Report

Logline

A person watching a news report about a serial killer becomes the next victim but misses all the signs.

Role

Editor

Intention (SMART Goal)

By the deadline for the CS, as an IB film student, I will work in conjunction with my peers to produce a seven-minute film that emulates and expands upon the creative editing choices of Thelma Schoonmaker while instilling the expertise and knowledge gained over the course of our collective film career.

Breaking News: Editor PRE-PRODUCTION Journal

Summary

The proposed Editing Process:

I want to create tension through the editing of the film to add to this film’s genre of horror. I will collaborate with our director and cinematographer on possible shot ideas to create this tension.

Cinematic Storytelling Elements:

1. Journalistic/Newscast style with the use of green screen – For the news reports of the victims, used at the beginning and end of the film. Talk about the POST PRODUCTION green screen process, that applies to editing.
2. Cross-Cutting – Cutting between different events occurring simultaneously in different locations to build suspense. I will do this during the scene when the Killer is lurking in the house.
3. J-Cut + L-Cut – to bring the cross-cutting narratives together, until both the killer and the girl are in the same room/when the killer murders the girl.
4. Smash Cut – used to jar the audience with a sudden and unexpected change in image or sound. To create a jarring, uncomfortable sensation for the audience. Use it only once or twice in the film so that it isn’t overused, the audience shouldn’t be able to expect it. (25. Cinematic Storytelling book by Jennifer Van Sijll)
5. Will need to do a flashback transition.

Test Shots

Planning with Cinematographer/Storyboard Notation

We have not finished drawing the rest of the storyboard, will upload it here when finished.

Influences from Films

Thelma Schoonmaker

• Add grittiness or reality.
• Jagged Cut, extenuate violence.
• Cutting is jarring and uncomfortable, a movie about someone who is disturbed.
• Slow editing, creates “deadly pauses” the character realizes they are in trouble.

Thelma Schoonmaker’s editing style will influence my work in the film by giving me inspiration on ways to increase tension and or suspense in the film with the following techniques above slow editing to create the “deadly pauses”, Jagged Cuts, and jarring cutting to make the film feel uncomfortable. Furthermore, using juxtaposition in the jarring cuts. For example, juxtaposing the violence of the killer towards the girl and then cutting to the girl’s brother who is unknowing and carefree of what is happening to his sister.

Inspiration for editing the transition between the news report and the girl at the beginning of the film and at the end. From Season 11 Episode 4 of Grey’s Anatomy:

Shot with a regular camera.

Cut to shot at the tv screen of the same situation continued/in sync.

Smash Cut influence from Cinematic Storytelling book by Jennifer Van Sijll –

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-smash-cut-definition/

• A smash cut is an abrupt and/or jarring edit that cuts from one scene to another without pause or warning. It is also known as a Gilligan cut, named after the show Gilligan’s Island, where a character would protest against doing something but then the very next shot would be them in the middle of doing the thing they were protesting against. It is often used for comedic effects, but it can also be used effectively in horror and even drama.

Smash Cut Characteristics Include:

• A character says they will not do a thing but then immediately cuts to them doing the thing.
• Someone in danger (e.g. about to get stabbed) but then cutting to something safe and not at all dangerous.
• A character saying something nice about someone and then cutting to that someone being not nice.
• A hero celebrating a victory and then cutting to someone else being sad because of that victory.

Our expected Genre research: Horror, with the possibility of some comedy.

The Comedy Horror Movie: The KEYS to Both Laughs and Scares

Opening and ending of a horror movie. In the beginning, it is essential that horror movies show that, as Blake Snyder puts it “the world is not what it seems”.

• This is where the audience glimpses the monster or a hint of its existence. It may be shown as a prologue or after we’ve met our protagonist, but it’s essential that it’s present.
• This beat creates a feeling of unease that can propel us through otherwise ‘normal’ scenes in act one and makes us more suspicious.

The final beat of your horror movie depends on whether you want to leave the audience with an up (if not happy then positive in some respect) or down (if not absolutely terrible then negative in some respect) ending.

Snyder describes how if the hero succeeds in destroying the monster, you must make it clear that it’s only ‘for now’ – the monster has to return for a sequel (or at least the potential of threat) after all. If the protagonist is dead, show the monster ‘relishing its victory in a changed world’.

The idea for the ending of a film based on this research: I will propose to the team that we should recreate the beginning scene with a new person looking at the tv (maybe a news report showing the protagonist as the victim). This girl will also receive a periwinkle letter just like the protagonist of the movie (who is now dead) experienced at the begging of their end. Do shots with similarity to make sure the audience connects with the repetition of the killer’s actions in the future to make it seem open-ended/creepy.

Editing transition ideas for the film:

Keywords/Comments

Notes

Transitions: cut fade Dissolve Match Cut Match Cut w/ dissolve Iris wipe passing transition whip pan smash cut J-cut L-cut

instant switch, between shots or scenes: can help to accentuate violence or other things by its abruptness. fade from the black is common to open up a film. fade to black can give closure at end of the film. The middle of a film gives the audience a moment to breathe. Like chapters. Dip to black in a scene (fading in and out of shots). Fade to white, commonly used to show a character dying or dreaming, can create ambiguity. suggest a longer passage of time between shots or scenes. Or as a way to signal a memory. Or a dream. Can create a hybrid moment in a film, superimposition. – Both shots are shown in the frame simultaneously. Can create comparisons between characters or parallels of lives. uses elements from the previous scene to match. These can be shapes, composition, colors, movement, or sound. Connects the two shots instantly. Can bridge time and space. When match cutting between people we assume it is the same character in a different age or part of their life. this combination creates a meaningful connection or passage of time. focus on a specific element. Like if the characters are holding hands. circular shape. up down, left right, in the star wars films a lot. moving character or object that goes past the camera. Or the camera moves to the left or right and cuts during this. More seamless to hide cut. quick horizontal transition. create or sustain momentum from a previous scene. Dizzying effect abrupt, using high contrast in visual AND audio. quiet to loud. or chaotic and still. shocks or jolts the audience. or comedic effect. Audio of the next scene precedes the visual Audio from the previous scene carries on into the next visual.

Editing Program:

I will be using Premiere Pro to edit this film: The following video is helpful for me because I learn the basics of where to find the functions of the program that I will need to edit the film.

1. New sequence
2. Bottom left: organize the shots and audio, into different folders
3. Drag and drop the desired files into each folder
4. Click I and then O to select a section of a video or audio (top left). or just drag and drop the whole thing.
5. Razor, click C to cut a piece of audio or video into separate pieces. To delete then click a section (highlight) and press delete.
6. Effect controls (top left) change the position of the video clip in the frame (probably won’t need this).
7. Opacity, overlap images
8. Change volume, highlight section, effect controls, level
9. Transitions/effect – effects (bottom left) drag and drop on the desired section. Then go to effect controls (still highlight the same section) then adjust. Same idea with the audio.
10. To save the project, CTRL /CMS + S
11. Transitions, drag and drop from the bottom left. Effect controls to change duration.
12. Adding Text, captions, and graphics tab on top, press T on the keyboard then click on playback screen (top right) on the right there is a side tab to edit text style/look.
13. To export, go to file then export media.

What I learned and the Problems I solved

During Pre-Production, I learned the basics of the editing software that I will be using, I analyzed the style of Thelma Schoonmaker and a clip of a Grey’s Anatomy episode, I researched the general structure of a horror movie and how they create tension/suspense, and I took note of possible transitions that I may use in the film. During the process, I contributed to the team by creating an idea for how to end the film, with the open-ended and creepy repetition of the news report reporting on the protagonist’s death, then watching the new victim receive the periwinkle letter unknowing of their eminent demise.

Project Timeline

Pre-Production:

1. Brainstorm with the team regarding ideas, genre, concepts, and group intentions.
2. Research the chosen Genre and any influences for the production of the film, identifying conventions and developing style for the film.
3. Make notations on the storyboard to plan a rough edit or pre-visualization.
4. Research and learn the editing software to be used.
5. Go over the script and make note of any/all changes between time/places and create a plan for these transitions.
6. Collaborate with the writer on approximate timing /placing for each scene.
7. Collaborate with the director about pacing, transitions, effects, and style.
8. Collaborate with the cinematographer regarding their shot list to ensure that there is enough coverage planned.
9. make a note of any special effects or new or tricky shots that may require additional work in post-production.
10. carry out test shoots for any difficult shots that require post-production
11. collaborate with sound to determine the soundtrack, sound effects, and how it will math the general pace/mood of each sequence.

Proposed Budget

PRODUCTION – ACTION

The FILM

Skills Commentary

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

Reactions to the Final Version

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

Grammar and Spelling

Grammarly

Editor