Editing Styles

The importance of editing

Editing involves turning raw material into a finished product. It is one of the most important components of  the entire film industry. editing is when all the shots are put together to give it a continuous feel. The development in technology these days have allowed filmmakers to make CGI ( computer generated images ) to include in their films. These days people can film a movie in a small room and polish it using the latest technology. It allows them to get rid of any unwanted audio , audio retouching , adding transitions and effects and the credits and titles at the end. Following are some of the editing styles we will be using  :

• Slow editing
• Fade
• Jump cut

Slow editing : Me and my group members decided to use slow editing for the first shot ; this involves the female character sitting in the chair weeping. The reason i choose slow editing is because it created dramatic effect and sympathy for the character through the slow motion. This is a very conventional type of editing style. It involves in the character doing something in slow motion. The slow motion adds effect to a scene. For example in the movie 'strangers'  the female character is walking towards the door slowly.This makes the audience worry about what is going to happen. It makes the scene dramatic. The dramatics of the scene keeps the audience wondering what's going to come next. This feeling will keep them interested in the film so they can find out what was there. Slow editing is the most conventional form of editing. Slow editing adds to suspense and this involves the audience into the film and they want to continue watching to find what might happen next.

Fade : We choose to use fade editing style at the end of our opening sequence. This is because the ending shot involves the female character sitting in he chair and male protagonist with a knife near the female characters legs. We can see the female characters blood running down near her legs. Ending the scene on fade would leave the audience wondering about what happened to the young girl. What did the male character did with her.This is another conventional editing style. It involved an ending of a scene with a fade. A black screen. This leaves the audience thinking of what happened to a character in the scene. It is a mystery and it makes the audience to carry on watching to find out. this keeps the audience interested in the film and makes them want to continue watching.b A fade usually means an ending of a scene or the film. Fade can be used both ways an end to a scene or leaving a scene on a cliffhanger. This is another conventional type of editing as it leaves audience thinking and they want to continue watching to find out what happened.

Jump cut : Jump cut is an abrupt transition between shots.We used jump cut editing style when the young girl is running from the make character. The camera is focusing on her when from behind the male protagonist grabs her. The camera suddenly focuses on the male character. Jump cut is a change in focusing of a subject. The point of editing is to give a film a continuous feel. But a jump cut makes the camera focus from something to something else. This is conventional to a thriller film because it leaves the audience guessing on what happened to a previous subject. It involves the audience in the film and leaves them guessing on what happened to the character in the previous scene. This is another conventional type of editing as it leaves the audience guessing. Jump cut involves cutting through a shot to another one. It leaves the audience in suspense on what happened in the previous scene.

Conclusion

Using the above editing styles will make our thriller film conventional to the common factors of a thriller film. I have decided to use the above editing techniques for my thriller film. Every type of editing technique complements the conventions of a thriller film. The slow editing is the most conventional form of editing. This type of editing creates dramatic effect that involves the audience and creates suspense as the audience doesn't know what is about to happen. This creates the common factors of conventions suspense and surprise. The audience expects something else and something different happens. Fade is another editing style that can leave the audience in suspense. It leaves the audience thinking about what might had happened. Fade involves a blank screen that can be edited to indicate an end of the scene or to leave a mystery.

Opening Credits

 The purpose of film credits

The opening credits is at the beginning of the film this introduces the important roles in that film. In some cases it underlines the famous actors or actresses within the film. The opening credits can be presented in number of ways. Usually there is a background to the credits and a soundtrack. this is usually the opening scene or a part of the film. The opening scene sets the foundation of the film it hints what may the film be about. Having the credits at the beginning of the film is a traditional way but some of the films have changed that to the end of the film. One example of this type of film is ''around the world in 80 days 1956 ''.

Order of the opening credits :

• Name of the studio
• Name of the production company
• Producer name
• Director name ''A film by ... ''
• starring ''main actors and actresses ''
• The name of the film

Seven opening credits

1. color : The use of color is important in a film. This opening credit has used black and white. This use of black and white has given it a scary look and make it look full of suspense. The black and white use of color makes the opening sequence have a scary mood. Shadows are created as-well this makes the audience think of what maybe the shadow is coming from. This creates enigma which is a common aspect of a thriller film.
2. style of the credits : The font used is in white color to make it stand out from the dark background. The font seems like it is carved this can be compared to n intimidating look. It looks spooky this complements  the genre of the film. The style of the credits are very conventional and the color scheme of the font and the style is conventional.
3. conventions of thriller  : The sounds used are full of suspense and go with the genre of the film. The sounds are alarming. Disturbing images are created that are common to a thriller film. We can only see the persons hands and shadows . His identity has been hidden. Hidden identity is a common convention of  a thriller. There is a use of range of iconography used like pins , needles , and blades. These are common conventions of a thriller. This builds up tensions and hints what might the film be about. 
4. order of appearance :  Following is the order that it came in :

• production company name
• A film by David Fincher
• Brad Pitt
• Morgan Freeman
• Name of the film ''Se7en''
• Gwyenth Paltrow
• Directed by David Fincher

The production company has been stated at the beginning. David Fincher has been shown many times as he is famous for creating suspense and shock in his films. We can see the names of the actors as they are top Actors ( brad pitt and Morgan Freeman ). The name of the film is written in the middle of the opening sequence. The name flickers which creates suspense. David Fincher is said at the end as well for emphasis as he is one of the top thriller filmmaker.

Sixth Sense opening Credits

1. color : The background is plain black and the credits are white. The white is used to make the credits stand out. There is a contrast of black and white to give it a suspenseful look. 
2. Style of credits : The font style is plain and simple. The credits come and go. This creates suspense. The credits come in and fade out. The credits come and go quickly. This creates mystery through the credits.
3. conventions of a thriller : The comparison of black and white is conventional to a thriller film as black and white creates suspense. The music is loud it startles the audience. These create shock and suspense and are the common conventions of thriller films.

1. order of appearance : Following is the other it comes in :

• production company
• producers
• actor
• title name
• casting by
• Editor
• Director

Group Discussion

As a group we looked at different types of thriller opening sequences. this helped us to gather ideas for our thriller opening. The film se7en opening sequence was very conventional to the thriller genre. The use of font, style , images and sound all went perfectly to gather and created the elements of shock and suspense. This film sequence has inspired us for our thriller film. The font style in the opening sequence is conventional to a thriller and we will be using something similar to the font. The sound effects used created suspense an a thrill. The sounds startled the audience. We will be using sounds similar to startle the audience.

Our thriller film

Me and my group members decided on the following :

• The size : Small and subtle
• The color : Grey with glow around the edges. The glow will create effect. This will be conventional to the thriller genre.
• The order in which they will appear : production name , directors , actors , editor and the title of the film
• The style of font : Carved  on a tree  ( title ) Rest of the  credits will be bold and scribbly 

Filming Schedule

Introduction

Having a filming schedule is important. It allows the filmmaker to be more organized. The filming schedule made us complete our filming routine in time. The schedule had  details of what we need and what type of camera shot that we need to use. Me and my group members came up with the schedule. While filming our thriller we made some changes. We shot more clips using different camera angles. We filmed extra clips so we have choice when we are editing. Below is our filming schedule:

 

 

 

 

 

Risk Assessment

Introduction

It is important to consider the risks that are involved while filming because it helps the filmmaker to know before hand what could  go wrong. the risk assessment allows you to identify ay risks that are involved while filming. The risk assessment allows us to be aware when we are filming our thriller film.  It allows us to be careful of our surroundings. Me and my group members visited our choose locations. We visited the forest that we choose to film. We went all around the forest to look at the possible risks that can be involved in filming. Drew and me identified the possible risks while Becky jot the points down.We got rid of any possible obstacles be fore we started filming. Below is the risk Assessment we carried out.

Description of Hazard	Prevention of Hazard
Trailing leads while filming	Use of gaffer tape to secure leads
Trip over roots/stones in the forest	Clear the location of anything that can cause an accident, choose a location with a clearing, nothing too dense and crowded.
Iconography could fall and injure somebody	Make sure all iconography is kept in a safe place when not filming, do not leave anywhere.
Slipping on muddy ground and injuring themselves	Choose a location with ground that is not wet and soggy so there will be minimal risk of anybody being injured.

group storyboard

Group Storyboard

The group storyboard is important as me and my group members all had an input in the storyboard. The storyboard is conventional to a thriller film as i have used the common conventions that are involved in a thriller. The storyboard included the camera shot , location , iconography , lightening , sound , editing and the narrative description. The storyboard also includes a hand drawn picture of what the scene will involve where the object and characters will be placed. Me and my group members had a discussion when we all sat down to brainstorm ideas for the storyboard of our thriller opening. Me and my group members had different suggestions we reconsidered each suggestions. We also created individual storyboards that will allow us to express our individual ideas. In the meeting we had detailed discussions where we discussed the pro and cons of using each of the suggestions that we came up with in our individual storyboards. During the meeting we all had our individual storyboard ideas. We took ideas from the individual ideas and the suggestions and came up with the storyboard below.

Planing Cinematography

Why are camera shots important ?

Camera shot is the amount of space seen in a shot or frame. These camera shots and angles are used to demonstrate the characters , settings and themes. These camera angles complement the mies-en-scene , the representation of characters etc. the camera shots create effect and leaves an impact on the Audience. The camera shots allows film makers to shape meaning of the film. Each camera shot has its own meaning.

4 different types of camera shots

Close up : In a close up shot a certain feature takes most of the frame. for example to concentrate on the persons face the entire shot would be just the persons face. Close up allows the filmmaker to  exaggerate a scene and make it seem more dramatic. The camera shot ''close up '' is very conventional as the mid-shot allows the audience to see the characters faces and look at their expressions in detail. This allows the audience to have sympathy for the character and feel personally connected with the character. This creates suspense and makes the audience want to continue watching. Suspense is major convention of a thriller film and it involves the audience in the film. We will be using close up shot to end our thriller film because the end of the opening is when the antagonist pulls a knife out to the young blonde female character's neck. This camera shot will allow the audience to focus on the expressions of the female character and how she feels. The reason we will be using close- up shot to end our thriller opening is because a close-up allows the audience to clearly see what's going on in the scene. This includes the body language , the expressions and what the character is actually doing or what is happening with the main character. The close up shot is also conventional as it will allow the audience to clearly see what is going on in the scene and relate to the characters and feel for the character.

Mid- Shot: A mid shot shows some part of the subject. At the same time showing enough for the audience to concentrate on certain features. It focuses on the upper body rather than the lower body. This is how one would see  the person ''in the flesh ''.  When speaking to someone would focus on the upper body rather than the lower body. This is also conventional to a thriller film because a mid shot allows the audience to see the upper body of the characters. This will allow the audience to focus on the expressions of the character as well as the body language. It is conventional to a thriller as-well because the scene will show the audience the expressions as-well as the body language as this will create suspense and tension. I will be suing mid-shot in the scene of my thriller opening when the female character is running through the forest and the male character catches her from the back. The mid-shot will allow the audience to see the male characters expressions and the rage on his face and the female characters expressions and how hopeless she feels.  

Long-Shot : This is when the image is shown as a life size. This corresponds the real distance between the audience in the cinema. in a long shot the characters are shown from top to bottom and we can see the background but the background is not detailed enough. This shot is conventional to a thriller film as it lets the audience clearly see the body language and the expressions of the characters. It allows the audience understand the personalities of these characters and relate to them. It also allows the audience to see what clearly is going on in the scene as in a mid shot the audience cannot see the details. We will be using long shot when our thriller film opening starts.  The shot will begin in the abandoned room where the female character would be sitting in the middle with a lamp on the side. The audience can see the background as well as the characters.

Deep-focus : This type of shot keeps both distant and close subjects in focus. It involves placing object and characters at different lengths  while keeping them in focus. This draws attention on all of the characters or objects. This type of shot is conventional to a thriller film is because a deep focus allows you to see the entire scene and clearly see what's going on in the scene. It also allows the filmmaker to make the audience focus on different characters or objects. I will be using deep focus is when the female character is sitting in the chair all tied up and the victim enters the scene. This scene will focus on the victim as well as the villain in the scene. This shot will draw attention on both the characters and their body language. The image on the left is an image from citizen Kane a popular film which was the first use this type of camera shot. I would use deep focus when the antagonist enters the scene. The camera shot will be used to make the audience focus on both subjects on the scene. It shows that both characters on the screen are important. In my thriller opening both characters the villain as-well as the victim will be in the scene. These characters are equally.

individual storyboard

Individual Storyboard

This is an example of my idea of the thriller opening. Me and my group members had to come up with our own idea of what our thriller opening would include. We all came up with our individual ideas. Me and my group members took different ideas from each of our individual storyboard and turned into one final group storyboard. Making a storyboard is an important part of filming any genre film wether it is thriller , romance or action. The storyboard allows a any filmmaker to plan out as to what might each shot in their film include. They need to consider the camera shot type , location , iconography used , lightening , actors available on screen , types of sound used , editing techniques that are going to be used and what will actually go on in the scene. Me and my group members came up with our individual ideas for our thriller opening. Me and my group members shared this information between us. We took brief information for every shot from the group members individual storyboards. We had a group discussion ; where we put different ideas together and came up with our thriller openings group storyboard.