For this project, we were tasked to film 8 scenes, editing them together with the different techniques we learned in class. These scenes were meant to be 15-20 seconds. We were allowed to work with partners, splitting the workload evenly but allowing for both to get an understanding of the techniques. Due to our busy schedules, we planned the scene together but recorded and edited separately. Coordinating when we decided to change a scene or not. While our teacher provided us with some prompts to use, we also had creative liberties to create our own or alter hers to our liking.
Cross-Cutting
Cross-cutting is a technique that shows two or more actions by cutting between them one at a time. This scene was based on our teacher's prompt, "Someone calls while we see the recipient deciding whether to answer." We edited this prompt based on the scene from "Mean Girls" where the girls all get on the phone and talk negatively about each other. However, this scene utilises a different technique. This was one of my partner's scenes to film and edit, so I am unfamiliar with how that process was.
Cutaway
The next scene was a cutaway. This is a cut from one clip to another. We chose this idea based on our teacher's prompt, "During an argument, cut away to a ticking clock or unimpressed pet." This is another one my partner filmed and edited.
Dissolve
For a dissolve technique, there is one visual that then overlaps into the next clip. For this scene, we decided to go with the idea that there was a breakup between two characters. We used a stuffed animal, which represented the union between the two. It then fades into the next scene with the stuffed bear remaining as the visual aspect connecting the two. We got this idea from our teacher's prompt, "A character looks at a photo-dissolve into the memory." This was a scene I filmed and edited. To film, I met one of my friends at the library and had them hand me a stuffed bear I brought there. I recorded this clip holding my phone at eye level, looking down for a bird's-eye view. I kept the bear in the center of the frame, allowing the transition to be easier to film. I then recorded the next clip sitting in my bed and kept my phone in the exact same way. I then started editing. I used a fade transition to make the cut more seamless, lining up the visual elements to allow for the scene to flow better. I then added music to the second clip to create a more cinematic scene, wrapping the story together.
Fade (In/Out)
A fade technique is when the clip ends on a black or white screen, then comes back to the next clip. For this one, we did a basic scene to show the passage of time as a student leaves and then comes home from school. This was the third scene my partner filmed and edited.
Wipe
For a wipe technique, one clip replaces another by moving a shape across the screen. For this technique, we ran out of planning time in class, so we communicated over texts to plan this. We first debated using a door, but as the filmer of this scene, it was difficult to position the camera in a way that captured the story. So I decided to change it to a character closing their laptop to get ready for school, as opposed to closing a door to go to school. I had to rerecord the laptop closing over and over to get the line to flow with the camera moving down with the scene ending. I put a voiceover on this clip while editing to make it sound like someone is telling me it is time to leave for the day. The story being told here is that I must get ready for school after already doing homework for hours. I then transitioned this with a swipe to get the next scene to replace this one. For the next scene, I put my phone up as I got ready for school.
Jump Cut
A jump cut has discontinuity between shots, allowing there to be time missing from a sequence and showing the changes as we go without the meaningless recording. We used our teacher's prompt, "Getting ready montage with jump cuts." I recorded this by recording for fifteen minutes as I got ready for my day. I then edited down the useless clips and displayed the changes in outfits as the character makes decisions on what to wear.
Graphic Match Cut
A graphic match cut was my favourite to record. It is when two clips are put together due to a similar shape, colour, or pattern. We chose to use circles to link the two clips together. While we originally planned to use a basketball to a clock ticking, this was based on our teacher's prompt of a basketball flying to a moon. I could not record this as I don't have a basketball. So we discussed the changing storyline, deciding to make it a student studying. We used a coffee cup lid and transitioned it into a circle displaying laws on an Advanced Placement Physics reference sheet. This was easy to record as I held the phone by my eye and turned it down to get a bird's eye view of both circles. In the second clip, I then display the workload I have, showing the academic pressure the character is feeling in her classes, which is why she got coffee. In editing, I used a fade transition to allow for the clips to flow better and lined the circles up.
Shot/Reverse Shot
A shot/reverse shot alternates between framing characters from the perspective of the other's point of view. Displaying a conversation between them, allowing for both to interact and react to each other. We used our teacher's prompt, "Awkward confession and reaction," but altered it to a conversation instead of a confession. This was the final one my partner recorded and edited.
Final Project
The final task was to compile all the videos together. Labelling and titling each to make it easy for the viewer to identify the editing technique and what idea we had with the scene. Below is my partner's and my final project.
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