5 Master Editing Techniques Film Project

Contrast

In the first segment of the video, you see kids jumping around partying and having fun. It then immediately cuts to them meditating. The switch between these two clips show contrast, as it changes from an upbeat scene to a more calm clip. By using the contrast of the two scenes right after another, we are able to have to viewers pay more attention to the emotion shown through our shots because they are so drastically different. These were the very first clips that we shot, as the editing style was the easiest for us to think up an idea for. 

Simultaneity 

The next editing technique that was used was simultaneity through a few clips, following a boy writing a love note. We then cut to girl opening her locker and finding a note in it, leading the audience to think that he was the one that placed it in her locker. However in the very next scene, we see to boy deliver his note to another girl, so we are left to wonder what message the girl in the first shot received. The final clip in this segment is an over the shoulder shot of the girls note, revealing that it was just a simple to do list and in fact was not a love note. These clips were a bit harder to create a storyline for compared to our contrast ones, however once we got the idea of using a note, the rest of it fell into place, and it was relatively easy to shoot as well. 

Parallelism

The next clip we shot was for one of the harder ones, parallelism. Trying to come up with an idea that contained two clips with a similar image allowing us to stitch them together was a challenge. In our final idea, we shot a clip of a girl bowling making sure to pay attention to the ball itself rolling. It then blends into a girls eye as they are the same shape. 

Leit Motiff

This technique was another one of the easier ones to brainstorm an idea for. We picked a sound that would fit someone getting upset and frustrated. After that, all we did was shoot different scenarios that anyone would get frustrated being in. We filmed a girl getting pushed down, finding her lock backwards, and her seeing she was no wifi. Placing the audio over the moment the girl experienced one of the hardships shows their shared frustrating experience they left her with.

Symbolism 

Symbolism was by the far the hardest idea that we had to come up with. We saw examples in class of ides, however we struggled to figure out one on our own. Eventually we decided to shoot a girl getting her test back, however it has an F on it. She then throws the test (the problem) away to symbolize that she is "throwing her problems away". 

One Word Film Project Analysis

    The one word film project was a combination of both strategically placed and chronologically ordered shots with angles that worked together to create the feeling of fear. This in addition to the movement used in those shots and the sounds playing in the background such as the scary music of the video help to convey this emotion to the viewer even more. Straight on angles and a variety of other shots plus other tools help construct the piece in a way where viewers are able to feel the emotion through the screen.

    There was a wide array of shots used including over the shoulder shots as Chris walked through the hall and as he opened the door to exit the room. We also used point of view shot in combination with shaking of the camera to actually make it seem as if the viewer was running out of fear themselves. By using this shot, we were also able to allow the audience to experience the emotion themself that comes along with the jump scare towards the end. It was set up as though someone was jump scaring them in real life, allowing them to be present in the video. Another type of shot we used were closeups on facial expressions. This really allows for a viewer to get a good look at how the actor is reacting to what just happened and see if they can use any facial context clues to get a better understanding of how they are feeling.

    The first half of the video runs with ominous music playing in the background to entice the  feeling of paranoia and anxiety that comes along with fear. Towards the middle of the video, as we approach the clips of walking and blackness switching off, you hear a heartbeat showing the intensity of the situation growing as you normally associate slow monotone heartbeats with something bad about to happen. The other audio clip of heartbeats that can be heard later on in the video shows the fast paced part of the film because you can tell they are scared though the intense pounding noise. The final screams of terror at the end of the film, seal the deal of the word because it puts into sound what people are thinking in their head as they are watching and getting scared.