WK3 EX Train Scene

Robin is talking about how we don’t do enough work He is right. Note to self, do some work.

We started class in WK4 Tute1 by viewing everyone’s edits of last weeks exercise. Its interesting how different the edits are, even those of the same group who used the same footage. Everyone has different ideas on how a scene should be covered and no one idea right or wrong, although some are more aesthetically pleasing then others.

I wasn’t in attendance last week as I was sick. So editing the exercise was interesting for me. I felt an actual editor who had nothing to do with the production of the film.  I enjoy editing, so it was a nice change to simply edit something that had already been shot for me. I found myself acting like the typical editor and wishing there was more coverage so I have more freedom in cutting the piece together. From editors perspective more coverage is always better, but for the DP they don’t want to waste time shooting things that they don’t need.

There wasn’t much coverage for the beginning of the scene so I decided to use a long take that establishes the scene and lingers right up until the man asks for the handkerchief. I think this actually worked well as it conveys that silence of two strangers on public transport and then leads into the dialogue. This shot particular has too much head space although it could look good if it was actually shot on an old train as it would display the cabin and any interesting detail. I decided to cut on the action in this scene as the movement distracts the viewer from the cut itself. The cut from the two shot to the close up emphasise the care the man is taking with the handkerchief and details the womans face. I finished the scene by cutting between profiled close-ups of the two looking at each other to create some tension and possibility of romance, followed by a two shot of them looking into each others eyes. I believe my editing of this scene succeeded in assisting a connection between the two characters. In hindsight I would have made the last three shots (of the two looking at each other) linger a little longer and not cutting reasonably quickly between.