AVID MEDIA COMPOSER

This is my first time using avid and I'm not liking cause everything is new to me. Change is good but it isn't fun. Before this I have been using Adobe Premiere Pro have taught myself how to use it. With avid its a bit different and I need the help to locate certain features. 

This is the rough outline of what avid looks like. You can customize it differently but this way is better. Its almost similar to Premiere Pro where you have your timeline, two windows for viewing the windows and folders (Bins) where you import files into. Importing files into avid can be time consuming but worth it because it doesn't render as it converts the files to an MXF format which is better to use. 

This is the smart tool you will be mostly using. Fromt he top you the main four tools you will use which are segment mode (lift/overwrite), segment mode (extract/splice), overwrite trim and ripple trim. I'm still playing around with them seeing what works well. 

AVID & EFFECTS

Below are some of the effects I have done in Avid.

Most of the shots we wanted to use had camera shake. This is the stabilising effect and It confused me at first but I got my head around it. It's not the best but does the job to reduce most of the camera shakes.

Fading in and out the audio was very important. It helped smoothen out the dialogue. I did a bit of key framing but mostly used this effect thought most of my clips. 

Some scenes were louder than the others and I used the DB meter to reduce the levels of the volume down or increase it. I could have used the volume but I preferre using this tool

COFFEE AND CIGARETTES

This is a funny comedy shot in a like a cafe with people drinking coffee. I really like the way its been cut and has given me a few tips of editing shot reverse shots.

• Always try to make it interesting. It might get boring so u must understand the performance of the actors ad cut in between the actions and show facial expressions.
• Don't cross the 180 degree rule 
• If breaking the 4th wall makes it interesting go ahead and do it but make sure it doesn't take the audience away from the story and environment they are in.
• consider your pace when cutting between your shots.

WATCHMEN FIGHT SCENE

Watchmen Opening Fight Scene

Fight scenes are sometimes hard to watch but this one is easy to digest because of the music used. Its like watching a ballet and the pace and rhythm of the music are mixed well with the fight scene. A good questions was asked, what would happen if there was a different song? would it have the same effect or would it create a different meaning.

APOCALYPSE NOW DOCUMENTARY

Editing documentaries is new to me. From watching Apocalypse No documentary, I was able to see the elements that Chris was explaining to us when he was looking through our rough cuts. These include:

• Having something to back up a fact or oppose it. Documentaries can be biased or are biased (debatable) but when ever a fact is mention its always necessary to have evidence to back it up.
• Have more contributors to a certain view point and from that draw your own opinion. I find this to be hard because It not clear to either present the directors views or my own views or the subject that's being filmed cause the story is about him. 
• Try to have rough plan from how you want if to start and finish

JAWS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW23RsUTb2Y

What I like in this scene is how they use the sound to represent the shark. As soon as you hear the beat, it signifies either the shark is near by or about to attack. They then use the sound to create tension and suspense.

Alfred Hitchcock explains the meanings of these two concepts. He mentions that Suspense is an emotional process experienced by the audiences and Tension is when you have audiences hooked by the information you have given them.

Spielberg creates this within the scene by giving us various information for example, the girl that screams as if she's being attacked but actually she's not, the boy who's separated from the rest of the flock and the young lad looking for his dog. All these elements hook the audience building up tension as we see the POV of the shark and then experiencing the shock at the end.

EDITING DOCUMENTARIES

Below are a some of the aspects to consider when editing a documentary:

Pace - This can be your editing style or the how the film flows. Pace in films can be used in various ways, fast for action scenes and slow for dramatical scenes. Knowing the importance helps you understand the pace.

Not scripted / not planned - Documentaries are not scripted like feature films. You have to try and create your own story from the footage you have. It is a non liner process.

Mood or emotion - Documentaries focus mainly on a subject and you have to establish that character and create an emotion that the audiences can relate to. Moments of truth tend have to a good effect and consider different ways of approaching this.

Manipulation - Sometimes you have to be careful with story. How much honest are you going to be and consider the moral ethics of the themes.

Order - Try to have an order (start, middle and end)

Multiple stories - Multiple stories can be made from one documentary. Try to find an interesting one to tell with the footage you have.

Director / editor contribution - Work with the director and another editor (if there are two editors).

Audio / video - Both audio and video are very important. Find interesting ways to combine the two. If you use voice overs, consider the images that go along with it.