Final Edit

Feedback On Editing and Filming

When I had posted myt first draft of the thriller project up to my blog, my teacher gave me feedback on what I could improve to make the clip better.
First off, she pointed out that I needed to export my clip as HD, which wasn't too difficult, just simply change the format in Adobe encoder for the exportation of the clip once finished.
The next thing I could improve on was the sound: There were a couple of areas where the wind was too loud and distracting, at the begining in the establishing shot and when the driver is peeing in the bushes. I lowered the volume in thece scenes where the wind noise was. My teacher also pointed out that I could do with some music or white sound to hold it all together more and buld more tenshion over a longer time. I imported a file from Freesound with the appropriate tone and cut it up into particular scenes in the clip rather than as one sound all the way through, because some areas of acting wouldn't tie in with the music/whitesound.
My teacher said that there was a long gap where there was no speach which could help me cut the clip down even further (2.40) if I placed the following speech over the shot. I also cut the shot of the driver peeing down to a reasonable length, but I kept the scene because I decided it conveyed vulnerability and suspense, but too long and the shot would be almost typical of a comedy, not a thriller.
I also added more repetition in the phone call when my friend David says 'Hello, Mr. Andrews?' so that shows more panic and worry, and covers the black space in the clip where I intended for it to create intrigue and unsurity as to what is happening, so that it grasps to viewer.
Finally I was advised to change the titles to a more 'thriller like' font and make them smaller and put them to one side so that they were more subtle. I added more effects and transitions as well to give it a creepy effect.

Final Edit

Screenshots of the Editing Process

Putting the clips in order one after the other, adding
cross-fades  and de-crackler for audio etc.

Run-through of the clip to watch for imperfections,
cutting clips and shortening them etc .

Adding sound effects, e.g. low occasional beat, phone
 ringing, ambience of the office call centre.

Going back over audio and refining it with Adobe
 Soundbooth, adding transitions to make the sound more
phone-like in dialogue

Choice site for sound effects which I downloaded.

The whole sequence run through for the first draft.

Thriller (Draft Edit)

Editing

In my clip, the first part of editing was fairly easy and I enjoyed it, because it was fascinating to be able to put things in order and be creative in making it.
All the effects I added:
Cross-dissolve
Dissolve (dip to white)
Audio fade
I used the dissolves and fades  to demonstrate time passing by, even just a short period of time and also to move from one scene to the next, e.g. the car to the office.
The audio fades I used, e.g. in the cut from the second establishing shot of the car to Jo in the car, were to reduce the sudden change of volume between cuts and to not be such a distraction in sound bridges.
The general editing skills I included were:
Sound bridge
Ellipsis of Time
Continuity Editing
Shot/Reverse Shot
Dissolve
Fade-in
Superimposition
Short Take




However what was difficult was the fact I too much film so I had to shorten more than half the clips.
The clip was originally 4 minutes, but I managed to shorten it to about 2.44 minutes.
It turned out to be more time that I could have used for creating titles, but instead I sat down in lesson and finished it as quickly as I could.

Blogger FM (Filming and Editing Summery)

Filming

The first day of filming, which was on Friday 22nd of Feb at the church office was with my friend David Butler whom arrangements were difficult, because we had such short time to film. This was including him going home to dress in formal clothes and come back and meet me. So in order to keep time, I asked him to stay in what he was wearing which was casual, so it wasn't too unusual for the part he was playing; just a more casual office.
The location was easy to access as we were shown to a suitable room, quiet, well lit and with all the props that were needed.
David's acting was good which benefitted us both time-wise, because it meant less excess film.
No-one disturbed us either so on the whole, it was very easy, and it seemed it especially after the stress of finding people to act...phew!

The second day of filming was at No Man's Lane in Stanton By Dale wioth my friends Ian Maweu and Jo Ingram.
Filming was difficult, partly because I had to direct two people, one of which (Ian) was outside the car whilst I was filming Jo inside, so I had to signal a 'thums up' to Ian in order to walk up along side the car, whilst holding the camera in one hand. (because there was no room for the tripod in the footweld and also hand held was a good effect.) However had it not been that my friends were good at acting, I wouldv't had lots more shots to make.
Apart from this, the easiest part was film the establishing shot of the car and the conversation with David. Jo's acting was good because it matched the same tone of David in the call centre which kept the plot running smoothly.
Neither was there any rain to bother us, just a full clouded sky which was appropriate for the theme of a murder.
I am thankfull for my friends, Jo Ingram, Ian Maweu and David Butler for making the effort they did, or else I would have had many more shots to take. Any shots that weren't good were actually very funny so moral was high, which is why it succeeded, so thank you to my actors.