Title: Shooting and Editing Videos
Course: Appdate yourself 4t ESO (in English) - Curs 2020/21 > Section: Topic 14. Video: Scripting, Creating and Editing

Production Phase

This phase consists of planning the shoot, considering the created storyboard, narrative script and shooting script.

All the people who will engage in the shoot must know their job and that all the technical needs are planned for and covered.

Let’s go over each of the actions in this phase.

Roles in the Group

The main roles are:

- Director: the director is responsible for directing the actors and the crew to achieve the best possible outcome for each scene. The director must be absolutely familiar with the script dialogue and action and with the storyboard plan for shooting each scene. The director needs to focus the crew’s attention on maintaining technical quality, especially in lighting and sound. The director ensures that everyone and everything is in its correct place and is responsible for directing filming to begin and stop for each shot.
- Cinematographer: the cinematographer operates the camera and works with the director to shoot the scene as it has been planned on the storyboard. The cinematographer is responsible for setting up the camera equipment and framing each shot with the highest possible quality.
- Production assistant: this person is responsible for assisting the director, keeping the set clear and watching out for any potential problems. The production assistant is responsible for keeping a shot record for each scene (especially to prevent against filming scenes again) and for making a short report on each scene, noting the best takes and any problems that may need to be flagged in order to reduce time in post-production.
- Art director: is responsible for the appearance of the film’s settings. For small-scale productions, this role may be shared between crew members.
- Clapper: identifies each take during the shoot.
- Casting director: suggests or searches for actors for major and minor character roles through auditions.
- Costume designer: selects or designs costumes that convey information about the characters and the period in which the film is set. Characters’ costumes can tell the audience much about their occupation, attitude and economic status.
- Actors: portray the characters in the film, interpreting and bringing to life the characters in the script.

Script Breakdown

Prior to constructing the shooting schedule, it is recommended that the screenplay is broken down according to all the components that are required to shoot every scene and sequence in the script, including:

- Equipment
- Locations
- Cast and specialist crew
- Costumes and makeup
- Props

This breakdown will help the production crew devise a realistic production schedule and detail all the facilities needed to shoot the production efficiently. It is obviously necessary to shoot some scenes out of order so that the production can be completed on time and with the available funds.

Shooting Schedule

The shooting schedule indicates the estimated number of days required to film each scene. The goal is to organise the shots and scenes so that no time is wasted in setting up or moving equipment and props and, most importantly, so that there is sufficient opportunity for the cast to give the best performance possible.

To create the shooting schedule, follow these guidelines:

- Break down the screenplay by location.
- Detail all the scenes to be shot at each specific location.
- Break up each scene into segments and list all the equipment, cast and crew needed to shoot the scene.
- For each segment, specify the duration, difficulty and time of day the scene needs to be shot.

The total number of days indicated by breaking down the screenplay in this way will indicate the time frame required to shoot the entire project. During production, use the shooting schedule as a guideline and reminder of the time used and the remaining time available to complete filming.

Filming Phase

When we watch a film or television show, we are aware that what is on the screen is a construction of reality. The techniques adopted by the filmmaker combine to create and reinforce this ‘reality’ for the audience. The director and cinematographer will generally work together to decide how best to tell the story, analyse the types of shots and decide on the best way to compose them, as these are essential parts of the planning process.

When shooting your production, consider how your framing choices can help to reinforce reality, establish narrative intensity and reveal important information about selectedcharacters to your audience.

Camera Distance

All shot types have a narrative purpose. The selection of shot type should be made in relation to the size of the subject in the frame and the intended response of the audience.

The main types of shots according to camera distance are:

- Extreme wide shots: preferably used to establish a larger setting or location. This shot allows the audience to take in the ‘macro’ details of a character’s location, while the look and size of the location can convey the scale and tone of the film overall.
- Wide shots: the characters in the shot are clearly visible, as are their location and surroundings. These shots are primarily used to highlight the importance of the setting in relation to the characters in the shot. Their surroundings will usually reveal additional information about the characters. The setting dominates in this shot.
- Medium long shots: characters can be seen in detail, as can some of their surroundings. Most of the character’s body is in the frame from the knees up. This shot is traditionally used for dialogue and action sequences.
- Medium shots: in these shots the character is filmed from the waist up. This shot is best for dialogue scenes when attention needs to be drawn to the character’s facial expressions and body language.
- Close-ups: draw attention to detail. Traditionally, a close-up will reveal facial expressions and heighten emotion in the scene.
- Extreme close-ups: show selected detail, and often used to draw attention to or magnify something that is small. What the audience cannot see can also be important: suspense films often use this shot to create a sense of mystery.
- Point-of-view shots: position the audience to view and experience the events on-screen from the character’s perspective. To achieve this, all vision and sound is limited to the character’s perspective.

Camera Movement

Camera movement can be used to intentionally direct or move the audience’s attention towards a particular object or character within the frame. All camera movements have a particular purpose:

- Panning (horizontal camera movement from left to right or vice versa): can be used to set the mood or tone in the way it establishes and sets the scene. As an example, a pan can be used to scan a horizon in search of someone the audience or a character is looking for.
- Tracking: consists of moving the camera in a particular direction (forward, backward or sideways). The camera can be moved in the desired direction on a rail-like track. This type of camera work invites the audience to move through the scene, enhancing the realistic, three dimensional quality of the setting.
- Tilting: may be used to follow an upward movement, jump or action.
- Zoom: makes it possible to enlarge and magnify an object or character within the frame. A rapid zoom is used to startle and shock the audience. This technique should be used sparingly as it can appear unnatural. An alternative could be to cut closer to the subject or action when a closer perspective is required.
- Steadycam: the camera is attached to a special device that smooths out its motion as it travels through the scene, enhancing the sense of realism for the audience. This technique was made popular by documentary filmmaking, where camera mobility is essential.

Lighting

Lighting is a powerful element of mise en scène used by filmmakers to express particular emotions and mood in a scene. Lighting considerations are a high priority and a significant amount of time may be required to experiment with a range of lighting set-ups to ensure that the desired mood, atmosphere and meaning of the scene is captured and conveyed. A cheaper alternative to professional lighting kits are large garage lights positioned on tripods.

Editing Phase

Editing is used in film production for the following purposes:

- Developing the story: editing images and sound to be selected and arranged in a particular order to pace the action and effectively tell the film’s story. This is an important creative aspect of filmmaking and the editor constantly makes decisions about particular shots working better than others to convey the film’s meaning.
- Evoking emotion: editing shots to a particular style can shape a viewer’s impression of a scene, profoundly affecting its meaning and mood and the audience’s emotional reaction to it. The pace of the editing can build or diffuse tension. For example, a car chase or an action scene will almost always be edited in short abrupt cuts, whereas a romantic scene will be edited with longer shots and slow dissolves.
- Controlling time: it is important to decide on the way to edit, the rhythm and timing of the film and the manner in which the narrative is revealed. The order and arrangement of shots can be used to condense time or scramble the story through flashbacks or flash-forwards.
- Establishing point of view: editing from different points of view causes viewers to identify with particular characters. When editing for this purpose, think about which character’s point of view we see most. Which character do we see most of?  Who is in the close-up shots?

Editing Techniques

When starting a new project, be sure to:

- Check the editing program’s default audio and video settings, and change them according to your project’s specifications.
- Make sure that all clips are clearly identified so you do not waste time trawling through footage.
- Label, file and store the footage so it can be easily located and accessed on demand. If the software allows you to create storage ‘bins’, use these to arrange your footage according to scenes or sequences.

As you begin to select, edit and cut clips:

- Assemble clips on the timeline in chronological order according to the events of each sequence. As the timeline grows in size and length, locating and editing selected areas can become difficult and confusing. Depending on the duration of your project, consider allocating separate timelines for each scene or sequence.
- Layer video and audio sequences on multiple tracks to create complex visual ideas.
- Save new changes frequently. There is nothing worse than editing for hours and losing valuable work if your computer crashes.

When cutting footage, make sure you:

- Have a really good reason to make the cut
- Cut on action where possible
- Begin and conclude a scene with action

Transitions

Editors use transitions to control the pace of shifting between shots, conveying the passage of time. It is important to select transitions for their appropriateness to the event or action taking place in the shot or scene. Longer transitions are often used to signal the end of one scene and the beginning of the next.

Carefully analyse each scene and decide where and when to use a shot transition. With consideration to both sound and visual details, use one of the following shot transitions to shift or alter the meaning conveyed by a scene:

- Cut: this is the most commonly used transition. Its effect is to instantly or quickly change from one shot to the next. When cutting between shots or scenes, consider what you want the audience to see and when you want them to see it. Cutting on action or dialogue can distract the audience from abrupt shot changes.
- Fade shot: this is the longest type of transition between shots. A fade-in commences with a black screen and gradually lightens to reveal an image. The fade-out works in reverse.
- Dissolve: this is a transition between two shots where the first image gradually disappears as the second image simultaneously begins to appear. The effect is that the images appear to overlap or dissolve into each other. Although this can be a disruptive transition, a dissolve can link two scenes together in a smooth and subtle manner.
- Wipe: this consists of a line that appears to ‘wipe’ or pass across the existing image, replacing it with a new image. It is an unnatural and noticeable transition that is mostly used in documentaries, action or adventure genres.

When deciding where and when to use a shot transition, consider:

- Making cuts that correspond with the dialogue.
- Cutting on action, establishing a relationship between the characters or events.
- The character’s gaze: what are they looking at and who is looking back at them?

The editor can also rearrange sequences and alter the order in which events are depicted through the use of:

- Flashbacks: an event or action within a scene is juxtaposed with scenes from the past. The sudden shift in chronology allows the audience to make comparisons between the two scenes and to consider the impact that past events have had on the present motivations of characters in the narrative.
- Flash-forwards: like flashbacks, a flash-forward interrupts present events with a scene that takes place in the future.  Although a less common device, the flash-forward can be used to visually signify character desire or a prediction of future or upcoming events.

Sound Design

Sound is a critical element of film production. It can complement an image, contribute to character development or be used to indicate mood, time or action. Discordant sound can be used to elicit certain ideas or emotions by provoking the audience to re-interpret the on-screen images they see.

Sound in film can be divided into two main categories:

- Diegetic sound: this is the sound that is integrated in the action of the story and which is heard by the audience as well as the characters. For example, a door slamming, the wind blowing outside or a car crashing.
- Non-diegetic sound: this is the sound added during post-production. It is not directly related to the characters or the on-screen action. Non-diegetic sound is not heard by the characters and may include sounds such us a musical score or a voiceover narration.

Types of Sound

The following types of sounds help develop the narrative and enhance the atmosphere or intensity of a scene:

- Sound effects: used primarily to enhance realism, sound effects intensify dramatic action as well as helping to define a location.
- Dialogue: contributes to character development. Tone, pitch, selection of words and expressions can reveal important information about a character and contribute to narrative progression. Dialogue externalises a character’s thoughts, feelings, plans, ideas and motivations.
- Music: helps to indicate theme, mood, time, location and action. Particular music may be associated with specific characters. When images are edited to coincide with the pace and rhythm of music, the result can alter the mood of a scene and influence the audience’s emotion, adding suspense, mystery, excitement and drama. Music is often used to establish the style or genre of a film, and it has the power to change the entire meaning of a scene.

Tips for Editing Music

A film editor works with the music to complement the visual action. When selecting and editing music, consider the following:

- Choose music that matches the emotion or dramatic tension of a scene.
- Use the natural beats of the music, along with narration where applicable, to move from one shot to the next.
- Select music that will intensify the action.
- Use music to fill dead air or pauses in action rather than throughout a scene.

Shooting and editing with your mobile

You can shoot and edit the video with your mobile. But if you do not have any specific app, you will have to install one among the multitude of apps available on the market. You have a good collection with ratings on these apps in mSchools Toolbox. First you have to take into account the operating system of your mobile: Android or iOS. If you have an iPhone or iPad, the iMovie app should be installed, otherwise you can download it from the App Store. If your operating system is Android, you can choose another similar video editing app like Kinemaster. You can download the free version from Google Play or from the App Store for those who have an iOS operating system.