The editing processFinal Cut Pro

I started my editing on final cut pro and immediately faced the issue of the voiceover taking more or less time than desired to fit the clips at the beginning; however this was quickly adapted by doing them again and getting the person to talk in a slower manner so that I could use them without really big pauses between each, just enough to build tension. I then had a play around with cutting the clips so that just the desired amount was used in the actual trailer. For my first editing session it was mainly just having a play around with the software and getting used to what is available and looking at my clips, many of which I have now realised are too dark even though they looked a good contrast on the camera, so I will have to make sure that I can lighten these and make them visible for the audience.

After I had all my clips ready I began to put them on Final Cut Pro’s time line. My storyboard thoroughly helped me at this point as it was simply the case of applying the clips where I had planned. This worked well for the beginning as I knew roughly that I wanted the beginning to last around 25 seconds and it lasted thirty because I wanted a long enough pause between each voiceover. I finally had the audio levels sorted for the voiceover, it was just a case of making sure I cut it at the right points and then it was simply a case of applying the sound to the clip. Here I noticed that the quality of the candle lighting clip was not great and in fact was quite grainy. I didn’t like this but after talking to some peers they said that it gave it the old effect I kept talking about so I decided to leave it in. It also contrasted well with the clip previous to it which is very sharp.

Grainy. Old effect. Natural lighting through flame and slight colour correction to show consistency in brightness.

After I had the beginning sorted I then began to place the clips in for the quick moving part of the trailer. I played each scene along how I imagined, following the story board as much as possible. However when I was putting clips in, there were parts where certain clips did not work (car wheels going past) yet other clips did (actor sitting on wall looking out over river) and it was trial and error through what to put where. There were also natural clips that I put in where the characters did not know I was recording (smoking and clip before end of female actor). I was not sure if I would like these when I come to the editing but they actually worked quite well.

I followed the story board well up until just over half way and then I added in a couple of unexpected clips that I thought up on filming day and had to rearrange a couple (chocking clip) to see what worked best where. I then resumed the order I had decided toward the end with the bottle smashing, knife dropping and tea party scene.

I then had to add the audio which I had already decided to be Chase and Status ‘Machine Gun’ throughout all of the fast moving action and then silence at the beginning and end. I edited certain sections of the music so it peaked when the action did (beat dropped again when knife held to throat). I also edited certain sections so the music stopped and diegetic sounds came through before it started again (pool table clip, whistling and smashing bottle). This was difficult as to make sure this flowed with the music I had to once again swap clips around where possible.

Enables diegetic sounds to be the same volume and the non diegetic sounds.

Changing the levels of the audio so that it is consistent throughout or louder/quieter when necessary such as the music getting quieter when the actor/tress speaks.

Finally I added transitions, typically using the ‘fade in fade out’ transition as decided on the story board as it can effectively enable a clip to effectively switch to another. I lowered the duration of these fades to ensure that it was a fast pace. I also added transitions into the audio. I had a play around with lots of different transitions but decided the simple ones were most effective still.

Adapting duration of the transition to ensure slower or quicker movement to build tension or action.

Each transition plays a key role in linking two clips together, this particular one adds a more mystical impact

This is the transition in action; you can seethe way in which it adds impact and smoothness.

Once I had this sorted it was a case of finishing touches such as the end title scene. To show consistency I downloaded and installed the font I used for the title on the poster and magazine and then used a stylistic typical font for a small cast and crew. I then added certain small touches like ‘coming soon’ and the national lottery logo. This was all quite simple as it was just a case of applying the font and positioning.

Iconic consistent font

Placed at the end to ensure audience watches whole trailer to be able to find out more about it

Small cast and crew and only ‘coming soon’ not a date so that not

much is revealed as it is only a teaser

I still thought something was missing and then I realised that at the beginning and end when the clip was silent apart from the diegetic sound, I could hear slight crackling from the audio and so to stop this I decided to put in very quite slow music to give the two audio’s and contrasting effect. I also added in the green band to show a use of professionalism and similarity to professional trailers.

I had to do a lot of colour correcting on my trailer as I needed to consistent feel throughout and on my first filming session it was a really sunny day and certain scenes (punching clip, holding knife up to throat, walking/running with briefcase) were far to bright. To give a more eerie effect I had to reduce the saturation and then drag the colour levels away from the blue and then adapt the white balance. A couple of my clips were also too dark which I did not realise while filming, especially the drinking tea in chair clip which I actually had to cut because of it, the note and fire clip and the struggling on chair clip both of which I did manage to adapt by making it a really low saturation so it actually looked like it had been filmed in the dark or by simply adjusting the brightness.