Final Editing Ready for Presentation

Soundtrack & Final Cut Pro Editing

Having received our crit we moved back into the edit suite. I re visited our soundtrack project adding in a couple more sequences to fill the time I took out for the argument and fight scene at the end. Having taken out the voices the sequences were edited really fast covered with lots of quick sounds one after another. We as a team liked the build up of volume towards the end and then the sudden sound f a kettle so decided to keep this aspect and focus onto editing. Having edited the sound Heather started work on re-editing the sequence with the improved soundtrack audio file. Having added more sequences that meant using the clips filmed more and cutting them finer so that the jump cuts were fast and liked up with the sound. Having worked on the edit for a substantial amount of time Heather had a break and I was able to finish the rapid cutting of the clips linking with the sequences as well as adding in the egg timer shot intercutting it with flashes of the argument making that more believable and the overall piece better than the previous sequence. We then exported the sequence through final cut as a quicktime at 25 fps, and using apple pro res 422 codec. Having exported it we then burnt the file onto a disk using toast titanium. The same was done for another low res version and burn as a quiktime. Also a final audio only file was burnt onto the disk representing the soundtrack.   

Feedback from Crit and Class Viewing

 Having re-visited the idea and added to and improved the soundtrack ad video we were optimistic going into the crit. Having shown the film the cirt we got back was not what we expected and a few negatives came up. However  these negatives were based around the same point within the film and aimed at the ending. So looking back at the feedback we decided that we would change the ending by adding ore sequences  to the current timeline so by the end all you see are flashes of the argument making it more believable and allowing the audience to feel more emotion and tension. What was also suggested was to make the egg timer more important by reflecting the time more as well as taking out the voices of the argument at the end within the argument scene as the class found it difficult to believe it positives however were that as a whole the class really liked the film, they thought it built tension nicely and understood the concept of the idea and what we were trying to accomplish. The class liked the way it was filmed and the colour grades  had put on while editing. The idea it was shot using close ups was also a positive.

Filming Experimental

Filming in Both Locations  

My job role of filming I thought went well and in the end successfully, I was able to gather enough coverage and footage to be able to hand over to Heather for the edit. The majority of the shots were close up shots as this was what our idea from the start had been. I shot with a canon 60D dslr and a 50 mm lens and for a few shots a 18-55mm lens. All the shots consisted of either a static, pan, tilt, tracking or freehand movement some with focus pulls and for a couple zooms. I thought this gave the editor a variety of shots to choose from and having taken multiple takes for each set up of props used many shots could be linked in with the audio soundscape. I shot 25 frames a second and an aperture of 1.25. The white balanced changed due to the locations but was around 4000 - 6000, again as did the ISO but shot as close to 100 as possible depending on natural light. The argument scene contained many long shots of the location but then extreme close ups of the character to hide his identity. When recording we didn't come across any problems as all the sounds in the sound piece we were able to re create this time filming them as close up shots.

Editing Experimental Film

Final Cut Pro 7 Editing

Having filmed the experimental project with some ideas from Heather I handed it over to her to edit and gave some positive input and criticism suggesting in my opinion what worked well and what didn't as well as some technical help and advice when the first draft edit was completed.  The project was edited into sequences leading up to the fight scene at the end and the pace of the edit was quickened to link with the soundtrack. Linking up the shots with the sound was fair easy at first but when it came to the end with the fast tempo time and detail was needed. The edit took at lot longer than anticipated and spent many an hour completing it between Heather and myself. We like to think that we spent one of the longest times as a pair doing this project due to the idea of the sequences and the rapidness of the edit took a lot of fine picking and concentration between us to get it right but over all we are happy with the outcome.     

Research and Inspiration - Blue Velvet by David Lynch

Blue Velvet by David Lynch

I wanted to research into this film as when I watched it the first thing that struck me was how powerful the opening was. When coming up with the idea for our own experimental film this gave me inspiration due to the way the soundtrack creates an atmosphere as well as the way its filmed. The film starts with vibrant pan shot of a white picket fence with a red rose. Not only is this a very symbolized object throughout the film but we can also hear the start of the Bobby Vinton song Blue Velvet. This song being a very traditional classic song really creates an atmosphere of peacefulness around the film but what is so brilliant about the opening sequence is the idea that little things start to creep in to make the audience uncomfortable. The odd sound of a dog barking loudly and then the odd shot of the kink in the hosepipe line allows the audience to think that something may be happening that is breaking this peaceful atmosphere.

Another brilliant edit was where the shot of the T.V. which had a gun scene showing and then cut from that to the character in the garden made myself as the audience realize that the character although in this peaceful atmosphere may be in danger and created tension. These little shots of possible dangers built tension but also gained speed when it came to the edit and pace of the film even though the soundtrack was calming it was uneasy as a viewer due to the tension built through the shot.

When editing the sound project I have used the inspiration the of little cut away shots to apply them into the soundtrack. When I comes to editing the experimental film we will be able to use these little cut away sounds to put the flashbacks of the character shown.  

List of Shots and Equipment Needed for Alley Location

SHOT LIST FOR Alley SEQUENCE 

Long shot alley central

Mid / Long shot of character entering frame 

Close up characters hand walking

Close up characters feet walking 

Close up back of characters head - hood up

Long shot enter other character

Long shot / Mid shot characters arguing 

Long shot - gun shot 2 characters 

EQUIPMENT LISTDigital SLR - Canon 60D

50mm lens

18-55mm lens

UV Filters

Zoom Mic 

Dynamic mic 

Condenser mic

List of Shots and Equipment Needed for House Location

Shot List For House Sequence 

Mid / Long shot of kitchen

Close up of hand out of bed

Close up Pan / tilt from hand to bedside

Close up hand turning off alarm

Close up alarm clock

Close up hands washing face bathroom

Close up of bottles / bathroom materials

Mid / Close up of washing machine

Close up bacon in pan

Close up frying pan

Close up mug

Close up tea bags 

Close up kettle 

Mid shot pouring water from kettle to mug

Close up tea spoon

Close up / mid shot microwave 

Close up in cupboard shot

Close up / pull focus of radio

Mid Shot bathroom

Mid shot Bedroom

Mid Pan Kitchen  

Close up Toaster

Equipment List

Digital SLR - Canon 60D

50mm lens

18-55mm lens

UV Filters

Zoom Mic 

Dynamic mic 

Condenser mic