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The Videomaker's Journey: part seventeen Editing Principles for Beginners Use the links in the text to move between sections.

C: Further Advice For The Making Of Dramas

Only use the popular effects and transitions you see at the movies - they are the ones I refer to from now on - don't use the smart effects you see in television commercials.

The following are complete movies - there are 9 other video clips that are included in this topic as examples.

Pass The Parcel (5¾ minutes)	The Mating Game (1 minute)	Mums The Word (1 minute)

A brief summary of the order in which the editing is done.

1. Trim the video clips and enter them in the storyboard or time line.
2. Trim and adjust the audio before moving onto the next section.
3. Connect the video clips with transitions and install the cutaways and reaction shots.
4. Adjust the volume of the dialogue.
5. Add the titles and credits.
6. Add the music. Lock the music to the video shots as you work through the movie, otherwise the audio may start jumping around as you try to edit.

Complete each section before moving onto the next one. If you try a different order - it can be chaotic with some editing systems.

Step 1: Preparation for the Edit

1. Load the shots into your computer.
2. Browse through these notes so that you have a rough idea of what to do.
3. Read the screenplay, if you are not familiar with the story.
4. Write a list of the shots - mark them with a comment as appropriate:
5. • "ng" denotes no good
   • "can use" denotes good enough to use
   • "must use" denotes the best one
   • "cutaway" or "reaction" denotes good enough to use
     Note - there is an opinion that with computer editing, you do not have to make such a list - but with movies that are longer than a few minutes - unless you examine all the shots in this manner - you might miss some valuable material. Some types of computer editing software will allow you to make such a list.

Step 2: Trimming the Video Clips

• Get started - i.e. trim some shots and load them to the timeline. Keep going to the end until you have a rough story line.
• The editor must look at all the video shots. You will often find useful cutaways and reaction shots in unexpected places. As you are examining the video shots, make a list and note the quality of the shot and whether it is a good one to use. I then mark on this list my plan for the edit.
• Trim the start and end of the selected shots so as to remove unwanted camera movement. Also remove dead and wasted time and the boring parts of the shot. Be ruthless, shorter clips will give you a better result. If the shot doesn't do anything to support the story - dump the shot.
• Check what the eyes are doing. An actor playing dead may blink. Is the actor looking in the correct direction?
• Normally, the dialogue should be simple and sparse - unless the writer is highly skilled. A look from one character to another may replace dialogue.
• A close two-shot is often the best dramatic shot.
• With actors and cars etc. moving into and out of frame - cut when they are half in and half out of the frame. Don't have empty frames in the clip.
• Advisable length of the edited clips, this is a guide - adjust to suit the situation.
  • For documentaries:
    • Average clip 3 seconds to 4½ seconds,
    • Or 4 to 5½ seconds with 1 second cross fades.
    • Long clip 9 seconds, take care - keep it shorter rather than longer.
  • With dramas, the reaction shots, inserts and cutaways, should be a minimum of 1¾ seconds ie., one second and 17 frames.
  • Maximum length of documentaries, dramas and comedies - 15 minutes should be the absolute maximum. 10 minutes is the desirable maximum. 3 to 5 minutes is best for most comedies.

Decide How To Start The Story

Establishing Scene

Traditionally, the first scene is an establishing shot, this may indicate the location - or a scene that is typical of most of the movie eg. "a car drives up and parks outside of a farm house - someone runs out to meet them." or show an attention grabbing scene - then a scene that is typical of the location - so as to set the mood ie. a happy bright scene or a dark melancholy scene - or a travelling train, where a train trip is the main feature of the story.

Then show the two title cards on a black background. If the movie is shorter than 10 minutes - show the two title cards before the establishing scene.

Then if the movie is a drama:

Act. 1	introduce the main characters - add the problem - tell the audience what the story is about.
Act. 2	if appropriate, foreshadow some action - add momentum to the story.
Act. 3	solve the problem - if possible, suddenly provide an unexpected end to the story.

The editor of a drama must have a knowledge of story telling as outlined above. Refer to the various video examples listed below.

Clip 5 (2 mins), extract from Good Bye Paddy - this video clip shows the set up and the mood at the start. The external shot zooms up to the window, where the shot is then cross-faded to the internal zoom. There is a comment on the story at the end of the video clip

Clip 6 two extracts from Dressed To Kill. The first clip (1½ mins), shows another way to start a movie - there is no establishing shot - instead, the set up and the mood is gradually revealed shot by shot. The second clip (2½ mins) shows an example of parallel action. Cut back and forth between two subplots so that the audience sees both actions at the same time. I sat on a wheelchair that was dragged backwards to get the tracking shots. I held my elbows clear of my chest so as to minimise the bumps as the wheels hit the uneven surface. There is a brief description of the story on the clip. You can also listen to very loud background noise that was reduced to an acceptable level.

• To visually break up a long sentence
  insert edit a reaction shot, this is superimposed over the middle of the dialogue - the picture is replaced, but the audio remains in place.
• To break up a lengthy scene
  insert a cutaway or a reaction shot; these can be as short as 1¾ seconds long.
• With comedy
  use more open shots ie., - MS rather than CU - don't cut too often - show the body action.
  Where do I get this from? From Woody Allen's comments. But some judges will disagree, they will penalise you if you don't tend to use CUs.

How to end the story

If possible, provide a sudden, unexpected end.

Clip7 (1 min) extract from Cheesed Off - an example of a surprise ending - the father pretends to shoot his son-law so as to rekindle his daughter's love for her husband.	Clip 8 (1½ mins) extract from The Problem With Harry. This shows the best way to use OTS (over the shoulder) shots.	Clip 6 extract from Dressed To Kill. Editing parallel action. Refer to comments above.

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© copyright Arthur Bullock, 2008