Blog Post #2 - Film Editing

PART ONE - Video 

https://youtu.be/oQPGaJXzDaE

Making this video was a bit of a challenge. Taking on the role of filming and editing the video without a partner alongside me to help extremely hindered the productivity. However it did teach me to take it one step at a time and spread out the objectives evenly throughout the days to successfully complete the project. I also noticed that the transitions turned out not as smooth as I envisioned them, going into this project I had high expectations but fell short to the movie-like goals I had set for myself. The fade in, cutting on action, and the iris transition were by far the easiest edits I had to do since they were pretty straight forward. Nonetheless, the jump cut, the match cut, and the wipe transition were on a harder spectrum and still look a little rough in the video. Looking back at it now, extending the duration of the videos would have made the video flow more seamlessly and not feel so rushed, especially towards the end of the video. Overall, it is safe to say that dealing with the mistakes throughout the way has taught me a few things and lead me to be more ready for the next editing project due to the experience I have gained.

PART TWO - Blog Post & Examples

https://youtu.be/B6jGX3fT_fU

There are many cutting on action shots throughout this short clip from the movie "Gladiator". The primary reasoning behind cutting to a closer shot in the middle of an action is to emphasize the action. It is also a fantastic way to transition into a different point of view in a seamless way, overall making the scene cleaner.  

https://youtu.be/ISoPy3I6Us4  

Fade in was used in the beginning of this scene from the movie "1917." This was done to ease the audience into the film and to give a warm welcome to the story. The color switch from black to a brighter color also develops a feeling of warmth since black usually symbolizes death/depression.  

https://youtu.be/PSPMd3mxn1w

One of the recent movie hits "Dune" features a jump cut that can be seen in the first few seconds of this clip. This is done to indicate that the character underwent a visual break back to reality. More commonly, jump cuts are usually used to show the audience a time change.  

https://youtu.be/Jz47qXM1FNA  

Iris was used at the end of this clip from one of the most decorated series of all time, "Mickey Mouse." The main use of the iris is usually to either open or close a scene in a smooth way. It can also be used to focus on a specific thing or action in the frame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avjdKTqiVvQ  

An obvious composition match cut is used in the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" when the bone that is thrown into the air turns into a ship. This was done to maintain the action from the previous scene fluidly. It also keeps the audience intrigued if the match cut is done correctly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK4sZzoycOc

Star Wars is extremely known for using wipe transitions and one can be seen at the end of this clip. This transition is used to make it seem like the shot is wiped away to reveal the next. It is used for the sole purpose of grabbing the viewer's attention and nothing more.