The Editing of Echo's
- Giovanni Peresson
- Dec 15, 2023
- 3 min read
By Giovanni Peresson 15/12/2023
Introduction:
I have reached the stage where I have rendered my final edit and I will be showcasing my creative process and reasoning behind the edit. Please note this is 1 month before the final deadline further changes may be made to the edit. It was during this process I put all the pieces and had my vision there Infront of me. I used various techniques, some from historical films but for the most part I simply did what felt right with what I had Infront of me.
I began the editing process by sorting out my footage and deciding which shots I would like to use and which to leave out. Due to an error on my half I didn't have my image stabilisation turned on in the camera which for the handheld shots I took they where too shaky to use. I then created a very rough treatment which is something I have done for another film I am currently editing and I this simple piece of preparation which doesn't take very much time but can highly influence the quality of the final edit.
I placed down my clips and in the order I was wanting them, as I wasn't really too worried about the length of the final film I simply then trimmed them down so that I was left with the sections of each clip that I wanted. The order changed over time and I jumbled them around whenever I felt like to clips would work together to add to the continuity. There was one shot that I really like but the camera shake was an issue so I worked around this by simply taking a still from the shot and extending to my desired length and added a slow pan as I believe every shot should have motion of some sort, weather its an object or figure moving or the camera itself which in this case it didn't so I added myself in post to create the illusion.
Now that I had the pace, continuity and structure I was looking for nailed down I began to work on the colour correction to get my footage's colours accurate and then began to work on the colour grading which was quite strong and made colours of the film much deeper and pronounced, giving it the "cinematic look". Along with the lighting the reflections and depth of the compositions where just how I wanted them to be. Although be it this part of the post production is generally meant to left until the very end I like to do it around this stage as it immerses me into what the final edit will look like and give me a better understanding.
Now I had my rough edit complete and using my treatment I could now really add the heart and soul to the piece using titles, effects and transitions. For now there is quite a basic title which looking at it now I may change although the fonts I do like as it first of all gives that unsettling emotion I wish to create and it also goes with the theme of art from the past.
I then began to work on the part the highlight shot of the entire film of the statue to the right with the other statue on the right and using various nested sequences alongside the crossfade pre-set in Adobe Premiere Pro. I done this in a couple places throughout but this one in particular I really liked how colour tones and style of two pieces contrast and brought together on the same frame while being two unique works. I added some transitions for the opening and closing shots then added a few zooms throughout where I thought it would be appropriate.
As for the sound design which I still have to complete but might not cover in the blog I aim to create a the same unsettling emotion and to really enhance it layering different tracks in a chaotic manner that will yet work together. I have had some ideas of using sounds that you would hear during the creation of the pieces such as brushes, saws, files, chisels, hand drill etc to highlight the handywork and skill that goes into the creation of the works.
In conclusion I have learned that throughout the process my ideas kept changing and I recogn in 6 months when I look back at the film I will still think "ah I should've" done this but you have to set and end at some point or another. Unlike traditional editing where you know exactly what you want and you are trying to construct a narrative with experimental filmmaking it feels as though the film evolves as you create much more rapidly and you constantly strive and try push these new ideas into your work.
This Blog has been written for educational purposes as part of CIN506 Experimental Film Week 11 Blog.
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