Finchley Film MakersTRAINING WORKSHOP
Video Editing Master Class
Presented by Ian Morris LACI
January 2013
‘My editing apprenticeship’
Finchley Cine Society‘Change of Heart’(30 minute award winning drama)
Produced: 1985
Director: Oscar RieselFilm Editor: Ian MorrisOther roles: FCS members, and actors
Filmed on: 16mm Kodak Eastmancolor
Editing (Summer 1985, Camden film cooperative studios)Equipment: 16mm six-plate Steenbeck (one track picture, two tracks sound)
Sound track mixing: BBC approved multi-track dubbing theatre, Shepherd’s Bush, W12
Camden Film Cooperative Studios
Chalk Farm
Magnetic sound track
plates
Film splicer
16mm film bins
Steenbeck 16mm
6-plate editing deck
16mm film
plate
VIDEO
AUDIO
Shot 1
Shot 1
Shot 2
Shot 2
STANDARD EDIT:
STRAIGHT CUT
Transition from Shot 1 to Shot 2Video cuts same time as Audio
What is a J-Cut?
Audio of Shot 2 precedes Video of Shot 2
VIDEO
AUDIO
Shot 1
Shot 1
Shot 2
Shot 2J
SPLIT EDITS
What is an L-Cut?
Audio of Shot 1 extends into Video of Shot 2
VIDEO
AUDIO
Shot 1
Shot 1
Shot 2
Shot 2L
SPLIT EDITS
Summary
• J-cuts introduce sound early – before we see the connected picture
• L–cuts extend the sound of the current shot over the next image
• Both ‘smooth’ the sound transition - giving a greater sense of connection and reality!
Real life is full of J and L audio transitions…
• ‘J’ - How often do we hear someone - or something - before we see them or it?
• ‘L’ - When did a sound you hear ever instantly reduce to zero as you moved away from it?
SPLIT EDITS
INTERVIEWwith a cutaway
Audio from cutaway extends into next shot - and fades out…
VIDEO
TRACKS
Cutaway video
Interviewee talking head - video
AUDIO
TRACKS
Interviewee talking head - audio
Cutaway audioAudio fades to zero over
shot of interviewee
Cutaway audio extends approx. 3 secs into interviewee video, fading out gradually to zero dB
Summary
• The sound track of a cutaway is normally lower in volume than the ‘interviewee’ audio – do not drown out the voice of the interviewee!
• Extending the ‘cutaway audio’ a few seconds into the next shot (L-cut) avoids a sharp ‘cut’ in the sound – more ‘natural’ to the ear of the audience
• Cutaway audio is sometimes brought in early (J-cut) - artistic decision by director and/or editor – and extended into the next shot (L-cut)
INTERVIEW CUTAWAYS
Finchley Film Makers
Video Editing Masterclass
Practical Session
Adobe Premiere v1.5
Multitrack video and audio
Non linear editing system