Creating a Draft

Editing Session Goals

While reviewing all final takes, it was time to edit them as concisely as possible with added effects discussed in pre-production to see where we were at with the film. There were two main goals I had as editor in making a draft; 1) Make transitions between scenes seamless and coherent and 2) Reduce the number of long takes meaningfully.

Scene 2, where Pam is seen snapping back into reality after watching a video of her best friend, is supposed to be followed by scene 3. This scene is when Pam throws her tissues in the trash can, so that the camera can focus on what is in the trash; papers with text on them and tissues, which is later clarified as the failed attempts at writing a eulogy speech that is seen finalized in scene 4.

During filming, I suggested we have Pam begin to throw the tissues out in scene 2 and 'finish' throwing them out in scene 3 so that I could edit the scenes together using continuity editing techniques that would make the sequence transition smooth. 

A match cut, also known as an action cut is used here with the shortening of scene 2, right before Pam's tissue gets dropped into the trash can, and continues off in scene 3, where the tissue is cut as it falls into the trash can. Trimming each take this way until they seemed to appear as though it is continued action helped to create a straight cut that smoothly transitions these scenes. Sound details have not yet been added in the video above!*

Picking up after scene 3, the eulogy speech is seen underneath the necklace in which Pam grabs to try on and is seen with it on in scene 4. The other takes needed to stay long so that details such as the laptop closing, tissues, eulogy, and necklace can be processed by the audience. After watching the progress of the film thus far, I felt as though there were too many long takes and my editing skills were not properly shown. I wanted there to be more duration variation in the film, as the scene of Pam looking at herself in the mirror appearing sad and lifeless was also a long take. 

Scene 5 of Pam in the mirror being cut jaggedly to different points of her contemplating how she looks in the same take. This breaks up the scene meaningfully as the repetitive and fast pacing of eye trace editing conveys the sense that she has been in this spot standing for a long time, feeling disorientated and unrestful.

Scene 5's choice of editing also engages audiences to focus on her facial expressions and the necklace she is playing with that was carried in from scene 4, as the same area is being shown over and over again. Using Water Murch's theory, I used the cutaway/flashback edit to reveal to the audience what has her so uncomfortable; reminiscing her friend even more. This segment is still in the works, but made me realize new scenes would be needed to complete it, such as replacing the flashback scene with memories of the two friends spending time with one another. 

Pre-Production Application

In pre-production, I heavily focused on learning editing basics and ensuring my understanding of our representation issue and narrative intentions so that I had a purposeful film to edit. Although I am not director, working with only one other person caused me to learn the skillset involved in her role as not just cinematographer, but director, as well as my positions as editor and sound designer. They all work together and it has helped me take those lessons and implement them in the film during the editing process. The better the storyline and meaningful shots, the more I could edit in the film to have a range of takes to flip to and from so that our story could be effectively told — I noticed how much this paid off significantly when creating the film draft, as it was an easy process to make overall.

As an example, adding input during production of doing a close up of the trash can with continuous motion, aided me in editing. I also insisted on certain scenes, such as the mirror scene of Pam, to be repeated with different actress movements and expressions in order to sift through them and have different reactions to utilize in the cutaway editing style. Additionally, becoming familiar with editing technique terminology and theories, such as Walter Murch's theory of six and impact of editing styles, assisted me in choosing what kind of edit would best contribute to the film's vision and content of each individual scene.