Summary
Role: Editor
Intention (SMART Goal)
My goal for Session #5 is to allow the editing of the film to cut smoothly and fit with the emotion that is present within the film, in order to do so I will have others within my group watch and ensure that the editing fits the film. Setting these goals allows a better film overall and to have the film run smoothly. The deadline I have set for myself is to have the final edits done by February 11, 2020.
PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY
Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)
The editor that I decided to look at is Walter Murch. He is most known for editing the film The Return of Oz. Murch is successful within in films because of the 6 rules that Murch stands by. Murch’s most popular recommendation is to edit with “your eyes half-closed”. As stated by Murch, this means edit without second-guessing anything, first hand. Another one of Murch’s rules is to appeal towards emotion meaning to edit with what emotion is wanting to be portrayed, stated in his interview with NFTS about The Rule of Six (the method Murch edits by). The last important technique that Murch mentions is being able to edit to go back and forth from the person that the audience needs to focus on.
Primary Sources:
Example- The Return to Oz
(00:05) – In this scene, there are two actors. By the lighting and the emotions on the actors are portraying, the audience can assume that this scene is meant to be dramatic and enhance fear. Murch edits this scene by cutting both to Dorothy and the lady present. It cuts to show Dorothy’s fear then cuts back to the lady. This relates to Session #5, where the film will be cutting back and forth to the actor that is speaking.
(00:40) – Cutting the video clip to go back and forth from Dorothy and the thing that needs to be focused on.
Secondary Sources: The Rule of Six
Examples –
“Is it emotional?” (00:36) – Does the edit of the video connect with the emotion that is wanting to be portrayed? Insuring that the cut happens at the right time and the rhythm with the scene. Allowing the edit of the film to connect with the emotion and does not subtract from the emotion of the story.
“Cuts like butter” (02:01) – By this Murch means that the edits make sense and are the first initial edits made, without any second-guessing since most editors will overthink and cut out too much. This being important for Session #5 because it is about editing to make sure that the person talking is the person being on film.
Training Source(s)
0:20 – When not to cut
2:46 – It’s about to final product, not amazing editorial choices
4:12 – You can’t edit thinking of what the director is going to want
5:42 – Trust the process
6:14 – Bad ideas lead to good ideas
7:37 – Be open-minded as editor
10:00 – Be organized
11:19 – Just edit, this leads to more understanding of your film
12:02 – Set it up
13:01 – Cuts mean something
13:25 – Beware of reactions
15:56 – Study the process, watch people edit
Project Timeline
- Create a time estimation to on track throughout Session #5
- Research professional editors and techniques
- Research Premiere Pro and editing tools overall
- Collaborate with director and cinematographer
- Detailed shot list
- Organize video clips and audio
- General editing for the video
- Final editing and cuts
- Sync audio with film
- Upload
PRODUCTION – ACTION
The Film
How the Gronch Stole Valentine’s Day
Skills Commentary
This session, groups are supposed to focus mainly on ADR. The task is to make a film and cut the audio from the original clips, then record the actors’ voices in the studio. This session skill can be seen when the actors are talking. At 0:10, this is the first time one of the actors speaks. When watching this clip, it is clear there is no background audio besides when it is intended. When the Gronch slams his hand down, there is audio of him doing just that, not the echo background noise that people are used to. The session skill can easily be seen towards the end of the film (1:05), where the kid and the Gronch are having a conversation. The audio that the audience hears, was recorded in a studio compared to the original audio that was said when filming. The purpose of this session skill is to ensure that the audience can hear what actors are saying and to lessen the amount of background noise that is shown in the film.
POST-PRODUCTION — REFLECTION
21st Century Skills
Problem Solving
In this session, I noticed the 21st century skill of being able to problem solve within my group and myself. I demonstrated problem-solving because prior to this session, I had made plans that would cause me to be absent some of the production days. This affected the entire team. My team, I had to film quickly compared to other teams, and finish before February 14th, 2020. There were many issues that arose from my absence. I was one of the main actors in the film and a key part of the film being edited together. My problem-solving came from me deciding that we needed to get the clips that were necessary for the film and to do no more, to ensure that there was enough to edit the film. In addition, since this film was focusing on ADR and I was one of the actors. We decided that one of our group members would say my lines since I was going to be absent during the time of the recording, which is why my voice is not the one speaking in the film. The change in voices can be seen throughout the entire film. This demonstrates problem-solving because there were many issues that could have affected our film from not being completed. However, we figured out solutions for each of the problems as the problems came our way.
Collaboration
This was my first session ever in Film. The one thing I noticed the most was the amount of collaboration that was needed within this class. However, focusing on my group I noticed how much collaboration we did but the significant part about it, was that it did not feel forced. I believe that my group was extremely successful when it came to finishing tasks and doing what each person was assigned. This could be seen in our film. Every person had an important role that brought the entire film together. Ann was the screenwriter, so she was needed for the entire film as a whole. Satchel was the director and became extremely useful when it came to lighting. Laari was the cinematographer and it goes without saying the importance of that role. Dylan and I both had to act within the film. During this session, I had to work with Dylan because editing was a new concept for me. This was one of the key parts of collaboration. Another part was when any of the group members had a question, there was always someone helping them. The last and final moment I saw collaboration was when I was absent and needed to have someone else do the voice over for me, in order to finish the film on time. Below is an image of Ann taking over for me to do the voice-over on the film. The collaboration was clearly an important part of this session.
Media Literacy
Media Literacy was one of the important ideas within this session, in my opinion. I saw that Media Literacy was important for me because, since editing was a new concept for me, I had to do a lot of my research online and through sources provided. For example, right now. I had no idea what media literacy meant. From my research, I have concluded that “Media literacy is the ability to identify different types of media and understand the messages they’re sending…” (Common Sense Media). During this session, media literacy was important for me because I had to learn multiple different skills in editing before the week was over. Some evidence of this is that I had no idea what L-Cut and J-Cut meant. Meaning that I had to research about these two editing techniques and figuring out how to do them, along with what these specific cuts were used for. Overall, media literacy was one of the tools for me when it came to working.
Initiative & Self-Direction
Initiative and self-direction are the two “living in the world” skills I believe I had shown during this session. This was my first session ever in IB Film so I was out of the loop for most of the entire session. I was the only person in my group who was new to the class meaning not only did I have to learn my role in the group by myself, but I also had to figure out most of the assignments in the class. Of course, I had the help of my teammates but at the end of the day, it was most of my own work and attempting to figure out how to do tasks such as write blogs. I took initiative with all my work in this class because I forced myself to go through the guides and attempt to understand how to write blogs, along with the formats. For example, I went to one of the sources provided to write this current section. However, I also took the initiative and asked my teammates for help when it was needed. I have no physical evidence of this but on Thursday February 13, 2020, my teammates help me figure out the software so I could edit the film together. So, personally taking initiative and self-direction was one of the skills used during production.
Reactions to the Final Version
How the Gronch Stole Valentine’s Day was shown the reviewers to assess the film. These reviewers are professionals with some background with film and the area of it. During the screening of our film, Mr. Gray had analyzed my editing with this film. He wrote, “…There is a cut early on that looks like you cut to a clip of a similar frame…” this was one of the issues I had with editing and was unable to fix. However, this feedback helped me realize that there should have been another clip showing at a different angle of the scene or that the lighting should have been fixed. This was one of the other viewer’s comment as well. Overall, the reviewers had enjoyed How the Gronch Stole Valentine’s Day.
Self-Evaluation of Final Version
When examining the Made to Stick SUCCESs Model, the use of Principle 1 (Simple) was clearly used within How the Gronch Stole Valentine’s Day. This can be proven to be so because, within this film, the clips are simple. There isn’t a lot of action besides within the running scene and nothing is drawn out either. Most of the clips are short and sweet. For example, at 1:15 the conversation the kid and the Gronch are having is short and simple, there are no dramatic changes to lighting or any of the scenery. The scene is simply just the kid and the Gronch speaking. Another principle is used is Principle 2 (unexpected). This can be seen in the film because the audience is drawn in and is curious about how the Gronch is going to react. In the film, the moment when the kid catches the Gronch stealing candy. There is a dramatic moment between the two characters and causes the audience to ensure what the Grinch will do. The third principle is Principle 5 (emotional). The film is emotional because it brings this heartwarming feeling to the audience to know that the Gronch is no longer upset on Valentine’s day after the kid gave the Gronch a card. The last principle is Principle 6 (stories). This principle connects with the film because when applying the storyline to the real world, it drives the audience to want to help others. At 1:15, it can be seen the impact that the kid has on the Gronch, inspiring the audience to want to create change.
What I Learned
After session 5, many lessons were learned. For me, one of the lessons I learned was that time means everything. I did not realize how much time I usually waste in class until I joined IB Film. In this class, it is clear that every moment counts and that using time wisely will benefit students greatly. I learned this lesson because while filming, it seemed as though time was just passing by. Then when I needed to share my edit to Google Drive, it seemed as though I was in a rush to get it shared. However, I didn’t just learn lessons, I solved some problems too. The most important problem that was solved during this session was the absence of Laari and I. In order to fix this issue and finish the film before the deadline, our timeline had to be ahead of schedule compared to other groups. Resulting, in my group having to film one day after school.
Grammar and Spelling
When writing this blog, the grammar tool used was Grammarly to fix grammar and any spelling errors made.
Editor
Laari Ruby looked over my blog post.