Editing on Final Cut Express

We bagan editing our footage shortly after completing the filming. This proved to be a lengthy process but also enriching as I feel I learnt alot from it.


First Stages Of Editing

• Initially, we imported all the files that we had recorded. 
•  We then proceeded to filter through the clips, deciding which footage was the most suitable and of the best quality.
• After this, we cut the clips and started to piece them together chronologically.

Main Stages Of Editing

• When we had finished the basic timeframe of the film we bagan to incorperate filters and crossfading inbetween various cuts where appropriate
• As a team we decided to opt for using the filters that were pre programed into Final Cut rather than using the 'pen tool' which allows the user to dictate exactly where the cross fade/fade would begin and end
• Towards the end of the main editing of the footage we chose to focus of match on action and continuity, making sure that it was consistent as this proved to be an issue with our preliminary task
•  After this, we focused on a smaller, yet equally as important aspect of our film, the sound. For example, because of the choice of location and winter weather it proved to be windy on the day we chose to shoot. To compensate for this we used sound filters which allow the user to fade certain parts of the sound clip that runs underneath the time frame of the film.

Finishing touches and soundtrack

• Once we were pleased with the look of the footae as well as the diegetic sound we had to find a copyright free soundtrack
• We were both sure that the music had to be both modern and reflect the themes of the film
• Finally we incorperated the soundtrack chosen into the film. The first piece is an ambient piece, with no percussion or over riding power to . We used this in the title sequence at the beggining of the film
• After this we edited in our main source of music which is a copyright free sample of the genre 'dubstep'. We felt this was apropriate as the music is defined by minor tonality, this reflected the paranoid, mysterious atmosphere of the film.

Questionaire

This questionnaire was created as a pair and handed out to around 20 people in our sixth form. The questioned posed was 'Would you expect to hear music in the opening of a sci-fi thriller film?' out of 20 people asked, 13 said 'yes'

this question was then posed to the people that answered 'yes'. The majority answered 'minimalism'. My partner and I took this into consideration when choosing a copyright free piece of music

Lead Actor

Danny Elstub acted in our opening sequence. He plays a mysterious solitary character, it is never revealed why he is living where he is or who is running away from at the end.

Props and lead actor

Our film opening features no dialogue and only one character. This worked well for us because it but out any complications of making sure the sound was recorded properly and allowed me and my partner to direct simultaneously behind the camera rather than one of us being in the scene having to act. the new location also allowed to use props that were already there such as rubbish and debris.

Props included:
Clothing
Skateboard
Sleeping Bag
General debris (found of location)

Filming completed

Me and my partner filmed everything we planned to film on our storyboard at the chosen location. Unfortunately the footage was of a very poor quality due to lighting and sound issues. However, we filmed the entire two or three scenes again and we are both now in a position where we feel very confident with the final result. We changed the location but kept to the initial storyboard as best as was possible. 

Change in location

due to poor lighting and sound, we decided to change the location of our filming for the first time. After filming everything that we planned to, we mutually agreed that we could do better and opted to shoot during the day rather than dusk as intended.

The new location is in a warehouse rather than on a rooftop, the main character is seen sleeping on an old sofa rather than in a tent

New location for filming:

Storyboarding - pages 1&2

First page of storyboarding



Second page of storyboarding