Re-cap Scene

As we had planned a little recap scene in the style of Shaun of the Dead I went through and picked what shots I think would work with the lines being said. When Me and Hannah we talking through about idea for this scene one of us said about crossing out the drugs/ drinks as it shows the difference between what happened and what the police officer thinks happened. In the conversations we thought up the idea of having it styled like a pencil drawing and then having the image literally being rubbed out by a rubber. I found a tutorial Online about how to do this in Photoshop really well so I exported out a freeze-frame of the image that i thought worked and followed the tutorial.

First of all I had to create a second layer on top of the background layer. Add adjust the composition setting to Colour Dodge. You then invert the layer by pressing cmd I. This then leaves the images looking blank. The next stage is to add on an effects called Guassian blur, setting the pixels to around 18 pixels, but dependent on the amount of detail it altered slightly on each image. I then altered the saturation to make the image black and white. The tutorial didn't do this but then I also altered the contrast as some images from the film were very flat, this then created more depth to the image and I think improved it a lot. 

Before altering saturation.

After adjusting contrast

Prior to this project I created a titles that looked like it was being hand writing. i created this with in the style of a stop motion animation with rebelling up a short sequence with a large number of photos. I  started to create this sequence of the shots being rubbed out using this process. I exported the image as a JPEG, then rub out a small section, re export it with a number (for example 001). I continued this process until the area I wanted was rubbed out.

Selection of photos to create rubbing out.

I then imported each of these images into MC. I organised them into a bin and created a sequence to build the clip on. I added each image for the length of 2 frames and once they were all on the timeline they played out the motion of rubbing it out. I repeated this with several freeze frames. I then created a Video Mix-down of each sequence to then be added to the Fine Cut timeline.

When discussing the logics of this scene with Hannah, we talked about the need of it and who's perspective it was. I thinks its not very clear on who exactly perspective the image is. The voice over is of the police offices but then the visuals show the original truth being altered, but I think it wouldn't show the original it would just be the altered images. We decided that instead of having the voiceover Hannah would play around overlaying the interviews and sounds from whats happened building up like a crescendo, almost like the build up of lies that they are telling. I think this would work a lot better then just retelling the audience what they have just been told. I then thought up that instead of having it rubbed out I could have it more like its being cribbed out with a pen and then all the lines and scribbles build up as the sound does until its all just a mess.

Instead of doing this in Photoshop and rebuilding the sequences I thought that this could easily be done in Aftereffects. I imported the freeze-frame in and added a black background to the sequence. I then use a mask tool to subject a specific area and used key frames to map out the path of the "Pen" scribbling out areas of the frame.

Adding keyframes for the "Pen"

Re-Editing to new Structure

Re-editing to the new structure was more of a shuffling process then re-edit as each scene would still be a scene in a sense it just may be swapped out of order and timings in-between changed to allow the voiceover in.

As Allis wasn't present for any of the VO recordings I had to step in an assist Hannah with second opinions on takes and while recording we would bounce ideas of each other about different ways that the lines could be said so that Hannah had a variety to pick form in her edit. Once they were recorded, Hannah went through her recording and sent me over a version of each VO labeled against the corresponding line on the script so that we were both clear as to the order. As Alli was also not present for the re-edit Hannah sat with me and helped work out where best to place them and how long the voice over would overlay the scenes and the timings. I think it was good to have Hannah there to help at this stage as she would be the one adding in the voice over in the sound edit so by getting her input at this stage it would minimise the amount of alterations that would have to do once I hand over the edit.

The first 6 minutes were fairly simple to re organise. I had to add in freeze-frames at the start and then reverse the start to play through again. Hannah decided that she preferred a different song for the split screen driving scene so I had to re organise the timings of the split screen to fit the new tempo of the new song.

To get the exact timings of the song Hannah exported the first couple of minutes out of Protools and sent it over to me to sync the timings of the cuts up to. Once I had done this I re-exported out the edit to hand back over. Somewhere in this process a majority of the shots had become out of sync. After both me and Hannah spent a while trying to figure out where a couple of frames had gone from I decided to reimport the QT that Hannahs sound was synced too and conform this against my timeline to see where exactly it had changed. I did this by overlaying and then using a simply split screen so that they played next to each other. It turned out that there was a couple of shots that had been a couple frames out but due to this process it was easy to figure out where and by how much it was out.  I then re exported it out to Hannah with the newest timings that matched the original QT and this seemed to be in sync.

Giving the Film a Story

The edit was at the stage where it could be handed over to Hannah for the start of the sound design process. I was really unhappy of the film as an overall piece due to its lack of story and progression. As I had tried over and over to get some sort of help from our director to solve these issues, I resorted to getting the edit to a stage where I was happy with the technical aspects. When handing the edit over to Hannah, she really wasn't happy with the lack of narrative so we spent an afternoon brain storming possible alternatives that we could do at this late a stage.

After meeting with Chris and going through a few possible options we decided on a Voice over to add an alternative layer and insentive for the story to progress. He mentioned in conversation about a Police officer and Hannah and I both liked this idea and initially started planning to add this to the film.

I spent the Evening, while Hannah had to go to work, researching police interviews and interrogations for wording and specific protocols that happen. I found some interview transcripts from a murder case and notices how the Police Officer seems to repeat a lot of what the interviewee says and gets them to reconfirm what they have just told him very regularly.

Kip Kinkel's Confession Transcript

Bruce Daniels Police Interview


Visually Hannah thought up the use of a cassette tape to symbolise the recording of the interview and showed me this video (link below) where they uses a film reel. I really like this as is brings your out of the story world into another location without even showing another location, almost putting the audience in a similar situation to the characters being in an unfamiliar location.

The Bureau - Video Game Trailer


When looking through some ideas I came across this video on youtube and I really like the part at 01:15. Throughout this piece they use the style of stop motion to create movement and I really like this part at 01:15 as this could be something similar that we could show in a scene of one of the characters going to the bathroom to take some drugs. This is a simple things to create as we could film with a steady cam and then in post I would create the jumps.

Another idea I thought up was to include a recap scene in which the police officer can go through the events that have been told so far in the style of Shaun on the Dead. I think this will add a slight breathing space in the story for the audience and will help add emphasis on the story that the police officer tells and what actually happens.

After doing this research I started to create a rough version of the Voice over script. I then went through all this with hannah showing her the other clips I found. At this stage we Skype called Alli to get her help with the script as she would be better at writing the characters answer as she was more familiar with they way of speaking from writing the initial script. Here is the a copy of the initial Voiceover Script that Me and Hannah created before going through it with Alli:

Initial Ideas

Play up until “Road Trip”

Freeze frame on Hugh

Police – hold on a Minute, can you say that again and clearer

Wooshh back to beginning

Isa (worried) – Well, Me and Rhian were just out on the balcony. She was having a cig and Hugh just turned up.

Police – He just turned up?

Continues playing normal, Rhian’s lines – What you doing here babe?

Hugh (over his part) – My auntie went away you see so I thought it’d be nice to go away for the weekend.

BLACK SCREEN

Police – Okay… so can you run me through when you picked up Lucas ……… …….?

Hugh – HAHAHA is that his middle name

Police – can you please just answer my question (repeats question).

Hugh – okay well once I had the girls we went straight there …

Starts playing half way through Hughs lines then cuts on Lukes HEEYYY line

Runs through scene till Rhians line “lets go then! Come on!”

Hugh – They didn’t realise Luke was able to come so was like a little surprise form them. They were excited sort of thing.

Police – repeat what Hugh says about the girls happy Lukes there.

Continues to play at Rhians line - I cant believe you invited him

Plays though till end of split screen.

Isa – talks through arriving, - add shots running in door

Luke – says bring loads and contributed

Plays out on Rhians line – Luke? What are you contributing to this trip?

BLACK SCREEN

Police ask about the night

Go through night scene

Isa say about went toilet and could hear Luke snoring but went back to sleep??

Police – okay .. lets go back a bit earlier on in the after noon  ….

Cuts to Luke telling story

Freezeframe as Rhian comes in saying look whats I’ve got.

Police question isa about the Nos?

Hellium

Continues to play out nos sequence

BLACK SCREEN

Police – The next day when you woke up what did you do?

Luke – When I got up everyone else was up outside having breakfast so went out and joined them …

Runs through scene in morning – wagwannn!!!

CUTS TO BLACK SCREEN AT END

 Police – asks about leaving girls

Isa – Explains going off

SHOWS GETTING DRUGS – POV – YOUTUBE

Police – Lets back up a second. Ask why they left?

Isa – Well, we were all just sitting in the kitchen …

Runs through scene

Police – So … says another version causing them to leave. (go shops or something)

Isa – Yeah that what happened.

Hand police sum up what happened so far – shaun of the dead style re cap …. So what happened next? We found remains of LSD in your possession. When did you take it?

Luke – Explains taking it no effects

Shots of in forest tripping

(got burned)

WHAT IS THAT??

Must be fake.

Montage

Planned to have BBQ so went to go find him

Shots of them shouting Luke?!

Here is an updated version once talking through with Alli on Skype to get her view on how the characters would word things:

VOICEOVER SCRIPT

Plays through film up until “Roadtrip”

Freeze frame on Hugh next to car

POLICE – Hold on. Say that again, clearer this time.

WOOSH rewind back to beginning

ISA– Well … Me and Rhian were just on the balcony … She was having Cig and then well Hugh turned up.

POLICE – He just turned up?

Continues scene until Rhian’s Line – What’s going on babe?

Hugh (over his part) – well my auntie had a free house … so I thought I’d take them there to chill out after exams.

BLACKSCREEN

POLICE (Over establishing shots of flats) – Okay … so can you run me through when you picked up a Lucas Gaylon Haywood

HUGH – Snigger. Is that is middle Name ….?

Cuts to WHEYYY

Runs through car scene up until Rhians Line – “Come on, lets go then”

HUGH – They didn’t realise Luke was coming … so … you know it was like a little surprise for them.

POLICE – so they were excited to see him?

Plays out scene, Rhian – I can’t believe you asked him to come.

POLICE – So .. How did you spend your evening at the cottage?

LUKE – Oh … was just a chilled evening … had a few beers/ had a cuppa

Clips of Luke and Isa

POLICE – so going back to that afternoon. did anything unusual happen?

ISA – oh no … not really

Shot Luke telling story

Rhian comes in – freeze frame

POLICE – oh so what was in the balloons?

ISA – Oh no its was just hellium …

POLICE – Right (doesn’t believe)

Carries on with scene

BLACKSCREEN

POLICE – The next day when you woke up what did you do?

LUKE – Went outside to see if anyone wanted a coffee.

Run through morning scene

BLACKSCREEN

POLICE – So where were you at 12 pm

HUGH – well … we were all just sitting in the kitchen …

RUN THROUGH SCENE

POLICE – So … you made pizza and played on the xbox?

HUGH – Yeah that’s right.

POLICE – You left the kitchen, where did you go?

ISA – oh, Rhian had a bath so I just watched TV in my room for a bit.

SHOTS OF COKE

POLICE RECAP –

 Shaun of the dead style - .so what happened next? We found evidence of LSD in your possession. Care to explain?

LUKE – stuttering – ermm well … yeah … no … no it was … erm … it wasn’t even real. I got ripped of. It didn’t even work …

SHOT OF TRIP

HUGH – We wanted a BBQ and he was taking ages so we thought we better go get him.

LOOKING FOR HIM SHOTS

POLICE – So how was the BBQ?

HUGH – Oh it was dark by the time we got back so didn’t bother

SOUND OF WHISPERING IN NIGHT SCENE – Rhian: “Well where did he go?” Hugh: “Fuck knows, how am I supposed to know?” Rhian: “It’s not like we can ask him, he was that off his head he won’t remember.”

SHOT OF ISA GOING IN LUKES ROOM

TIME LAPSE OF SUNRISE

POLICEMAN – And at what time did you leave the cottage?

ISA – About midday…

SHOTS OF CAR DRIVING (CLOUDY DAY) – DIEGETIC RADIO SOUND

CUT TO BLACK

FADE IN TAPE DECK (WITH RADIO CONTINUED AND TAPE CLICKING ADDED)

SOUND OF RADIO FADE OUT AND JUST HAVE CLICKING

HUGH – Sorry… How long’s this gonna take? Visiting time’s nearly over and I need to go see Rhian/my girlfriend…

CUT TO BLACK – TAPE REWINDS

CREDITS ROLL – TRANSCRIPT STYLE (TONAL SOUND PIECE INFLUENCED WITH CAR CRASH)

Luke Trip Scene

BeforeI  had got to this stage of editing Hannah had showed me some images she came across on Instagram that she thought would look good for some effects in the film. I think these are really nice and I like how they have manipulated the image within its self. Chris mentioned once in a tutorial about the use of split frame and creating visually effects subtly through manipulating the image in a way similar to this. Here are a load of examples:

I had a play around on After Effects with this in mind and the use of rings and split frame. I used layers and masks to create a similar effect. I had one mask for the outer ring and a second for the inside of the ring. When playing around in After effects and came across an effect that I really liked called CC Tonal. This seemed to create a more tonal effects with limiting the shades of colours. I am then able to manipulate the high, mid and low tones to either different shades or a completely different colour. 

Rings using CC Tonal effects

After spending time playing around with this sort of style I decided that I didn't think this worked with this scene and moved on to more of a layered effect. I just over layered two takes, one of a MS of Luke stumbling around and the second of a POV shot. This created a simple effects that portrayed his visuals while still keeping the audience in a observational perspective. As this is now a major part in the film, trying to create jeopardy as the films original narrative doesn't come across, I need to ramp up the intensity. I started adding more layers to it but it became too over crowded and busy and I decided against this idea and to start new with a different idea.

Overlaying of MS and POV shot

When looking for initial ideas Hannah and I watched Hunger Games and we really liked the effects in the Giant Hornet sequence. We liked how it juttered around and shows her perspective of being unstable and disorientated. When I watched this I know this is a simple effect that I can create within After Effects with the use of layers and slightly changing the timings of them. I used the MS of Luke stumbling around and added a few layers only a fraction of a second long and of set them slightly so that they were delayed in relation to the original shot. I then changed the opacity of the layers so they are all visible. When playing it through it worked really well as the layers build up quickly and then return to normal quickly smoothly. I copied this layered effect several times throughout each take to add the disorientated feel to it.

Layered effect in style of Hunger Games

When looking at the Bruxelles piece Chris gave me to look at for inspiration they used a lot of split frame and layers so I thought I'd have a play around and see how this looks. I layered up a long take of Luke skipping and laughing as he walks down a path, each layer with a Mask on so that is only reveals a section of the frame and then slightly of set it, alter the opacity and even alter the tones and colours. I really liked this effect as it was very simply to create and have a really visually interesting result. At this stage I am un sure how the scene will be piece to gather to will need for now I will leave this section as it is but I think i will need to add a lot more layers to create the disoriented trippy feel needed from this scene.

Layers in style of Bruxelles

Tutorial and Rough Cut Screening

Prior to the first rough cut screening I had a tutorial with Chris to go through the edit.  He watched through the edit and pointed out some problems and things  should think about.

He suggested that i get the POV scene done in time for the screening so that people would get the idea of what were trying to create. He suggested where would be good places to cut and what bits to cut out. He talked about how the start is very slow, nothing seemed to happen until two minutes into the film, this is very long due to the fact that the film is only 10 minutes. So he said the first two minutes should be cut down to one.

The Next day our Director finally came in to watch through the film and give me her opinion on the edit. She seemed to like it and if anything she said she felt the beginning scenes seems to fast and to make them longer. I then felt in an awkward situation about what to do but Chris suggest that i do two edits. One, the directors edit how she wants it and then the second my own edit with how i feel it should be.

I then went through an created a rough cut, as Alli was never in uni i resorted to uploading a rough cut online for her to look through and give me some sort of feedback and guide in the edit. Up to this point it had been difficult and at times when I needed help I had to resort to interrupting Hannah to get second opinions on some effects of scenes that I had played around with. I finally got given some feedback in the form of a word document sent online to me with some notes that Alli thought when watching the edit. I found it very frustrating when I was sat in the editing too with wither groups and their directors there being very interested in the edit and giving genuine feedback and ideas towards the film.

At this stage in the edit I had a rough version of the film in its entirety. Talking through in my tutorial Chris was saying how nothing seems to happen and that it was down to Hannah and I to create some form of jeopardy in the Trip scene to give the film some sort of motion. I had spent a lot of time playing around in After Effects with different effects and sequences but was finding it hard to get inspiration. I managed to meet with Alli and sit with her and I asked her what she, as director, visioned for this trip scene and how she pictured it in her head. The answer I was given was I don't know. This frustrated me as I was spending all this time trying to create the vision for this film without even any guideline to work form and adapt. In my tutorial Chris showed me a silent piece called Bruxelles so I decided I would use this as my inspiration.

Digital Films - A blog by Oliver Peters

When I was learning how to use Davinci I came across Oliver Peters blog as there was a workflow on there with how to import files. I found this really helpful especially as he goes through the process of moving the timeline via AAF from the NLE, in my case Media Composer, into Davinci and back again.


Link to Olivers Peters blog.

There are lots of other useful posts on his blog as he has a whole category for film students. In this section he goes through the editing process for both picture and sound, he also goes through some very helpful editing tips such as expanding or contracting scene pacing. This is useful when thinking about the pacing in my editing, a majority of out scenes are quite slow and i would have wanted to increase the pace more but i was very limited with what i could do due to the lack of coverage and not wanting to over use the same shots.