SUMMARY
Role
Editor
PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY
Intention (SMART Goal)
General concept – Merja takes her medication every day, one day she doesn’t, and unexpectedly breaks up with Clara as her mood/attitude has completely shifted. Without her medication, she begins to hear voices telling her to do different things, and strange things begin occurring.
More general logline – Person stops taking medication and strange things begin to occur.
Genre – Psychological thriller
Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)
Editor – Tom Cross (La La Land, First Man, etc.)
- Prior to argument, cuts between two people are slow paced. They linger longer on each shot and cut after each person is done saying something.
- When argument gets more intense it cuts quickly back and forth as they interrupt each other, rather than cutting after each person is done speaking
- note for myself – will be slightly different in our film but can still be applied as the cuts will be between mostly Clara yelling as Merja stares blankly
- Will use when Merja breaks up with Clara
- Music is subtle/muffled. Could use knowledge from my training sources on audio distortion to make the music seem distant in order to focus on the action of the scene.
Black Swan Editing – Andrew Weisblum
Black Swan is a psychological thriller, which is the same genre as our film. Editor Andrew Weisblum utilizes editing techniques like split-screen, hip-hop montage, and a time/lapse montage hybrid.
| Element | Effect and Possible Use in Our Films |
| split-screen | Divide the screen with two videos. Creates real divide and a barrier between either people or events. |
| hip-hop montage | Repeated images and sounds effects with quick editing highlights a routine. In this case will emphasize Merja’s morning routine. |
| time-lapse/montage | Using editing to manipulate time. Mark the passaging of time with a series of isolated shots or scenes. Capture attention |
Training Source(s)
I will be using the editing software of Premiere Pro. Basic Premiere Pro training sources are not needed, as I have gained experience from past productions/bring a general background in using Premiere Pro into this project. However, I have researched more complex effects that we intend to use in our CFP that I do not have previous experience in using.
Special Effects to Learn in Premiere Pro
- will be used more generally throughout film to create distorted/weird noise
- will also use to alter the voice that Merja begins to hear after not taking her medication
- Muffled audio when Clara starts yelling at Merja after Merja breaks up with Clara
- Intention – to relay how Merja is feeling, simulating her blocking out Clara’s words
- Could also use when Merja breaks up with Merja
- Clara’s voice will become muffled to feel like we’re inside Merja’s mind
- overall intend to adjust the speed of clips to dramatize important scenes
- use slow motion when Merja enters water towards end of film to emphasize importance, establish unease in viewers, and dramatize scene
- slow motion in forest to heighten unease in viewers
- fast/time-lapse like when Merja is driving places to further establish robotic like/controlled behavior
Editing Fl
Opening Scene (1 – 11 in storyboard)
The opening scene is vital in establishing the tone for the rest of the film. Intention – establish a rhythm of Merja’s morning routine. She sees her alarm, cut to her brushing her teeth, her taking her medication. (boxes 1 – 10) After establishing a rhythm with quick cuts, break that rhythm with Merja NOT taking the pills and instead throwing them against the wall (box 11).
Establish rhythm again with quick cuts once Merja leaves to meet Clara. She puts on her shoes (cut) (box 13), grabs her keys (cut) (box 14), key in ignition (cut) (box 15), driving (cut) (box 16). Intention – repetition of rhythmic routines will create a robotic like tone for the film foreshadowing Merja’s psychotic/controlled like behavior or episode.
Brainstorming with Sound Designer (Adia)
- No music in opening scene. Want to emphasize rhythm and the action within the scene by only using diagetic sound.
- Use my training resources to create muffled and distorted audio within Premiere Pro
- Soundtrack –>
- take inspiration from Donnie Darko as it is a film portraying a schizophrenic character that utilizes both non-diegetic and diegetic sound in order to establish and enhance intensity and anxiety
- Soundtrack will be eerie at times and overall utilized as a device to enhance suspense and create confusion/unease in viewers as they experience it alongside Merja.
- collaboration with Adia will come as she creates the music, I will create audio distortion in editing and we will collectively decide where to incorporate non-diegetic vs diegetic sounds
- utilize j-cuts and l-cuts (me) to incorporate music (Adia) seamlessly
Brainstorming with Director (Merja)
- tight rhythm with opening scene (using quick cuts) that is then broken when Merja doesn’t take her pills
- fast motion (use training resources) when Merja is driving
- utilize l-cuts and j-cuts in order to effectively transition between scenes (for example – when Merja leaves after breaking up with Clara)
- each box on storyboard is a cut
- quick edits/shots for hallucinations
- close ups/less cutting when showing just Merja in order to convey Merja’s craziness
Editing Elements We Intend to Use
| Element | Desired Effect |
| j-cut/l-cut | When music either precedes |