1 00:00:05,332 --> 00:00:07,163 My Name is David Burns 2 00:00:07,163 --> 00:00:10,954 I am a professional videographer, editor and media production professor. 3 00:00:10,954 --> 00:00:15,749 In a previous tutorial we discussed how to shoot a visual sequence to use in a story. 4 00:00:15,749 --> 00:00:21,124 In this tutorial we will discuss how to edit these sequences into an effective storyline. 5 00:00:21,124 --> 00:00:26,410 The effective use of basic sequencing of visual clips is a foundation for good story-telling. 6 00:00:26,410 --> 00:00:28,835 Sequences condense time. 7 00:00:28,835 --> 00:00:31,836 Maintain the viewer interest by providing a variety of shots. 8 00:00:31,836 --> 00:00:35,646 and they provide context and detail for advancing the story. 9 00:00:35,646 --> 00:00:39,829 I like to think of a single visual shot as a complete sentence or thought 10 00:00:39,829 --> 00:00:42,949 and a series of shots as a paragraph. 11 00:00:42,949 --> 00:00:46,553 Effective visual editing uses wide shots, medium shots 12 00:00:46,553 --> 00:00:49,409 and close ups to weave a coherence story-line 13 00:00:49,409 --> 00:00:54,331 The human brain prefers to process images first by taking a wide vista, 14 00:00:54,331 --> 00:00:57,918 then, segmenting that wide shots into smaller areas of interest 15 00:00:57,918 --> 00:01:01,750 and lastly by examining the details in the scene. 16 00:01:01,750 --> 00:01:05,252 Alfred Hitchcock, the well-known producer of many psychological thrillers 17 00:01:05,252 --> 00:01:10,680 often started a scene with a close up or extreme close up 18 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,435 to initially confuse the viewer 19 00:01:14,435 --> 00:01:15,848 and to start an internal dialogue in the viewer's mind, 20 00:01:15,848 --> 00:01:17,607 what's happening? why I am seeing this? 21 00:01:17,607 --> 00:01:20,727 This is an effective way to capture the viewer attention, 22 00:01:20,727 --> 00:01:25,086 but since it involves disrupting a natural human need, 23 00:01:25,086 --> 00:01:27,000 the need for context and meaning, 24 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,580 it also means the viewer will not be listening to other messages 25 00:01:29,580 --> 00:01:32,831 you might be conveying to the viewer at the same time. 26 00:01:32,831 --> 00:01:36,530 So if your goal is to present context and information at the same time, 27 00:01:36,530 --> 00:01:40,917 stick with the traditional wide shot, medium shot and close up 28 00:01:40,917 --> 00:01:43,938 sequence to effectively convey meaning to your viewer. 29 00:01:43,938 --> 00:01:47,548 When editing a visual sequence keep the pace moving with a series of edits 30 00:01:47,548 --> 00:01:54,004 that use a variety of shots, various camera angles and many many close ups. 31 00:01:54,004 --> 00:01:57,228 Take several seconds to establish the scene with a wide shot, 32 00:01:57,228 --> 00:02:00,991 bring the viewer attention to a portion of the scene with a medium shot, 33 00:02:00,991 --> 00:02:04,595 then provide detail of the action using close up. 34 00:02:04,595 --> 00:02:07,235 The close up's are the key to good story telling, 35 00:02:07,235 --> 00:02:12,041 your story should have four to five times more close ups than wide shots or medium shots, 36 00:02:12,041 --> 00:02:17,169 when editing be very conscious of jump cuts, a disruption of continuity 37 00:02:17,169 --> 00:02:21,881 an action that confuses the viewer or violates the rule of time or logic. 38 00:02:21,881 --> 00:02:27,065 Close ups help avoid jump cuts since they only show a small portion of the overall scene 39 00:02:27,065 --> 00:02:31,058 jump cuts can be used effectively to purposely disorient the viewer. 40 00:02:31,058 --> 00:02:35,931 Here is an example, see how jump cuts disrupt continuity, and disorients the viewer. 41 00:02:35,931 --> 00:02:39,505 Editing visual sequences into your stories allows you to 42 00:02:39,505 --> 00:02:43,808 efficiently and effectively condense complex actions into a few shots 43 00:02:43,808 --> 00:02:48,075 and keeps the viewer's interest by presenting a variety of shots and angles, 44 00:02:48,075 --> 00:02:51,882 using visual sequences also allows you to satisfy 45 00:02:51,882 --> 00:02:56,275 or manipulate the viewer's human desire for context and detail. 46 00:02:56,275 --> 00:03:00,275 Good luck and have fun.