Editing: Process

After completing the filming of our thriller, we rapidly moved onto the next step, which was editing. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the editing process and every aspect to it. I continued to learn many new elements to editing and reinforced others on previous points we had previously been taught which helped me build my media knowledge and involvement.

I immediately reminded myself of what editing was before I started so I had a clear understanding before I began to edit. For instance, editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible and film media used to convey information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, organisation, and many other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate and complete work, such as producing an opening sequence.

Throughout the editing lessons, between my group and I, we balanced the roles out evenly, so there was no confusion and every task was being set fairly. This also allowed me to be more organised, practice everything and this also prevented my group and I from wasting any time. For example, I mainly helped cut each clip, helping us to organise and tidy our sequence but also to allow a successful transition and cross cut into the next rush.

The technology and equipment I will be using are Mac computers which include softwares such as, Adobe premiere pro. It also consists of Garagebands and soundcloud to achieve successful sounds for editing. I will also be using Font and titling softwares on the computer, so will have no problems with copyright. I understood we are all armatures and cannot use complicated programmes, so this is why we are sticking to Adobe premiere pro.

During the editing process, I found there were some key, essential decisions that had to be made in order for our editing to be successful and worthwhile. For example, I firstly always made sure my group and I were constantly saving our processed work every 5 minutes. I learnt saving is crucial as this means we don’t loose our work if a problem abrupt.

I also felt the need to make the decision of choosing the correct and most suitable footage to use and the rushes we shouldn’t use. I thought this was a key a key decision as then our editing process would be a lot more organised and no one would get confused. I also made the decision of making sure to find the correct place for a cut, as we don’t want unnecessary footage that wastes time but also for our continuity to be successful. Also, during editing I learnt a crucial point a long the way that helped me through process of editing, making it a lot faster and less confusing. For instance, I learnt if you want to highlight a big section you press ‘a’ on the keyboard.

For one of our editing lessons, my group was away and I was individually editing our rushes. I found it was a key job to duplicate the version my group and I had been working on all together. Reasons for this include, if I make any big or brave decisions but my group did or do not like them, I always have our original process saved. Therefore, I learnt to remind my group that if any of member of our group is working individually on our rushes and are worried about brave decisions they have made, to always duplicate our original version and work on that one. 

I quickly understood the expectations that were established of me in the media suit which were to share and balance each role evenly as I was working in a group. I learnt this was very important as everyone could experience everything. We were aslo expected to always book our slots in advance, so we could organise our time appropriatly and for the media staff to know our plan of action. Lastly, I understood, my group and I had to work repsonsibly and quielty as there were other students working, so we didn’t want to distract them. Before my group and I started editing, I also learnt the expectations that were set-up before we started. For instance, I understood they wanted us to edit it by firstly completing it by picture, then by sound and lastly adding effects. I learnt by having a plan, it creates a better and more successful outcome.

In my first session, my editing process began with viewing all the footage we had shot, which was found in the rushes file. We watched all our footage several times and placed our favourite shots into our timeline. This was useful as our editing process became simpler and less confusing as we easily knew which shots we wanted to include in our thriller. Similarly, I also made a point of arranging our footage even more constructed by logging each shot into sections to make it clearer to see and more concise and organised. For instance, I made two different sections, including one being only the start of the sequence, consisting of only the keys and opening titles. Similarly, I also sectioned our other log into a part for only the action sequences. This was very beneficial as no time was wasted when finding the correct shot. My group and I started to put together the first two shots and tried to make them link through smooth continuity. We spend quite a while doing this as we wanted to get back into the practice of using Adobe premiere pro as we hadn’t used it in a long time.

As I became quite confident using Adobe premiere pro as I had used it several times which meant I had been practicing using it a numerous of times, I was able to make some more advanced changes and continue to experiment. For example, I sped some bits of my clip up to make allow our sequence to make more sense. I also learnt that I had so far in my process, used 8 different layers, which include overlapped footage and different audio sections. However, I deleted unneccesary layers we do not need, for instance excess of audio clips.

However, my group and I had to crop some of our shots in order for our opening sequence to be smooth and successful. I couldn’t use all our shots as we had taken so many on the day and we understood our sequence can only be about 2 minutes long; therefore I helped pick the best clips to include and deleted the rest as there was no need for them and some clips looked better than others. We used a cutting tool, such as the blade tool or the razor. My group and I used the blade tool on a regular basis to cut a particular clips into two to make the shot two individual shots instead of one as our sequence worked better this way.

I quickly learnt the timeline on Adobe premiere pro is used to gather shots together, edit and change the format making smoother transitions. The timeline shows our clips of where we have placed them, usually being next to each other. We used the timeline as a guideline, so we can see the process from beginning to end and how long or short it is. We used the timeline to rearrange the shots in order and to change the format by making successful transitions and cuts. I took control of making sure we named and re-named our clips as it was an important element as then we had no confusion in finding what we were looking for, making it easy and organised. It also wastes no time, as you know exactly where the clip your looking for is. You can drag the blue line on the timeline to the section you want to watch it, which helps with noticing continuity errors.

When completing the process of editing, I constantly reminded myself and my group of our intended outcome of this process. For example, we all rapidly agreed our aim was to produce a successful, well thought-out 2-minute thriller opening sequence. We wished for this as we have been preparing and producing many different ideas and possibilities right from the start; including many varied skills. We came up with many alternatives but finally decided as a group most successful and beneficial ideas overall. We understood our intended outcome was too also produce a thriller that successfully builds tension and suspense where necessary and to engage and intrigue the viewer.

Lastly, I am pleased with the overall outcome so far as the shots are looking successful and the continuity is progressing to get better each day that we adapt to it. I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole process of editing as I began to learn new, more advanced information and tips for a more effective project. For instance, I learnt how to slow down and speed up clips, also how to make transitions smoother between shots. I was also taught which keys on the keyboard allowed you to do things more easily instead of taking time to find them on the icons at the top, for example pressing ‘a’ on the keyboard instead of finding it above. Although we haven’t done sound and titles yet, I am excited to see how these will fit into our sequence and hopefully bring our whole opening sequence together.