to run. Overall, this montage is effective as it shows the journey literally and metaphorically Forrest is going on as the audience are able to align with his character and get behind him.
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Similar to Rocky, this sequence from the cult classic film 'Dirty Dancing' is a form of training montage. This montage illustrates the character Baby learning how to dance over a long period. It shows how she is learning from her mistakes and getting better, this makes the audience align with her and makes them want her to succeed. This montage also involves other techniques such as a jump cut, this is when the character Johnny is stroking her arm to her armpit and baby keeps laughing. The jump cut is used to show all their attempts to get this move correct, it illustrates how they keep trying and have lots of determination. Overall this sequence is effective.
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Cuts-in and Cutaways
This scene from the cult classic film 'Mean Girl' shows the girls performing a dance at the talent show. The technique of cut-ins and cutaways is shown throughout. For example, the camera cutaways to show the audience in order to show their reaction to the dancing and the camera cut-ins closer when showing the music player stop working. Overall, this technique makes the scene more comical which allows the audience engage more with it.
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This sequence is from the film 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' this scene uses cut-ins and cutaways. The cutaways are off the teacher as she listens to the students singing, the cutaways are used for comedy as we see the teachers facial expression to each singer, usually if they are bad she will make a displeasing face. The cut-ins are close up of the students whilst singing this makes the scene more interesting as the shots change frequently, thus making the scene more visually pleasing to look at.
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Cutting on Action
This sequence is from the Tom Cruise film 'Mission Impossible 3', this is an action sequence which shows Tom Cruise's character running after someone whilst on the phone. This sequence illustrates the technique of Cutting on action as the editor keeps cutting the scene using different shots to illustrate the action present, if his character looks over his shoulder the camera follows. All the shots within the sequence follow the action and allow the moment to appear more tense
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This is an action sequence from the film 'Casino Royale'. It follows this technique as the editor follows the action by cutting the sequence from shot to shot to illustrate following the action. It allows us to see the whole of the fight scene and enjoy it. The audience feel more tense due to the action being presented very full on in their face.
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Planning the practice
Jemimah and I are teaming up to make some examples of the different techniques we are using. For example, I am using editing techniques where as Jemimah is using camera techniques. Here are the techniques we are using:
Editing (Zara)
- Cutting to the beat - Parallel Editing - Montage |
Camera (Jemimah)
- POV shots - Whip Pan - Handheld shot |
Within our scene we are filming we are incorporating these techniques together:
Quick Cuts - POV Shots
Parallel Editing- Handheld shots
Montage- Whip Pan
Quick Cuts - POV Shots
Parallel Editing- Handheld shots
Montage- Whip Pan
Chase Scene- Quick Cuts and POV Shots
This will involve the techniques of quick cuts and POV Shot. We will be filming this as a chase scene. The chase scene will involves a man running away from another man chasing him. The POV shot will come from the man chasing him, the camera will be shaking to build suspense and add to the moment of this guy getting chased. We will change the shots a lot in order to allow be to cut between them with some fast up beat action music to make it more strong and powerful. By using quick cuts this will make the scene appear chaotic. Overall, this will make the scene more tense and have a bigger impact as the pace is a lot faster. This sequence will be no longer than 10 seconds as we can clearly show the techniques in a short amount of time. Equipment and items needed: - Two cameras - Tripod - Dolly - Two actors Location: We will film the chase scene on the Rotherfeild Campus in Henley College, we will film on the grass section in front of the car park and the building. Due to this area having a lot of open space, this will be important when filming a quick pace chase scene. |
This is my first attempt of my quick cut sequence and Jemimah did a POV shot do add to the sequence. I thought this attempt was successful as I used a variation of shots which I edited between to keep the audience engaged with the sequence and have their eye draws to it. However, next time I will when filming this sequence film a lot more shots, in order to use the 'quick cut' technique I need to have shots with a short duration. I will film more shots so I can edit a quicker pace film sequence. This will overall be more like the editing technique 'quick cut' and make the scene appear more chaotic and panicky. This will allow the audience align with our character being chased and feel scared and fearful for them.
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This is my second attempt of using the technique 'Quick Cuts', I thought this sequence shows a lot of improvement from the previous one. I used the footage I took in order to create a staccato looking sequence. I used lots of short duration shots and put them together to give off a fast paced enjoyable sequence. I added in some DJ music into my sequence and edited some of the footage to the beat (another technique), for example at 0.06 seconds the music correlates to the picture on screen. Overall, I though this worked effectively. In the future to improve this video further I would of liked to have the whole sequence to the beat and use different angles with the camera to give off a more in depth version of 'quick cuts', cutting from different angles.
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This is my third attempt at doing a quick cut sequence, this time I did a running scene. I thought this sequence was successful due to getting different angles and different footage, if the camera was still or moving, and edited it all together to illustrate the technique of quick cuts effectively. I thought it would be engaging to an audience watching due to the different angles making the sequence more visually pleasing to look at. However, the only issue I have with this sequence is it is a bit grainy the footage due to at this time when I filmed the sun was going down and it was getting dark. Overall, I think this sequence illustrates clearly the technique.
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Gearing up scene- Montage and whip pan
This scene will involve the techniques of montage editing and whip pan. We will be filming this as a quick fast paced getting ready to fight/go out scene. This scene will involves a person picking up random objects such as his lighter and phone, the whip pan will bring a lot of energy to the shots and due to it being a montage the quick shots will give a lot of information to the audience in a short duration time, thus increasing the pace. I will cut different shots quickly, similar to the scene of preparing for battle in Shaun of the dead. This sequence again will only be more than a ten seconds. Equipment and items needed: -Two cameras -Tripod -Dolly - One actor -Lighter -Phone -Moped Location: We will film this sequence inside a classroom or in the media room as someone prepares for battle. The moped part will be filmed outside in the car park area where its assessable to film a moving vehicle. |
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This is my first attempt at doing a montage sequence. I teamed up with Jemimah as she took on the technique of whip pan. I thought for a first attempt this montage worked effective, we took inspiration from the film 'Shaun of the Dead' gearing up montage. The short durations shots made the sequence snappy and fast paced, it allows a lot of information to be shown in a short amount of time. Even though I did think this montage was an success, to improve this in the future I would add more clips within the sequence to give it more of a montage feel. This will make the sequence more engaging as it will show a lot more. I will re shoot this sequence with more clips and focus on making the shots even snappier by cutting them shorter in the editing process. Also, I will end the sequence with a different ending that draws a certain conclusion to the topic, otherwise the sequence cuts off abruptly and loses its powerful effect.
This sequence again I thought was effective, due to it being very similar footage wise to the other sequence. The only change in the montage is that there are more clips being used. I believe both of the montages worked effective and clearly showed how a montage works and is put together with quick duration shots. I think the movement in the shots really made the pace of the sequence faster and made it seem a lot more lively. The only thing I will change with this sequence is making it longer, montages generally are longer within films, this way they work more effective in bringing emotion from the audience.
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Gunman-chase- Parallel editing and hand held shots
This scene will involve the techniques of a handheld camera and parallel editing. The scene will have two simultaneous scene occurring at the same time, one scene will shows students in a classroom getting on with their work and another will show a gunman walking through the school. The scene will cut from one to the other in order to build tension and foreshadow the death of these students. The handheld camera will be shaky which will reinforce the realism within this scene and make it more intense to watch as the audience fear for the students lives. Equipment and items needed: - Two cameras - Dolly - one gun man and 5-10 students in the classroom - fake gun/knife Location: The first scene will be in a classroom, either 301 or R326, due to these being big and having a lot of room for filming inside. Do get these we may have to film either during lunch and ask one of the teachers. The second location is through the hallway in the building R4. This is due to it being very wide and will make a great location of a gun man to walk through. |
This is my first attempt of editing and shooting for parallel editing. I think this attempt wasn't very successful due to parallel editing is suppose to have two scene working simultaneously next to each other, hinting that they are going to meet. Yet, even though this sequence has this it doesn't work effectively due to there not being enough footage. I need to film more footage in order for this scene to build tension in a way. The cuts between scene could start of longer and gradually get shorter to build tension as we know these two people are going to meet. I feel to improve I need to film more footage with different camera angles so I can play around with it more when editing and allow myself to build tension.
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This is my second attempt at parallel editing, I believe this sequence has improved a lot from the last one. Due to this sequence being able to build more tension as I have cut from both scenes. However, to improve next time I think I could start off having longer duration of footage from both scene and then as the sequence goes on and the two scene are going to meet I will have a shorter duration of shot. This will help in building more tension from the audience.
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This is my third attempt of a parallel edit and I think its my most successful one. I think it worked effectively due to the sequence being longer and the cuts between the different scenes having a longer duration and slowly getting shorter. This helped to build more tension and make the parallel edit actually create some meaning. I used more then two scenes going off at the same time, three in total, this made the scene more effective as we could see different things happening within the house before the boy returned home. The long duration shots of the boy walking, for example at 0:10, build anticipation as we didn't know his characters motive. Overall, I thought this sequence worked effectively.
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