Part 2: Production-Editing the Short Film

Monday, 13th October 2009

On Monday, as a group member I edited the short film my group produced last Monday. Editing: is how you put the final piece together. I worked with a partner (Shamima). The purpose of Gerard’s arrangement was when students come across editing in their coursework in the future they will know the precise process for it. As many theories suggests working as one-to-one makes aspects understandable, rather than working as a group of four, like we did last week.

My partner and I started the process of editing by following many easy and difficult stages. Initially, my partner and I connected the camera to the computer and switched it to ‘camera mode’. Then, we went to the editing software- ‘Final Cut’. ‘Final Cut’ is a non-linear digital editing programme. Non-linear means you are able to work in a non-chronological order. After that, we played the camera to ‘Capture’ the correct ten shots to the programme itself. For example, Close Up, Over Shoulder, Medium Long Shot, Medium Close Up, Medium Shot, Long Shot, Low Angle, Point of View, Extreme Long Shot and Tracking. This method allowed us to digitise the footage to the computer. We digitised the shots stated above as individual clips to the ‘Monitor’. When the shots appeared on the ‘Project Window’, we named and ordered each shot. As motioned above. This idea prevented us from confusions, which may have occurred without out it. After, we dragged each shot one-by-one to the ‘Time Line’ next to each other. This is because if there are gaps between the clips, then black bits will appear on the finished video. Finally, we used the tools on the right side of the ‘Time Line’, for final touches on editing features. Such as, the ‘Tool Cursor’ and ‘Razor Tool’. We used the ‘Razor’ to trim the clips to cut the unnecessary bits, also we used it to separate (cut) a clip to two. Since, we made an error of capturing two shots (Medium Long Shot, and Close Up) together as a clip; earlier during the procedure.

Although we had slight problems with capturing the footage at the beginning of the editing procedure, we solved this situation by repeating the process few times. Until, we got the method correct.

To sum up, in this lesson I gained the skills in editing a video, by using editing software- ‘Final Cut’. Hopefully, the proficiency from today’s lesson will help when I come across to editing my Production piece of coursework in the future.