The video shows me editing the offline edit. I struggled to editing this and meet the codes and conventions. The audio needed rising in places because it was too low with the dialogue. Some shows needed cutting down go make the trailer flow more. To improve my piece I will look closer into the codes and conventions and make my trailer follow these closer so it fits the genre and medium.
P6: CARRY OUT POST-PRODUCTION PROCESSES TO EDIT THE AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIAL TO PRODUCE THE FINAL PRODUCT
The first thing I did in the editing process after importing all the footage from my camera was name all the clips I shot. With this and my rushes log I could pick which ones I wanted to use when editing. This is really useful because it makes sure you are getting the right videos and it helps the editing process go a lot faster.
Naming Clips
When looking for the music for my trailer i knew i wanted a calm song at the beginning that lifted near the end, exactly like my storyboard does. When i found my track, I put the music under the footage, I then started to cut up my shots to make it go with the music. This was key because I want it to grab the audiences attention. I had to add keyframes to the music track when Stevie and Andy were sat on the couch because the audio was quiet so i wanted to drop the volume so the audience can hear them. I also added key frames to Stevie's audio because sometimes she was quiet compared to Andrews. I also overlapped tracks so that it masked the change of tracks and so its not so abrupt when the audio starts and ends.
I chose this track because it started out slow like my trailer, making it sad and depressing. But throughout it starts to pick up which I think fits my Trailer perfectly as we start to see Andy and his true colours the music picks up. It also fits really nicely with the wild track and audio throughout and the cutting and editing emphasises the music more.
Background Music
Adding Keyframes to lower audio smoothly
Wild track
Audio from mics used on location
Wild track recorded on location
Adding Text
Audio from microphones
Text
In my final edit there is a lot of different pieces of text, i have done this because they are conventions of a trailer so for example reviews, actors names, production companies, narrative ect. I feel as if the text helps the audience know what is happening in the story so they understand why the character ran away. Text like "Just know you can't trust anyone" makes the audience feel involved in the story which makes them want to watch the full film
Montage scene
The way I edited the montage of shots near the end of the clip was done to bring the audience in and on the edge of their seat waiting for something to happen. All the shoots i had of andy and Stevie I compiled into a fast paced sequence to raise the suspense.
Wild Track
With the wild track i decided to have it playing under the first shot of Stevie walking to set the scene of it being outside, its calm, nothing bad is happening so it makes it seem hopeful. I didn't use the wild track again after the first scene because them audio from Stevie and Andy picked up some ambient sound and that audio sounded better together than my wild track piece did over the top.
Exporting
When exporting my trailer, I first go to file, share and master file. I chose Master File because it exports in high quality as well as then I can upload to youtube straight from the file. I changed the format to 'video and audio' and then selected the H.264 codec. I chose this format because it is compatible on all platforms. This format is also very small so it can be easily moved without it being too big for a usb.
M3: Justify the visual and audio effects used within the promo
Filters - I decided to not used any filter within my piece. This is mainly because I feel as if a filter was not necessary for my piece and would only make my production less realistic so I left it raw. This though add to the realism of the film and how it can show the harsh truth without a filter.
Lighting - In my piece I used mainly natural lighting that changed through the trailer to show the different emotions and set the scene visually. At the beginning where it shows Stevie walking alone, the light is quite bright showing hope that everything will be okay even when we see Andy for the first time its like and hopeful that maybe this guy will help Stevie find a place to stay. A the video progresses, you can see the light get visibly darker connoting that something has changed and that something bad is going to happen.
Beginning of trailer - Very bright
Middle of Trailer - Darker duller skies.
Camera shots
The long shot of the left was done to show the emptiness around her and how lonely she is now. I left the space to the left of her because it connotes that there should be someone there even though there isn't, emphasising her loneliness. The shot on the right is a slight high angle to connote that she is in a vulnerable area, this makes the audience nervous about whats going to happen. Also in this shot the camera is slightly facing more to Stevie so the audience focus more on her movement and how nervous she is emphasising the awkwardness.
Sound Effects, Music and Dialogue
Sound Effects
When recording the the film, I made sure to have silence on set so that I can record the audio from the piece as well like footsteps, breathing and movements. I used recorded foot steps from one shot to use on different shots. I added the footsteps sound effects to shots of Andy walking down the stairs as well as Stevie walking away from the camera. I enhanced the sound of Stevie moving her bag in the scene when they are sat on the sofa together to emphasise the nervousness of Stevie and the situation. The sound effects of the birds and wind was from a wild track I recorded on location, this adds to the realism of the genre and connotes they are outside.
Music
For my trailer I wanted music that was slow at the beginning then more intense as it progresses like the visuals do. I chose this track because it starts with slow piano that sets a sad tone that helps establish the mood of the trailer. As the music progresses and the drums start to come in it connotes danger and a change for the character and the audience start to think something is going to happen. The music helps set the visuals out more and give them more meaning. The music starts to pick up as we see Andy's true colours and what he's really out for. The ticking aspect of the song is almost like a timer for the character of Stevie to make a decision, does she go with this stranger or stay on her own. The timer could also be the timer of how long she has left to live. The cymbal sound in the music at the end of the drums rising is almost like the sound of everything ending and finishing which foreshadows the trailer ending as the audience are left asking the question is it all over.
Dialogue
The dialogue in my trailer was added to set the scene so the audience understand what is happening. It helps to set the tone of the film with the running away aspect and the stalker parts. The dialogue makes the audience believe that Andy is a nice guy through the things he says "Ive got a spare room in my place" which is the opposite for the visuals as we can see under what he is saying. The dialogue shows us what Stevie see where as the juxtaposition of the visuals shows us his true colours. Dialogue from Stevie connote how desperate she is and how much she needs help when she says "I haven't got any money" showing to the audience that she wants to get help but can not afford it. The dialogue for my piece was set to a script however in some parts the characters added in their own lines to make the story more realistic and in the moment. The pauses and the silence from the actors helps add to the awkwardness of the film and helps the audience feel more connected to the character of Stevie and the struggle she's going through.
Audience Feedback
Questions I asked my focus group: 0:00 - 0:30 - What type of music do you think will fit in the visuals? 0.34 - 0:50 - What type of transitions would be appropriate for the trailer? 1:00- 1:34 - Does the visuals represent the narrative? 1:35 - 1:55 - What trailer conventions are needed to be added? 2:00 - 2:20 - What diegetic sound from the offline edit should be kept or added 2:26 - 2:55 - What aspects of the trailer did you like? 3:00 - 3:29 - What improvements need to be added for the final edit?
Audience Feedback I showed my trailer to three groups of people and then gave them a sheet to fill out as a group about the trailer. Does this product Inform, Educate, Entertain or Sell
Group 1: Inform, Entertain and Sell Group 2: Inform, Entertain and Sell Group 3: Inform, Entertain and Sell
What impact does the visuals create?
Group 1:Feeling of unease and tension Group 2: They're good at setting the scene and the tone of the film Group 3: The visuals are good sequenced together, and feel sympathy for the homeless girl
What impact does the sound create?
Group 1: Creates an eerie feeling/atmosphere Group 2:The music keeps you interested and brings in the element of suspense Group 3:The sound/music creates a tense filled impact. The dialogue build tension and explains the narrative
What impact does the information shared create?
Group 1: Tells you it has won awards so more people have watched it Group 2: The trailer starts with saying that the film won an award which shows that it must be good Group 3: Informs about the story, the company logo, the credits and the awards won.
What is going on in this audio-visual?
Group 1: She has left home and is being stalked Group 2:I think it could be about the relationship between a girl and her stalker Group 3: A girl has been pushed away and now homeless, she finds herself in danger of a stalker
How would you develop it further?
Group 1: Closer background on girl, stalkers motive, more characters Group 2: Dialogue a bit louder, however still well heard Group 3:Make the dialogue a bit louder and maybe add filters
What did you like about it?
Group 1: Shots and transitions were good Group 2:The close ups are good at showing characters emotions Group 3: Editing, structure of the trailer, narrative
Feedback response
Looking back at my feedback from the audience on what they think I can improve on one thing I would change is the dialogue. I would make the dialogue louder so the audience can fully hear what is happening. The feasibility of doing this now could be quite tricky because the editing process is done and so going back and changing it would be difficult. Another thing I could change is the narrative, some of the audience believed that we didn't have enough backstory on the girl in the video so more character development would be necessary. This is not feasible because it will be hard to go back and rerecord scenes with my actors and getting more actors because it can be expensive and is too time consuming. Another way to help narrative is by adding more text explaining her past so the audience know however going back on editing will be difficult and take a lot of time.