Editing a Scene for continuity and visual flow
Introduction:
I am a firm believer that editing is an excellent way to learn to plan, produce and shoot an original scene.
In this unit students will edit an action scene using previously recorded video clips. The goal is for the final edit to make logical sense to the viewer and have a natural visual flow throughout.
At the end of this project students will be able to do the following:
1. Choose and place shots in order to tell a coherent story
1. Edit using a variety of shot sizes and angles in order to create visual interest in their edited scene
2. Maintain the "screen direction" of the actor as the character moves throughout the scene
3. "Cut on action" - make the cuts of the character as action is occurring - rather than just before or just after
This will "hide the edits" and result in a natural flow of the action
Of Note:
Students will edit a pre-shot scene of Mr. Elsie as he moves throughout the school.
Of note, the pre-production planning and the shooting of the scene has been done.
This video has a motivation for the scene and tells a short story.
The Story
Beginning: Mr. Elsie is interrupted by some kind of notification on his phone which motivates him to rush
throughout the school
Middle: Mr. Elsie is frantically trying to find a solution to his problem before it is too late
End: Mr. Elsie finds the place where the answer to all his problems is.
This brings the video to a logical if not dramatic conclusion!
What do you need to know as the editor to ensure the visual flow of the scene looks logical and flows naturally as the actor moves throughout the school?
Editing Assets:
Students will be provided with the raw camera clips.
Royalty-free music can be chosen by the student - must include link with project submission
Opening title and closing title may be added to the project based on the student's current software capabilities
Your job as the editor is to make appropriate use of close up as the story unfolds to ensure your story is visually interesting. This is achieved by making use of multiple shot sizes and angles to show the action of the scene in an interesting way. Ensure that the "screen direction" of the actor is maintained or changed in a visually logical way.
There are 2 main principles you will follow while editing your scene:
Principle 1
"Screen Direction"
This is the direction of the movement of the actor through the frame.
Example: Shot 1: The actor enters the frame from the left, walks across the frame and exits right of the frame
Shot 2: The actor must enter the frame from the left and again move across the right of the frame. At that point the actor can continue until they leave the frame or stop and do some activity. This establishes the screen direction in both shots of the actor traveling from left to right . This way the actor is always going in the same "screen direction" in the scene.
If a shooting or editing mistake is made and the screen direction is not maintained, the actor may seem to be going back in the opposite direction from where they came.
Your task has been made significantly easier as you are provided all the shots. Most screen direction problems are created during the shooting of a scene. Once in editing it is difficult to fix. Your job is to make sure to maintain the screen direction by ensuring the shots are in the correct order and
Principle 2
"Cutting on action" or motion
Make your cuts in mid-action (jumping, lifting, turning etc.) rather than before the action or after the action occurs. The key will be to choose edit points that will create a smooth visual flow between shots and throughout the scene. Often it is a matter of shifting the beginning or end of a clip by a couple of "frames."
A skilled editor's work will not be noticed but it will be appreciated.
I am a firm believer that editing is an excellent way to learn to plan, produce and shoot an original scene.
In this unit students will edit an action scene using previously recorded video clips. The goal is for the final edit to make logical sense to the viewer and have a natural visual flow throughout.
At the end of this project students will be able to do the following:
1. Choose and place shots in order to tell a coherent story
1. Edit using a variety of shot sizes and angles in order to create visual interest in their edited scene
2. Maintain the "screen direction" of the actor as the character moves throughout the scene
3. "Cut on action" - make the cuts of the character as action is occurring - rather than just before or just after
This will "hide the edits" and result in a natural flow of the action
Of Note:
Students will edit a pre-shot scene of Mr. Elsie as he moves throughout the school.
Of note, the pre-production planning and the shooting of the scene has been done.
This video has a motivation for the scene and tells a short story.
The Story
Beginning: Mr. Elsie is interrupted by some kind of notification on his phone which motivates him to rush
throughout the school
Middle: Mr. Elsie is frantically trying to find a solution to his problem before it is too late
End: Mr. Elsie finds the place where the answer to all his problems is.
This brings the video to a logical if not dramatic conclusion!
What do you need to know as the editor to ensure the visual flow of the scene looks logical and flows naturally as the actor moves throughout the school?
Editing Assets:
Students will be provided with the raw camera clips.
Royalty-free music can be chosen by the student - must include link with project submission
Opening title and closing title may be added to the project based on the student's current software capabilities
Your job as the editor is to make appropriate use of close up as the story unfolds to ensure your story is visually interesting. This is achieved by making use of multiple shot sizes and angles to show the action of the scene in an interesting way. Ensure that the "screen direction" of the actor is maintained or changed in a visually logical way.
There are 2 main principles you will follow while editing your scene:
Principle 1
"Screen Direction"
This is the direction of the movement of the actor through the frame.
Example: Shot 1: The actor enters the frame from the left, walks across the frame and exits right of the frame
Shot 2: The actor must enter the frame from the left and again move across the right of the frame. At that point the actor can continue until they leave the frame or stop and do some activity. This establishes the screen direction in both shots of the actor traveling from left to right . This way the actor is always going in the same "screen direction" in the scene.
If a shooting or editing mistake is made and the screen direction is not maintained, the actor may seem to be going back in the opposite direction from where they came.
Your task has been made significantly easier as you are provided all the shots. Most screen direction problems are created during the shooting of a scene. Once in editing it is difficult to fix. Your job is to make sure to maintain the screen direction by ensuring the shots are in the correct order and
Principle 2
"Cutting on action" or motion
Make your cuts in mid-action (jumping, lifting, turning etc.) rather than before the action or after the action occurs. The key will be to choose edit points that will create a smooth visual flow between shots and throughout the scene. Often it is a matter of shifting the beginning or end of a clip by a couple of "frames."
A skilled editor's work will not be noticed but it will be appreciated.
A very simple visual demonstration of maintaining Screen direction. This short video shows how using a "neutral shot" (subject moving straight on towards camera) to change the screen direction. If there is a change in screen direction you must show why it has occurred.
However, many Hollywood action scenes will deliberately visually confuse the viewer by switching screen direction at key points (impacts) in the scene. This helps visually confuse the viewer and hide the use of a stunt person or special effect (explosion.)
BUT - always learn the rules before you attempt to break them!!!
However, many Hollywood action scenes will deliberately visually confuse the viewer by switching screen direction at key points (impacts) in the scene. This helps visually confuse the viewer and hide the use of a stunt person or special effect (explosion.)
BUT - always learn the rules before you attempt to break them!!!
A skilled editor's work will not be noticed but it will be appreciated.
Hollywood example of consistent Screen Direction
Chase Scene from Joker
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Principle 2
"Cutting on action"
Make your cuts in both shots in mid-action (jumping, lifting, turning, standing etc.) rather than before the action or after the action occurs.
This has 2 visual effects on the edited shots.
1. This will help hide the edit from the viewer as they will be focused on the character's actions
2. Will create a seamless visual flow between the shots. The 2 shots will visually look like a natural carryover from one shot to another.
For pursuit video it is very important to edit in mid-action and to ensure the point of action matches from shot to shot. By matching the action as accurately as possible the "continuity" between shots will be maintained.
Continuity
Continuity in a scene ensures consistent visuals throughout a scene. For example, if an actor is wearing a hat in the scene he/she must be wearing the hat from all angles and shot sizes. Continuity is maintained in a scene in a variety of ways. Through consistent wardrobe, actions, lighting, weather (sun vs. clouds) and even through consistent background sound - passing airplane, kids screaming in a park etc. "Breaking continuity"breaks the illusion of reality for the viewer and reminds them they are just watching a movie!
"Cutting on action"
Make your cuts in both shots in mid-action (jumping, lifting, turning, standing etc.) rather than before the action or after the action occurs.
This has 2 visual effects on the edited shots.
1. This will help hide the edit from the viewer as they will be focused on the character's actions
2. Will create a seamless visual flow between the shots. The 2 shots will visually look like a natural carryover from one shot to another.
For pursuit video it is very important to edit in mid-action and to ensure the point of action matches from shot to shot. By matching the action as accurately as possible the "continuity" between shots will be maintained.
Continuity
Continuity in a scene ensures consistent visuals throughout a scene. For example, if an actor is wearing a hat in the scene he/she must be wearing the hat from all angles and shot sizes. Continuity is maintained in a scene in a variety of ways. Through consistent wardrobe, actions, lighting, weather (sun vs. clouds) and even through consistent background sound - passing airplane, kids screaming in a park etc. "Breaking continuity"breaks the illusion of reality for the viewer and reminds them they are just watching a movie!
Continuity errors in big Hollywood Movies!!!
There is at least 1 person on a film crew that is responsible to tracking continuity throughout the film. It's an important and well paying job. Requires an eye for detail and tremendous organizational skills.
There is at least 1 person on a film crew that is responsible to tracking continuity throughout the film. It's an important and well paying job. Requires an eye for detail and tremendous organizational skills.
An excellent example of Rule of Thirds in film scenes
"Compressing Time"
During this assignment you will be "compressing time." What does that mean? You will not be following the character through the school in "real time." Doing so would require you show literally every step of the character and it would take the actual amount of time to complete the pursuit.
What is a just over 1 minute video would actually take the character 3 or 4 minutes to complete in "Real time" In this case time is "compressed by the editing of the sequence. Multiple steps along the way are not included in the shooting and editing. As a viewer we accept that the character is moving through the scene without having to see every single step along the way.
Below is an excellent video that demonstrate the concept of "compressing time" in a film or video. By doing so the attention of the viewer is maintained and only the relevant actions/activities are shown. As a viewer we have become accustom to compressing time and still believe the scene we are watching without question how the character or activities have progressed.
Video credit to Drew Kellar of Story Guide. He has a series of videos that are an excellent watch for early film and video producers.
During this assignment you will be "compressing time." What does that mean? You will not be following the character through the school in "real time." Doing so would require you show literally every step of the character and it would take the actual amount of time to complete the pursuit.
What is a just over 1 minute video would actually take the character 3 or 4 minutes to complete in "Real time" In this case time is "compressed by the editing of the sequence. Multiple steps along the way are not included in the shooting and editing. As a viewer we accept that the character is moving through the scene without having to see every single step along the way.
Below is an excellent video that demonstrate the concept of "compressing time" in a film or video. By doing so the attention of the viewer is maintained and only the relevant actions/activities are shown. As a viewer we have become accustom to compressing time and still believe the scene we are watching without question how the character or activities have progressed.
Video credit to Drew Kellar of Story Guide. He has a series of videos that are an excellent watch for early film and video producers.
Shooting/Editing a Scene in Realtime
Film Riot has also produced a video showing how to shoot a scene using multiple shot sizes and angles. This is shot very closely to "real time". No real suggestion of compressing time in this scene.
Film Riot is an excellent filmmaking resource.
Film Riot has also produced a video showing how to shoot a scene using multiple shot sizes and angles. This is shot very closely to "real time". No real suggestion of compressing time in this scene.
Film Riot is an excellent filmmaking resource.
Pursuit Video Rubric