Post Production

Ken Dancyger on "Narrative Clarity"

"Narrative clarity is achieved when a film does not confuse viewers... It means providing a visual explanation if a new idea or a cutaway is introduced. To provide narrative clarity, visual cues are necessary, and here the editor's skills is the crucial factor."

3-2-1 rule

-3 copies of any file (primary and 2 backups) -2 different types of media (hard drive and optical) -1 copy stored "offsite" (Don't keep all your copies in the same physical location)

Shooting a microdocumentary

-Can I tell this story visually without much time? -what elements do I need to tell story? -Is there a character I can build story around, what is their motivation? -Is there a place I can build story around, what is unique about it?

Codecs and formats

-Codec: COmpression/DECompressor -mathematical model that determines how compression takes place -some proprietary, some open source codecs -varies in terms of target file size, image/audio quality and performance standards

Continuity rules

-Continuity in mise-en-scene -180 degree rule and the line of action -screen direction -match on action -30 degree rule -eye-line match

What is Continuity?

-Editor tries to make editing invisible by maintaining continuity across image, sound, etc. -The viewer is not expected to think but to be able to be immersed in the flow

Useful codecs

-H.264: one of most used, particularly for streaming. Very efficient, saves a lot of space without affecting quality too much -Apple ProRes 422 (HQ): common for high quality delivery -DPX DNxHR, others used for archiving depending on source material, Mac vs. PC, etc.

Why create an offline (proxy) file?

-If using Raw or 4k footage, can hamper your system's processing speed. can work with smaller files much quicker -if you want to travel with a smaller drive, can leave full-res files at home -if need to send files for another editor to work on, can put on hard drive or even upload online

Act 1

-Inciting incident: "if interview is going to relate the catalyst event, an editor should choose the most detailed and charismatically told incident possible"

Montage

-Literally: "Editing" -even more than "editing" the term refers to the relationship between shots -montage, more specifically, refers to meaning created through editing where it does not exist in individual shots -ocassionally, too, montage can be used to refer to a particular style of editing

Two main types of editing

-Montage (soviet montage) -Continuity

How to find story

-Needs to be clear idea from the beginning of production, can't rely on finding it later -think about what the main character wants, what is in their way to achieving that. Builds the narrative arc

Editing a microdoc

-Organization is key: need to know media well to use it efficiently -try a few approaches: use different sequences in the same project when you start a new idea. Save versions -Audio first: If you have good audio, can be the guide for the rest (as well as a radio cut) -explore structures: not always three act structure. Think about mood, tone.

Temporal compression

-Temporal compression looks from frame to frame and does not save info of any pixels that don't change from one frame to the next -a type of inter-frame compression whereas spatial compression and chroma subsampling are types of Intra-frame compression (within a frame) also called long-GOP (group of pictures) -difficult to use codecs with long GOP in editing because only small amount of info saved from frame to frame, processor must go back several frames to retrieve the bulk of the info in the frame

Impressionistic/experimental microdocumentary

-The above: about a town in Afghanistan that has a US blimp flying over it since 2009.

What is story?

-a profile -a condition -a phenomenon -a point of view "The great sweep of change that takes life from one condition at the opening to a changed condition at the end" -Robert McKee

Tonal montage

-a variation of metric in which the tone becomes the dominant organizing factor, metric is secondary -the tone of an image not the same as content -what kind of emotional effect does it create. Hazy shot vs. high desert sun vs. moonlit night scene -perceived as less direct emotional movement than rhythmic

Rhythmic montage

-a variation of metric montage that factors in content -the rhythm of a sequence not solely determined by duration of shots. The content of the shots considered, makes the rhythm more flexible -perceived as emotional movement

How to edit abstractly

-abstraction refers to the distilling of the visual field down to basic elements. At its extreme, abstract art means nonrepresentational art -art, including film, may play with abstract elements of form: line, composition, rhythm, color, or movement (filmmaking that revels in these abstract elements is called formalism)

In Bridge you can:

-batch rename -add metadata -organize photos (good for time lapse sequences)

Variables of compression

-bit depth -bitrate -chroma subsampling -spatial compression -temporal compression

Bit depth

-bit depth: the amount of information per bit -high bit depth gives smooth gradient, low shows lines -every pixel has a red, green and blue channel value to the possible values of each

Bit rate

-bit rate: how much data the codec uses per second -how low bit rate affects image varies on codec, but will often lead to blocking

Why Media Browser instead of regular import?

-can browse the footage easier, works better with all folder systems -can copy and transcode (create proxies) can search, import from within other Premiere and After Effects projects

top and tail editing

-can cut off the top end or tail end of a clip with shortcuts q and w

Ingesting in prelude

-can just import smaller clips instead of entire file -can transfer to multiple places - will verify transfer: will compare the new, transferred folder to make sure it all was transferred properly -right click to send ingested files to premiere pro

Organization best practices

-cannot have messy drive or project -Shirley Thompson: "It's not unusual for me to have to take breaks from a project then come back after several weeks or months"

Types of codecs

-capture: want as much info as possible -Edit: want quick precessing -delivery: depends on where displayed -archival: least compression possible

Chroma subsampling

-chroma subsampling takes the color info from some pixels, applies them to pixels nearby -some examples are 4:4:4 (no sampling); 4:2:2; 4:2:0 -human eye does not notice a lot of subsampling, but not good for chroma keying or heavy graphics work

Compression

-compression: making a digital file smaller by rearranging or getting rid of redundant data -Compression can happen when recording the file, when transcoding the file, when exporting the file

Intellectual montage

-concerned with conveying abstract ideas through juxtaposition of visualized concepts -dialectical: concerned with or acting through opposing ideas

Metric montage

-concerned with rhythm and duration of the shots -the pulsing of images -content nor tone factored, just timing of cuts

Stage 3 of trailer editing: planning

-create a paper cut with script of dialogue

stage 4 of trailer editing: rough structure

-create graphics -cut dialogue -rough out music -add key visuals

Editing as relation

-editing is a concept about the effect that conjoining shots has on the film. Editing means the relationship between shots:

extend edit

-extends the selected edit to the play head

Uses for Prelude

-ingesting and transferring media - Transcoding media -logging with markers and subclass -organizing -rough cutting -less processing than premiere

Types of microdocumentary

-issue-oriented -profile of people or places -specific story -impressionistic

Why intellectual montage is imporatnt

-it influenced silent avant garde and narrative films of the 1920s: suggested how more complex ideas could be told through images alone, without sound or even inter titles -it serves as the foundation for documentary editing, which even today tends to sequence shots according to abstract-intellectual logic rather than spatial or narrative logic -it remains one means of expression for experimental films -it even influenced classical narrative editing in certain ways e.g. the montage sequence

Lossy vs. lossless

-lossy reduces amount of data -lossless rearranges data (gives better quality output); .zip or .rar

Act 2

-maintaining momentum -the midpoint: a crisis halfway through that gives momentum or direction -shuffling the order of what happens or giving backstory -reversal: give suspense by allowing protagonist a moment of peace amidst obstacles. A "calm before the storm"

4 categories of montage

-metric -rhythmic -tonal -overtonal - (intellectual developed later)

Issue oriented microdocumentary

-miseducation: a micro documentary about a girl in South Africa who is afraid to walk alone for multiple reasons including being raped and kidnapped

Overtonal montage

-montage based on competing tones, content, rhythm -tension produced (as in music) through conflict of these elements -dissonance or discord in relationship of content, tone and rhythm 0can be resolved into a harmony or clarity through a shot or sequence that defines the dominant theme -perceived as a more complex emotional movement

Eisenstein on sound

-noted US first to develop sound, USSR would take a while. Worried where it would lead: "it appears this advance in film is being employed in an incorrect direction"

Uses for Bridge

-organize footage for multiple projects - high powered browser (like finder) -Photo management -asset management, large project organization, metadata in video projects - Good for files used across multiple projects -XMP metadata stays with clip through all Adobe suite -Batch rename: renames original; only do it at start

how online/offline (proxy) workflows work

-premiere creates lower res files (proxies) to work with, but instantly links to high res versions when you need -proxies are smaller frame size, not just compressed

replace edit

-replace a clip in the timeline with a clip from source monitor, with only one in-point

What is microdocumentary

-short docs from 1-8 minutes long -not as much time for narrative arc, character development, conflict and backstory

Rough cut

-should be close to final length -small audio edits OK, don't start mix -Scratch narration -more polished than assembly, show for feedback

Assembling new doc workflow

-solidify structure, including all scenes and characters that will be included -should be longer than final -don't need finesse edits with reaction shots, etc, just a few shots to establish scene. Leave out narration, music, dissolves, cutaways, special effects. Jump cuts are okay -can then determine what/who you can lose

Spatial Compression

-spatial compression looks at one frame and does not save the info of pixels that are the same/similar to pixels nearby, creating blocks of pixels that look the same -some codecs limit the size of blocks that are possible

What editors think about? How do we:

-tell a story through images and sound? -elicity emotional reactions and audience engagement? -structure and evoking an emotional response? -structure and communicate an intellectual response? -(expand, compress, rearrange) time? -create and/or violate continuity appropriately? -layer ambient sounds, dialogue, and sound effects to enhance visual storytelling?

additive trim

-the edit adds to the total number of frames

Reductive trim

-the edit takes away the total number of frames of the sequence

Sergei eisensten

-the soviet filmmakers of the silent era were instrumental in their theories of montage and in films which tried to exploit all of the possibilities of editing -eisensten locates the power of editing in collision of contrasting shots

Be present while organizing

-think about opening and closing shots -think about short sound bites that can say a lot in a little time -should tell us something specific about character

Stage 2 of trailer editing: organization

-transcribe the dialogue of the film, including the speaker's name for the entire film -mark favorite lines -Gather sound effects, foley, and sound design

Things you might want to do in Prelude instead of Premiere

-transferring, copying, transcoding. -ingest part of a clip instead of the whole thing -transfer to multiple destinations -rename, add metadata while processing -organizing, logging, markers, sub-clips, rough editing -saves processing

Decision making in organization

-use color coding (labeling) for different interview subjects or themes as they begin to emerge

Logging: metadata, labeling, subclips, markers

-used for organization, getting familiar with footage -helpful to use in Metalogging Workspace -Choosing markers vs. subclips: depends on needs. Maybe sub clipped an interview based on content, but add markers for timing, issues, a good visual moment, specific moments, etc.

Fine cut

-very polished -add titles, temp music, narration, special effects

New doc edit workflow

-viewing rushes and logging -paper edit for audio-based docs, script helps -assembly

Counterpoint in sound

-wanted practitioners to think about sound as an additional element for montage editing, not as part of the visual to which it was recorded -"the contrapuntal method of constructing sound film will not only not weaken the international cinema but will bring its significance to unprecedented power and cultural height."

stage 1 of trailer editing: viewing

-watch the film -summarize the story -list top 5 visual moments in the film

Complexity editing

-while the main purpose of continuity editing is clarification of an event or scene the main purpose of complexity editing (like montage) is intensification -probing the depth and complexity of an event or idea -main focus is establishing and maintaining an affective map in the viewer

Fine cutting

-work to fine tune EVERY cut asking if it should run longer or shorter -add music, work on audio levels -get narration in place -add graphics, including opening title and closing credits -do color work if needed

Roy Thompson's 6 elements of the edit

1. Motivation: motivation for edit (emotional, visual, aural, or combo) 2. Information: Each shot has new info 3. Composition: Select shots with best composition 4. Sound: more abstract than image; an additional layer; creates emotion 5. Camera Angle: Camera angle should change between shots 6. Continuity: of content, movement, position, and sound between shots

Concrete:abstraction

A bus:public transportation Dollar bills:money supply person gets shot:violence in america Spanking a child:corporal punishment

Who developed Montage (soviet montage)?

Developed by Russian theorists/filmmakers Sergei Eisenstein, Dziga Vertov

Picture lock

Effects, graphics, sound mix, color correction

maintain your drives

Even if not using them, boot up every 6 months for 10 minutes to avoid a loss of charge in the drive's magnetic elements

Ingesting in premiere

Media browser: -more fire-tuned than Command + i -Can browse files easily -Can import sequences, clips from other projects (dynamic link) -drag and drop files from media browser to project window to import, double-click to just look at file

Specific Story microdocumentary

My Silver Hair

PP: ripple tool

Shortcut: b adjusts where the edit point occurs while moving the rest of the clips that follow to compensate for the change shortening the first clip shortens the duration of the entire sequence because the second clip remains unchanged.

PP: roll tool

Shortcut: n adjusts where the end point occurs on the timeline without moving the rest of the sequence Shortening the first clip doesn't affect the duration of sequence because second clip is made longer

Slip tool

Shortcut: u allows you to select a clip, move it forward or backward on the timeline. The selected clip's duration and contents stays the same, but its position The duration of the sequence does not change because the clip surrounding the clip that was selected change duration

Profile micro documentaries

The Dogist: doc about a man that takes pictures of dogs

Climax

Turning point

Prelude verified copy

When you transfer in Prelude or Premiere, you can do a verified copy. Prelude checks the original file against the copied file and makes sure they're exactly the same with no losses

4Ws within continuity?

Who are the characters? What is the situation? Where does it take place? Why is this relevant to the story?

track select

a selects all the clips ahead of or behind

dynamic link

adobe's ability to link files within projects between Premiere and after effects

Decision making in rough cut

ask questions: -anything missing or not needed? -could there be a better order? -Do my opening and closing moments work well? -how can transitions improve? -are themes emerging -do I need music, if so what kind? -too long or too short?

razor tool

c slices a clip in two

What is Montage (soviet montage)?

combination, juxtaposition of images leads to greater meaning as viewers engage with and decipher the associations

intellectual meaning

communication of ideas

narrative meaning

communication of story and character

containers

containers take care of the packaging, transportation, and presentation of the video -holds the video together based on codec specifications -most formats can work with variety of codecs -represented by file extension (i.e. .mp4, .mov)

Montage:

describes an approach to intellectual meaning through editing - or sometimes a formalist approach to editing

Compression

different ways to compress, algorithms to calculate what info can be deleted

Central question

inciting incident leads to protagonist's quest, the central question

pen tool

p used for audio editing and keyframing

Test workflow

shoot, ingest, edit, and export a test sequence

purely formal qualities

tempo and composition

Decision making in assembly phase

to start: -paper edit: based completely on words spoken -selects: create a sequence or a few with all the best stuff (best to separate by type [b-roll vs. interview]) -start with what moves you: favorite scene, best imagery, best quote

intellectual abstraction

treats objects, events, and people (concrete things) not simply as the phenomena we know them to be but also as larger ideas (abstractions)

Selection tool

v

Workflow will __ depending on project needs.

vary

Online/offline Proxy workflow

with some codecs, processing burdens a computer's hard drive, especially older computers -long GOP codecs (h.264, AVCHD) -Raw or uncompressed (4k) -high frame rate -helps with mobility: can't edit on laptop if you have to edit 10TBs of footage