Skills Audit - Editing

During my last media lesson I learned the basic skills of how to use Final Cut Pro. I learned how to use many different tools. We did the BAIT Tutorial which basically allowed us to take different pieces of filming (taken in many different shots such as long shots, close ups and mid shots etc.) and put it all together in an order which we wanted. We first took notes on each clip and then tried to piece it all together like a puzzle.

We learned how to open up clips from the browser. We were taught how to use the in and out points and then drag it to the timeline. I was then taught to use the razor tool which allowed me to cut a clip so that it can be used in many different ways. The razor tool allowed me to cut a clip and then put it in two different places to make a shot reverse shot.

In my opinion this exercise was useful. I have used an similar program for GCSE (Adobe Premiere Pro CS4) which allows me to do the same things but it was a good opportunity for my group because it gives us all a chance to experience the program and understand a bit more.

Skills Audit - Editing

During our media lesson we used the BAIT tutorial to learn how to use the software Final Cut Pro. We learnt how open a clip from the browser and how to put in and out point to cut it into the time line which could be viewed on the canvas. We also learnt how to use the Razor Blade tool to cut videos on the timeline to help with smooth editing. Another technique we learnt edit by selecting a video and dragging the edges to shorten or lengthen the clips.

The image bellow illustrates this software use:

Skills audit-editing

During our media lesson we learnt how to use final cut pro - BAIT tutorial. We learnt how to open a clip from browser and put the in and out points, also how to drag the clips we were going to use to the timeline to build a sequence on the timeline. We also learnt how to use the razor cut tool which cuts the clip on the timeline and how to shorten them on the timeline.

Skills Audit-Editing

During our media lesson with bernard, we learned how to edit videos by using final cut pro. we were told to open a folder called BAIT which contained clips from an independent film. after that we were told to make notes about them so that we can put them together to make a rough cut. In the lesson, we learnt how to open a clip from the browser and put in in and out points and drag onto the the timeline. we also learnt how to use the razor tool - a tool which makes it easier to cut video clips where we wish to cut them and we also learnt how to build a sequence on the timeline.

In my opinion, i thought editing was quite complicated but very exciting. i enjoyed seeing the final product and seeing that my editing skills are quite good. Although i thoroughly enjoyed it, there were somethings that i found really hard to do such as making the clips that i've put together look continuous; put video clips together to make the scenes make sense.

How was suspense created in United 93?

- Images from 'United 93'


United 93 is a film about the events that took place on 11/0/2001. the story is mainly about why the plane (United Airlines Flight 93) never managed to reach it's destination (possibly Capitol).

United 93 had many moments of suspense. One of the moments I felt was very suspenseful was when the Terrorist (Ziad Jirrah) makes a call to somebody telling them he loves them. I found this very suspenseful because at first we don't know who he is calling but when we hear him tell the person he loves them we feel a slight relief that the call was not made to anyone else or that it is not a mobile bomb.
Another part that I though built up some supsense was when the Pilot tells the passengers that they can see New York city, at which makes Ziad Jirrah lean over and look at the Twin Towers. We then have another terrorist get up and walk to the front of the plane and we don't know what he's about to do. For a moment we think that he's going to go to the Cockpit but instead goes to the bathroom.

Although our teacher (Bernard) did tell me that the plane does crash in the end it didn't ruin the film for me, because I knew they would crash but the suspense in the film is what made the film so interesting to watch.

Thriller Sub- -Genres

Action Thriller :

Films such as:

- The Bourne Ultimatum

- Eagle eye

- Kill Bill Vol 1/2

- Mission Impossible

Horror thrillers :

Films such as :

- 13 ghosts

- 28 days later

- The Cell

- The Shinning

Political thrillers:

Films such as:

- Enemy of the state

- United 93

- Munich

- JFK

Crime thrillers:

Films such as:

- No country for old men

- the usual suspects

- sin city

Legal Thrillers:

Films such as:

- A time to kill

- A Few good men

- The pelican brief

Medical thrillers:

Films such as:

- Awake

- Coma

- The Andromeda Strain

Psychological thrillers:

Films such as:

- Transsiberian

- Donnie darko

- Unbreakable

- The man who knew too much

The one with which would be most inspiring for me would be political thrillers as they are usually based on real life events which I think keeps people on there seat as even though they might know what happens in the end for example in United 93 we knew they didn't survive, it was still interesting and kept us in suspense because if has more of an emotional effect on us as they are based on real events.

Photo Activity

In this media lesson we had to take image that are related to a list of word we were given, the ones we decided to choose were: Hang, Mysterious, City, Future, Claustrophobic and Passion. The images can be seen bellow. The word we chose for this image was hang, Showing three friends talking together ("hanging")
This image shows passion, as the linking of the arms and closeness shows love and passion.
The pillars in-circle the male, relating to the idea of being claustrophobic.
With this image, we used the word hang again but in its literal mean, as it shows a female hanging on a pillar.




We used this image of CCTV, to show paranoia, as it shows total awareness of a surrounding, and who is where.

This image relates to word mysterious, long hallway effect has a huge impact with a darkened figure at the end.

This image shows a part of the city of London, but it can also be interpreted as the word future because the foreground shows construction side whereas the background show images of towers and iconic buildings.

Photo activity

In the lesson we were given a list of words to pick from and we had to create the mood of these words through our pictures. The words we picked were, Claustrophobic, paranoia, Mysterious, city,hang and passion, these words are represented in the pictures below.

This Photo Shows the city.
This picture of different CCTV cameras is showing paranoia

This couple shows passion.

this photo shows friends 'hanging' around.

this photo is for claustrophobic, it shows someone on there own in a small space.

This photo again shows 'hang' but instead of friends hanging around its of someone hanging off a wall scared.

The photo below is for mysterious, a long corridor with a mysterious dark shape at the end.

AS Media Photo Activity

During our Media lessons we were put in to groups. I was assigned with Megan, Kozan and Irene.

We were given words that we had to choose from and were asked to show examples of the chosen words through photo we had taken.

The photo's we took are shown below:

This photo shows a group of friends hanging around laughing.

This photo is an example of passion.

In this photo Kozan is showing us an example of claustrophobia. He is shown in an enclosed space.

This photo also represents hang but in a different way. In this photo Irene is hanging off a building.

The CCTV camera's are showing paranoia.

This photo is showing the city. This can also be seen as future as the construction sites show us that something is to be built there.

This picture below represents mysterious. It shows a person (Kozan) standing in an long corridor.

AS Media Photo Activity

During our media lesson, we established that even simple images can evoke a variety of different moods and feelings. Upon discovering this, we were put into groups of four and were told to take photos of 6 words from the list that was given to us. the words that we picked were: mysterious, city, hang, happiness, claustrophobic and paranoia.

These are the pictures that we've taken:

Hang #1
this picture shows a group of friends 'hanging' together

Hang #2
this picture depicts what i think hang is. this picture is a picture of me hanging from a wall

Passion

Claustrophobic

UNITED 93: Techniques used to create suspence

Bellow is a trailer of the film 'United 93' created by Working Titles. After watching it in class we were asked to summarise what techniques the film; 'United 93' created a feeling of suspense.

At the beginning of the film, it shows the terrorist preparing their hijack mission, the used numerous of cuts and words of the Qur'an to suggest to the audience that something were to happen.

During the film they used countless comparison cuts, a scene would show the atmosphere of the military and the airport control, which are all stressed and worrying conditions, then the scene would cut to the airplane flight, which are all oblivious to terrorist attacks and it a question of when will the terrorist on board would takeover to the audience.

Above are images of the moments after the hijack has taken place, another technique is also used in the style of sound. You have the passengers who are whispering, crying and planning a takeover also, whereas you have the terrorists, are mostly silent, and we have numerous close-ups of what seems to be the leader of the terrorist group, who seems unsure that he wants to carry out his mission. Furthermore, when the passengers try to fight back, a speedy beating music is played, creating more suspense as gives the audience a sense of urgency for them to succeed.

How is suspene created in the film you watched in class?

In class we watched the film United 93 which is based on the 9/11 attacks. Suspense was created through the editing as they would cut from one scene to another at various times to keep to you on edge of each scene. Also at the start of the film as the camera showed us New York City there was a voice over from the terrorist which kept us wondering what was going to happen in the film. As well as that before the terrorist hijacked the plane they looked uncertain about doing it and kept us waiting which kept us on edge in suspense about what would happen.

Definition Of Suspense

Suspense creates tension for the audience. It leaves the audience feeling uncertain about what may happen or when something may happen even though they know eventually something will happen. It leaves the audience hanging uncomfortably for each second. It builds up all sort of feelings. Once the suspense has passed it usually leaves the audience feeling happy that it is over yet wanting more.





This picture shows suspense because we do not
know what is at the other end of the corridor

Definitions of suspense

Creates Tension

Keeps you on edge

Gives you a thrill

Creates anxiety

Leaves you feeling uncertain about what may happen

Definitions of Suspense

Suspense is an anticipated event that occurs usually in thriller movies or shows. This can include ambient, orchestral music with general close ups and the idea of a "false plateau.: