How to Edit a Movie Scene
The scene has been shot and the footage has just been given to the editor. The director needs a copy of the scene by tomorrow and you have not been on-set at all to see what has happened. Follow this tutorial and you will know exactly what to do and what not to do when editing a film scene together.
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Instructions
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How to Edit a Movie Scene
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1
Capture all of the footage, being sure to label it by either the shot name/number, or something about each take to help you remember.
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2
Look at the scripted scene. If you have notes from the director, examine them, as well.
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3
Most scenes start by introducing the geography, consisting of where we are, who is there, and where they are in relation to the location. With this in mind, find the desired take of the master/wide shot and drag it into your timeline.
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4
Do not make a cut unless it feels natural or seamless. Just because you can does not mean you always should.
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5
As tension increases, gradually edit yourself closer to the characters. Starting with the wide shot, gradually progress into Close-Ups. When tension subsides, back out to the wide shot.
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6
Make sure that each cut corresponds. If the wide shot cuts to a medium shot of Character A, when we cut to Character B it has to be HIS medium shot or else it will look jarring.
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Be true to the emotion of the scene. Hectic scenes require lots of quick cuts whereas dramatic scenes generally require less cuts.
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