1. The editing process
Final Cut Pro

2. I started my editing on final cut pro and immediately
faced the issue of the voiceover taking more or less
time than desired to fit the clips at the beginning;
however this was quickly adapted by doing them again
and getting the person to talk in a slower manner so
that I could use them without really big pauses
between each, just enough to build tension. I then had
a play around with cutting the clips so that just the
desired amount was used in the actual trailer. For my
first editing session it was mainly just having a play
around with the software and getting used to what is
available and looking at my clips, many of which I have
now realised are too dark even though they looked a
good contrast on the camera, so I will have to make
sure that I can lighten these and make them visible for
the audience.

3. After I had all my clips ready I began to put them on Final Cut Pro’s
time line. My storyboard thoroughly helped me at this point as it
was simply the case of applying the clips where I had planned. This
worked well for the beginning as I knew roughly that I wanted the
beginning to last around 25 seconds and it lasted thirty because I
wanted a long enough pause between each voiceover. I finally had
the audio levels sorted for the voiceover, it was just a case of
making sure I cut it at the right points and then it was simply a case
of applying the sound to the clip. Here I noticed that the quality of
the candle lighting clip was not great and in fact was quite grainy. I
didn’t like this but after talking to some peers they said that it gave
it the old effect I kept talking about so I decided to leave it in. It also
contrasted well with the clip previous to it which is very sharp.
Grainy. Old effect.
Natural lighting
through flame and
slight colour
correction to show
consistency in
brightness.

4. After I had the beginning sorted I then began to place the
clips in for the quick moving part of the trailer. I played
each scene along how I imagined, following the story board
as much as possible. However when I was putting clips in,
there were parts where certain clips did not work (car
wheels going past) yet other clips did (actor sitting on wall
looking out over river) and it was trial and error through
what to put where. There were also natural clips that I put
in where the characters did not know I was recording
(smoking and clip before end of female actor). I was not
sure if I would like these when I come to the editing but
they actually worked quite well.
I followed the story board well up until just over half way
and then I added in a couple of unexpected clips that I
thought up on filming day and had to rearrange a couple
(chocking clip) to see what worked best where. I then
resumed the order I had decided toward the end with the
bottle smashing, knife dropping and tea party scene.

5. I then had to add the audio which I had already
decided to be Chase and Status ‘Machine Gun’
throughout all of the fast moving action and then
silence at the beginning and end. I edited certain
sections of the music so it peaked when the
action did (beat dropped again when knife held
to throat). I also edited certain sections so the
music stopped and diegetic sounds came through
before it started again (pool table clip, whistling
and smashing bottle). This was difficult as to
make sure this flowed with the music I had to
once again swap clips around where possible.

6. Enables diegetic sounds to
be the same volume and
the non diegetic sounds.
Changing the levels of the audio so that
it is consistent throughout or
louder/quieter when necessary such as
the music getting quieter when the
actor/tress speaks.

7. Finally I added transitions, typically using the
‘fade in fade out’ transition as decided on the
story board as it can effectively enable a clip
to effectively switch to another. I lowered the
duration of these fades to ensure that it was a
fast pace. I also added transitions into the
audio. I had a play around with lots of
different transitions but decided the simple
ones were most effective still.

8. Adapting duration of the
transition to ensure slower
or quicker movement to
build tension or action.
Each transition plays a
key role in linking two
clips together, this
particular one adds a
more mystical impact
This is the transition in
action; you can seethe
way in which it adds
impact and smoothness.

9. Once I had this sorted it was a case of finishing
touches such as the end title scene. To show
consistency I downloaded and installed the
font I used for the title on the poster and
magazine and then used a stylistic typical font
for a small cast and crew. I then added certain
small touches like ‘coming soon’ and the
national lottery logo. This was all quite simple
as it was just a case of applying the font and
positioning.

10. Iconic
consistent
font
Placed at the end to ensure
audience watches whole
trailer to be able to find out
more about it
Small cast and crew and only
‘coming soon’ not a date so that not
much is revealed as it is only a
teaser

11. I still thought something was missing and then
I realised that at the beginning and end when
the clip was silent apart from the diegetic
sound, I could hear slight crackling from the
audio and so to stop this I decided to put in
very quite slow music to give the two audio’s
and contrasting effect. I also added in the
green band to show a use of professionalism
and similarity to professional trailers.

13. I had to do a lot of colour correcting on my trailer as I
needed to consistent feel throughout and on my first
filming session it was a really sunny day and certain
scenes (punching clip, holding knife up to throat,
walking/running with briefcase) were far to bright. To
give a more eerie effect I had to reduce the saturation
and then drag the colour levels away from the blue and
then adapt the white balance. A couple of my clips
were also too dark which I did not realise while filming,
especially the drinking tea in chair clip which I actually
had to cut because of it, the note and fire clip and the
struggling on chair clip both of which I did manage to
adapt by making it a really low saturation so it actually
looked like it had been filmed in the dark or by simply
adjusting the brightness.