immj-ma video post-production workflow€¦ · post-production workflow stage 1 - organising /...

VIDEO POST-PRODUCTION WORKFLOW

IMMJ-MA

POST-PRODUCTION WORKFLOW

VIDEO EDITING

IMMJ.MA

STAGE 1 - ORGANISING / TRANSCRIBING STAGE 2 - REVIEW & LOG FOOTAGE STAGE 3 - CREATE VISUAL SEQUENCES STAGE 4 - PAPER CUT INTERVIEWS

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STAGE 5 - ASSEMBLY ‣ SYNCHING VIDEO & AUDIO STAGE 6 - ROUGH CUT STAGE 7 - FINAL CUT ‣ SUBTITLES / GRAPHICS / TITLES ‣ SOUND MIX ‣ COLOUR CORRECTION STAGE 8 - EXPORT


STAGE 1 - ORGANISING / TRANSCRIBING

▸ Download and organise all media files

▸ Organise all media files into the folder structure that works for your (or your clients) archiving system

▸ Back up to two disks so all raw files are safe. Also back up to class disk.

▸ Transcribe, translate and print interviews

▸ Import footage to your editing software

▸ You’ll be cutting the film on a single computer, if you want to use two computers you’ll need to be using the same editing software and versions. As it’s a learning exercise you should all take turns to edit with supervision


STAGE 2 - REVIEW & LOG FOOTAGE

▸ Review (watch) interviews & broll - watch everything thoroughly! Make notes, tag and/or drag the best moments to the timeline.

▸ Watch the interviews too - it’s not just what people say it’s HOW they say things. Highlight any stand out moments as you watch.

▸ You need to be familiar with your footage for a good edit


SYNCHING VIDEO & AUDIO

▸ If recording separate sound you’ll need to synch your video and audio files

▸ Lay both audio tracks on the timeline

▸ Match up the audio spike from the clap

▸ Delete the scratch audio

OR

▸ Use the automated technique in your software


STAGE 3 - CREATE VISUAL SEQUENCES

▸ Start to craft visual scenes & sequences and candid dialogue if you have it prior to cutting the main interview

▸ Aim for compelling and distinct sequences and scenes - each scene and sequence needs to be different otherwise the viewer will get bored.

▸ This helps you to drive the story with visuals rather than interview

▸ NOTE Many editors working on tight deadlines may start with the interview


STAGE 4 - PAPER CUT INTERVIEWS

▸ Highlight best / most relevant quotes

▸ look for information and emotion

▸ Cut up the highlighted text keeping single thoughts and phrases in flow



▸ Arrange according to the beginning / middle / end sections of your basic story structure

▸ Shift around in sections until they feel right

▸ You can keep things a little long and lose as you’ll need to re-adjust on the timeline


STAGE 5 - PAPER CUT ASSEMBLY

▸ If recording separate sound you’ll need to synch your video and audio files as described earlier

▸ Assemble interviews and/or dialogue to your paper edit


STAGE 6 - ROUGH CUT

▸ The rough cut is the first true edit and is the stage in which you start to craft creatively not just technically. This stage, is about storytelling and crafting a message, using the footage you’ve gathered to achieve your vision.


STAGE 6 - ROUGH CUT

▸ Revise the interview sound-bytes by shifting things around, adding or subtracting as necessary until you gain a smooth flow and logical story structure.

▸ Start to craft together your interviews & visual sequences. There is no precise formula - that’s why it’s called a craft! Some stories fall into place easily others need a lot of work.

▸ (If working on a tight deadline you might first paper cut the interview and then edit the broll).

▸ Now think about creating good flow and transitions

▸ Check the timing, does it fit your client brief - too long too short?

▸ This is your ROUGH CUT - In term 2 & 3 we’ll need to see these edits midway through your projects


STAGE 6 - ROUGH CUT

▸ If you have music you’d add this in the Rough Cut too

▸ If working on a long piece you might do some ‘pick ups’

TEXT

STAGE 6 - ROUGH CUT 2 AND REVISIONS

▸ Depending on the piece and timescale you’ll typically have a revision process with yourself and your editor / tutor.

▸ This means having peers and editors / tutors review the video and give feedback so you can make revisions.

▸ It’s also wise to give yourself a day or two away from the video edit and work on something else so you can come back to it with fresher eyes.


STAGE 7 - FINAL CUT

▸ The final cut of an edit is when the cutting and timing of the footage is finalised. It’s not the final version of the video, ready for release, but it’s very close.

▸ The edit at this stage is the one that will be used for several finishing steps, including

▸ Graphics / Stinger / Lower Thirds

▸ Subtitles / Narration

▸ Sound mix

▸ Colour adjust


STAGE 7 - FINAL CUT

▸ In the future tutors will also want to see your final cut as we may have suggestions for revisions or pick ups

▸ This is the same workflow that you will follow with a professional client who will typically want to see 2 or 3 versions and revisions before publication


SUBTITLES 1

▸ Always copy paste from a copy edited text file. Do not write captions straight in

▸ Use Open Captions in Premiere

▸ Be sure to use either a shadow or a background so subs are easy to read. Choose a clean, simple font like Gill Sans, Helvetica or Arial.


SOUND MIX 1

▸ In effects controls> audio effects

▸ Adjust dialogue volume so it’s hitting around -6 to -12db

▸ Ambient sounds and music are usually lower - anywhere between -6 to -24db

▸ Nothing should be clipping (0 or above)

▸ If this doesn’t do the trick you can add additional volume but that means you recorded your audio too low and quality may be impacted


SOUND MIX 2

▸ Keyframe levels with the pen tool

▸ Room tone - find a section of your audio which is silent and use this to fill any gaps needed - this is easier to show than tell so i’ll leave this for hands on - in the future try to record 30 seconds of room tone for every interview

▸ Try using crossfades (constant power) between clips to smooth transitions and minimise pops etc - I typically use these on most clips. Especially if there’s nothing before or after the audio clip


COLOUR CORRECTION

▸ There are a number of tools for colour correction

▸ We suggest using the Colour Panel in premiere - it’s very intuitive - stick to the basics panel and play around

▸ We are not going for a heavy stylised cinematic look or mood, so please keep adjustments basic - simply regulating exposure and colour balance and so on.

▸ You may want to try add stabilisation to any shaky shots

▸ Do not sharpen


STAGE 8 - EXPORT

▸ Export > Media

▸ Format - h.264

▸ Preset - You could use a preset e.g. YouTube 1080p

▸ Output Name - Choose a name / location

▸ Export

▸ (in this case make another folder within your master project called Exported - place there)


STAGE 9 - BACK UP

▸ Make sure your entire project folder is organised and all media is linked. Back up your entire folder to two drives and store them in separate locations.

▸ Always back up your work every hour or two to minimise lost time.

immj-ma video post-production workflow€¦ · post-production workflow stage 1 - organising /...

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