Film Editing Project by Sean Rumbaugh

 Personal Video: Film Editing Project

Personal Reflection: During the process of our film editing project, I have learned many new, exciting and challenging things. These challenges range from trying to get the right camera angle to breaking down the clip itself and transforming it into something new with a unique spin on a classic editing style. The project was not a very long process with it only taking around an hour and a half to film and an hour to edit however the process was incredibly tedious and repetitive in some aspects. While filming some things that contributed to length of the process was finding the correct lighting and angles while also trying to get the clip to sync up as well as possible with the following clip for instance, in our dissolve transition, we had to take multiple takes to create the perfect amount of black space in between each clip. On top of this, editing each of the scenes required time to figure out that way we could make the transitions as seamless as possible. Despite the tedious process of filming and editing I was able to learn many new things like how to create side by side parallel editing as well as using some of the different transitions that were entirely new to me. The filming part was not entirely new to me however editing was, which led to a few issues however me and Chase my partner were able to overcome the challenges and finish the project without complications. Within the project I played a few different roles that range from acting in the clips, filming the clips and editing the clips. My role was crucial to the success of the project because of how much I did however the same applies for my partner because we each put in the same amount of effort. Overall the project was not without complications and hard work but most importantly it was a new opportunity to try things I have never done before in the aspect of film.

Jump Cut Example: Hot Fuzz Jumpcut Train clip

Within the 1-minute clip a variety of jump cuts are used to place the man in the clip in all kinds of different places inside of the same setting. The start of the clip starts out with a jump cut from him inside of his house to the side of the street and then a taxi and in multiple different spots on a train, all though each clip is in the same setting every cut shows us a different point of time in the day for the character. After each cut we are shown the varying expressions of the man as well as the changing background, by doing this we are given the realization that something is going wrong in this mans life due to the shifts around but lack of a real change. The clip uses each jump cuts to help build the feeling of solitude and gloom that is given with other individual aspects.

Flashback Example: Top Gun Maverick (2022) GOOSE FLASHBACK Scene (Full HD)

To start the clip off we are given an isolated shot of a man who seemingly just got thrown out of a bar or club but accepts the fact and begins to walk off but he then stops when he hears a familiar song coming from inside of the bar. After this we are a given a look inside the bar where we are shown another man playing the song surrounded by friends singing along this is important for the clip because it creates an uplifting environment for the flashback to occur. After seeing the man on the piano we are given the flashback to the original man and his friend playing the same song and laughing. This flashback creates an uplifting yet bitter moment for the original man as he reminisces on what used to be. Adding onto this the flashback helps to create a contrasting feeling by stopping the emotional score we are given in the beginning of the clip.

Freeze Frame Example: Freeze-frame: The Big Short

This scene starts of with a conversation of two men in suits and ties discussing business of some sort with a voice over/narration in the background explaining the severity of the situation. As both men are chatting and the conversation comes to a close one of the men becomes shocked and overwhelmed visibly and that is where the freeze frame occurs, this freeze frame is set in place to build onto the importance yet danger of the conversation the men just had. During the clip just before the freeze frame occurs that's when the narration begins to come in which informs the audience that this has happened for a reason. Overall this freeze frame is used to show the severity of the situation that the man is in and does it by capturing emotion as the camera freezes.

Parallel Editing Example: Parallel Editing - The Silence of the Lambs

Inside of this clip we are straight away thrown into a sense of mystery and concern due to the unusual environment and interactions that are occurring with the man inside of the house and the woman he has captured. After we are thrown into this sense of danger our suspicions are confirmed as police and gunman begin to set up outside what assume is the house the man is in. This goes on for a little bit as we cut back and forth between the man in the house and the police. Until eventually an undercover officer rings the doorbell which seemingly sets off an alarm in the house until the police raid it just to find the place empty and they are at the wrong house. It is revealed that there is another officer simultaneously at the correct house. This scene uses a lot of build up to make the audience feel a sense of comfort just for it to all crash down in the end reveal.

Dissolve example: Dissolve Example

This example of a dissolve transition is kept short but effective and gets right to the point. This is done by showing a group of men leaving a saloon where the clip then dissolves and shows us the same group of men in a different spot in a different point of time. This transition was used to show the audience that in between the fist clip and second clip time has elapsed without having to show any sort of evidence for it. Despite the clip being short it is effective and shows exactly what dissolve transitions can be used for.

Wipe Example: Deep Cover (1992) wipe transition

 This is a short yet great example of the wipe transition where we go from 1 scene in time to another while keeping it smooth. This is done by wiping the screen however keeping the outline of a passer by walking into the new scene to create a natural feeling. By doing this we are subtly but also abruptly introduced into an entire different setting and situation. The clip does not use any sort of crazy effects but still keeps the professional feeling of easing the viewer into a new scene which can often times be difficult.