POWER OF EDITING
power of editing
power of editing
POWER OF EDITING THESIS JOURNAL
PANIDA PETCHARA 56120500630 School of Architecture and Design King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi B.F.A. Bachelor Degree in Fine Art Communication Design Program Advisor : Teema Muekthong taaaaeto@gmail.com +66 97 002 2942
power of editing
CONTENT Abstract
07
Project Detail Introductory background 08 Research question 10 Aim of the project 11 Intellectual Framework 12 Methodology 14 Discovery
86
References
90
power of editing
abstract
ABSTRACT Editing is one of the most important part of filmmaking. It is the final process of completing meaning construction apart from screenplay and cinematography. Its power can manipulate the whole direction of film. Basically, every film contains and encodes some messages via the visual and sound that the viewers perceive. In order to understand how and why some scenes or the entire films are portrayed in the particular way, by that, observing, analyzing and critical thinking about film are essential. This project aims to conduct analytical research about film editing and cinematographic technique from the studied films in order to earn some details and explore variable terms then depict them through time-based medium.
06 - 07
introductory background
PROJECT DETAILS INTRODUCTORY BACKGROUND
The project began with my personal interest in
film editing and cinematographic techniques. I was fascinated in the camera movement from the film Birdman (2014). This film was genuinely outstanding in which the whole film was portrayed like a long take. I spotted that there are an amount of hidden cuts when the camera panned and tilted including some timelapse shots were used as transition shots to prolong the continuity and represented the time passing.
pan right to left
timelapse
power of editing
Birdman (2014)
introductory background
Each film editing and cinematographic technique that appeared in the film contained the meaning themselves and also influence the story. Film was composed of moving images and sound. Consequently, not only what appeared on the screen but the sound we heard during watching the film was also indicate our perception. Furthermore, the sound could hold some specific meaning and represent something. I continued observing and researching more about film editing and cinematographic techniques. Overall, the project was dealing with analytical research about film editing and cinematographic techniques. It’s challenging in the method of deconstruct the structure of film into the fragments in order to explore the variable terms then find the way to form some works.
08 - 09
research questions
PROJECT DETAILS RESEARCH QUESTIONS
I am fascinated by how the film was narrated and how it affected viewer’s perception. Therefore it leads me to question about the film editing and cinematographic techniques. / Why editing works ? / What is the meaning and significant of each film editing and cinematographic techniques ?
/ Why some scenes or the entire films are portrayed in the particular way ? / How could sound affect visual interpretation ? / How to form the work based on the terms which derive from the studied films ?
power of editing
aim of the project
PROJECT DETAILS AIMS OF THE PROJECT
This project aims to conduct analytical research about film editing and cinematographic techniques in order to explore variable terms and depict them through time-based medium.
10 - 11
intellectual framework
INTELLECTUAL FRAMEWORK “Lying, the telling of beautiful untrue things, is the proper aim of Art.” Oscar (1889). From this statement, I assumed that this was one of the reasons why a film, which was consider as a visual art form, was planned to exaggerated the truth. Edgar, Marland and Rawle (2015) stated about semiotics that the badge on the man’s shirt denoted that he was a sheriff. Moreover, the sound also held its own significance as well as an image did. Tasos (2016) also gave examples of implied meaning of sound that the sound of thunder could represent anger and the sound of breaking glass might indicate the end of relationship. I totally agree with them that the each shot and sound which appeared on film contain a sign and was designed to communicate. Inevitably, cinematographic and editing techniques contain their own meaning and communicate as well. Thompson and Bordwell (2015) claimed that the reason González Iñárritu, the director of Birdman (2014), chose long take shooting to portray the whole film as a continue shot was because he wanted viewer not only to understand and observe but to feel dramatic tension of the protagonist. I think it was effective using the long take in this case. Because the long take gave the feeling of continued tension and it could be justified as realism. Since there was no cut are visible in real life, we only see thing continually.
power of editing
intellectual framework
Likewise, the techniques match on action was generally used in film to keep the film smooth. It was the techniques that showing the action of the characters or objects in one shot then cut to the action in next shot (di erent angle) where the action continued. This technique was used in normal scene such as when character entering the door or even the dynamic scene like fight scene. Match on action worked well because our eyes would keep follow the motion so we would never notice the moment when the angle was shifted. Since match cut still move the story forward seamlessly. in addition, the symbols were used often in film. For example Fraley (2013) said that Hitchcock , the director of Psycho(1960) symbolize the shower drain as Marion’s eye, the shot of diluted blood and water was swirling to the shower drain dissolved to the shot of Marion’s dead eye, I think it meant her life was draining to the death. Smith (2010) stated about clockwork orange (1971), in the brainwashing scene, the close-up shot of Alex’s eyes could symbolize the window through his soul and nature. In my point of view, the force of stretching his eye also showed that they want to control and change his life and thought. The research could prove that the meaning can be created and communicated through the cinematographic technique and film editing. Besides, the meaning construction could be more complex by making use of the interaction between the following shots.
12 - 13
methodology
METHODOLOGY In the early stage, I deconstruct the film by making the contradictory versions of the original films which contrast to the mood and genre of the original ones. By using the editing techniques that I have researched as a process of meaning construction. I explored different editing styles by createing three videos using main footages from the two famous movies ‘The shining’ (1980), a horror-drama film directed by Stanley Kubrick. and ‘Kill Bill’ (2003), an action film, directed by an inspiring director Quentin Tarantino. and summarize the keywords and editing techniques I’ve got from these videos.
power of editing
contradictory versions of films
methodology
1 I create a contradictory version of the shining. I edit the film to another mood which is comedy-thriller in order to deconstruct the structure of the original film and also prove that some scenes from this film could seen in another mood. The reason I choose this film is there are a plenty of stunning scenes. In my opinion, the film is open to interprete. By that, it’s a horror film which involved with the ghost and supernatural power. On other hand, it’s also make sense when the film was interpreted in psychology.
The shining (1980)
Keyword / Parody / Exaggerated / Funny / Frighten / Thrill / Twist / Narrative
14 - 15
methodology
contradictory versions of films
2 I Edited another contradictory version of the film ‘the shining’, The editing is based on the music background which is Thai old song ‘Nu mai yorm’ (I won’t let you do this) from Haruethai Hiranya then I select the footages from the film which match the song lyrics.
Keyword / Parody / Funny / Visual & Sound match / Relation / Paradox / Contradiction
The shining (1980)
power of editing
methodology
contradictory versions of films
3 I use footage of Kill Bill, an action thriller film, mixed with the sound background from the fifty shades darker trailer which is a romantic drama film. Kill bill is told in a non-linear way.
So I try to create another non-linear narrative by rearranging the footage and adding the sense of romantic drama with some dialogue and sexy soundtrack from fifty shades darker trailer.
Keyword / Summary / Rement / Narrative / Drama / Retrospect
Kill Bill (2003)
16 - 17
methodology
contradictory versions of films
pan right to left
pan left to right
timelapse Birdman (2014)
I ‘ve edited another five videos from ‘Birdman’ directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu). Birdman earned the arward Best picture, Best cinematographer, Best original screenplay and Best director. I really admire how the whole film was filmed like a single long take, since the director use long take to protray the mind state of the main character. The shooting and editing style make me curious and try to spot out the cut between two sequential shots.
4 This video shows the collection of hidden cut transition shots from this film. Most of transitions are using pan and tilt techniques. Some of them use timelapse. According to the repetition of huge amounts of same camera movement, the video can create the feeling of dizzy, anoying, irritation and also boring. Keyword / Continuity / Movement / Repetition / Hallucination / Irritation / Prolong the long take shot / Collection / Boring / Dizzy
power of editing
methodology
contradictory versions of films
wipe
Birdman (2014)
5 I found that Birdman has a lot of overshouler shots that the camera move around characters’ back and the wipe shots which imitate a camera pan such as a person walks pass horizontally. Then I use thetechnique match cutting to create the set of the same camera movement. Keyword / Wipe / Repetition / Dizzy / Continuity
match cut of backs move from left to right 18 - 19
contradictory versions of films
methodology
Birdman (2014)
6 For this video, it is the compilation of rude words from the emotional argument scences which are showed often in the film. I use fast cutting to imply the aggressive behavior and energy. Keyword / Aggressive / Argument / Emotional / Fast / Rhythm / Collection
power of editing
Birdman (2014)
7 I shorten the whole film from almost 2 hours into 5 minutes. I speed up every scenes but the imagination scenes of the main character. To emphasize those scenes and also shorten the time for other unwanted scenes
Keyword / Summary / Shorten / Fluctuate / Emphasize / Rhythm
20 - 21
methodology
I summarize the keywords that derived from all the works that I created then select and depict three of them.
power of editing
AGGRESSIVE
expand & depict the terms
8
irritation
PARODY
9
10
methodology
The video containing footage of volcano eruption, ash, an anxious man, dropping liquid from syringe and a man going down by escalator to represent the state of exploding, down, and desperation which happened because of pressure. Eventually, it cause disaster.
Keyword / Human - Nature / Disaster / Violent
A video showing myself drawing line and circle repeatedly. The act of drawing straight line and circle is one method of practice meditation because the one who draw need to pay attention to the line. But I thought it’s hard to focus and doing two things repeatedly at the same time. My right hand is drawing the circle and the other hand is pressing the flash button rhythmically. I use fast cutting to edit these two footages simultaneously to give annoying visual. I also speed up and down the sound and mix them to create uncomfortable sound.
I decided to create the work by mimicing walking gesture of Sol (from Thai series ‘I love you I hate you) and Salt Bae’s cooking gesture which is the popular memes at that time. The character is walking like Sol through the hallway. When she is in the bathroom, she applies her powder on her face with Salt Bae posture. Adding Nature gift soundtrack as background song to support the story more humorous.
Keyword / Disturbance / Distraction / Repetition
walking gesture of Sol
Keyword / Exaggeration / Self-glorification / Humour / Imitate
Salt Bae’s cooking gesture 22 - 23
expand & depict the terms
methodology
After that, I looked back to the collected keywords and depict some of them.
11 IRRITATION Visual and sound of no signal TV is one of the most common thing that cause irritation. Mostly, people will change the channel, turn volume down or turn TV off. Then I try to make this irritating TV no signal effect more fun by animating the bar tone based on the rhythm of song background.
power of editing
Keyword / Enjoyable Annoyance / Animated / Contradiction / Disturbance
methodology
12 DISTRACTION The dialogue ‘Look at this !’ existed in one of my previous work which using the footage of the film Birdman. I think this dialogue is interesting because it can get people attention. Consequently, I use pointing hand which is the symbol for indicate the direction. I wonder if the viewers are going to look at the hand or the area that the hand pointing to.
And what if the area that hand’s pointing is nothing but empty. Is it going to cause upset or disappointment?
Keyword / Deceive / Expectation / Direction / Convince / Forced / Boundary
24 - 25
expand & depict the terms
13 DIZZY Tunnel is a place where was occupied by the dark and stuffy atmosphere. It’s passageway and in between place. Some has a long distance between two exits. The longer distance is the more uncomfortable I can experience. However, there is always light at the its end. The passing tunnel can symbolize rebirth, coming of age, pass through hard time. In this video I depict the stage of facing hard time and has a lot of distraction. I separate the screen into three parts and loop a single video to prolong the feeling of uncomfortable and dizzy.
Keyword / Dizzy / Uncomfortable / Wobbly / Wavy / Quake
power of editing
expand & depict the terms
methodology
14 CONTINUITY The timeline of transportation. Train is the oldest one and moving slowly. Next invention is plane which transport fast and wasting less time. The recent one is BTS which was used in short distance. I adjust speed and use sound cutting to make the video smooth.
Keyword / Linear / Continuity / Sequential / Transport
15 CONTRADICTION Intention - Coincidence Destiny - Accident Natural - Supernatural Free will - Dictation Believe - Fact These contradictory words exists in the idea and perspective of people through Fortune sticks. People who draw the fortune sticks might believe that a god choosing a particular stick for them while it could be the possibility, coincidence or their own hands that indicate the fortune stick. Besides, The prediction in fortune paper might be reliable or not. It depends on their mind, what they choose to believe.
I separated the screen into two. The left side showing the fortune paper with different number from different places. The right side showing the movement of the fortune sticks that leave the traces inside of the cylinder every single time I shake. Placing these two together is like you are the drawing the fortune sticks, when you can pause this is like when you shake the cylinder and a fortune stick drops out. And your prediction is on the fortune paper that you got.
Keyword / Coincidence / Movement / Co-exist
26 - 27
Afterward, I selected some of the terms in order to find the films or some scenes in the film which related to the terms that I’ve gathered.
power of editing
FILM
methodology
film analysis / exaggeration / the great gatsby
methodology
/ EXAGGERATION
The Great Gatsby 2013 Directed By Baz Luhrmann.
ANALYSIS
Jay Gatsby, a protagonist, a fabulously wealthy who used to be an old solider. He is getting rich from the illegal stuff. Everybody know him as a millionaire who is always having lavish parties at his place. But no one is invited. The purpose of having party is just to impress and waiting for his old lover, Daisy, to join. Satire of American dream. Worship money, richness, love, social status, appearance. Daisy married to a rich man because of his money. So Jay struggled to be rich and want her back.
Gatsby’s yellow car and Daisy’s golden-haired and dress represnt wealthy
Blue means sad, loyalty, calm, death. For example, in death scene of gatsby, there is blue pool and sunbed chair.
28 - 29
A clockwork orange 1971
Directed By Stanley Kubrick. Based on Anthony Burgess’s 1962 novel A Clockwork Orange.
The futurist and dystopian film. Technologies keep growing while human and society tend to degenerate. The story is about the life of Alex, a young thug who have the interest in ultraviolence, rape and classical music. At first, he seems to have power over his gangs and victims, but later on, he was brainwashed and manipulated by the government. He was like the experimental machine and becomes nothing more than a thing. The openning scence taked place at milk bar. The camera is gradually dolly out showing Alex and his gang drinking milk. This scence is powerful and iconic. The bar is full of sexual imagery and the film continues this motif.Raising sex and violence as the social norm.
power of editing
methodology
film analysis / exaggeration / a clockwork orange
Milk symbolizes immaturity. It is the food to nourish infant and youth. Likewise, the arbitrary, childish behavior of the protagonist. However, a bottle of milk is used as a weapon for his betrayed friend to beat Alex
Four naked men sculptures (representing Alex and his gangs) stand under the sensual naked women painting means they are the slave of lust.
Low angle showing how powerful Alex is
Irony Using torture and violence to cure violent behavior Close up shot of the eyes also symbolize the window of his mind that the government tries to invade and take control.
30 - 31
methodology
film analysis / continuity / birdman
/ CONTINUITY
BIRDMAN 2014 Written and Directed By ALEJANDRO GONZÁLEZ IÑÁRRITU.
Birdman is genuinely outstanding in the way the whole film was filmed like the long shot take. Vast majority of the viewers are not going to notice the cuts between the scenes which exist, mostly when the camera pans and tilts, dolly to the dark, the freezing frame or timelapse. These techniques help prolonging the long take shot and make the film so smooth. In my opinion, the reason that the film looks like one long shot because it can represent the mind stage and make viewer absorb the pressure of the protagonist, Rigan, who has psychological disorder. He hears the voice of Birdman convincing him to return to superhero movies and give up this broadway drama. He always has the hallucinations and think that he has supernatural and telekinetic power. For example he can smash flower pots, furniture, and light bulbs with the wave of a hand. Moreover, He thought he can fly like a bird but the film expose the reality by showing a scene of a cab driver pursues him for paying his fare after he lands. The long take shot ties us to real time. On the other hand, It could represent the dream stage. Long take stimulate us to understand and feel what Riggan who the film stay with the most. He is obsessing with his thought and reputation, the long take could encourage the viewer to see the chaos and continuous complexity he faces.
hidden cut - pan left to right
The protsgonist thought he can fly. In fact, he took taxi because the driver asked for the fair.
power of editing
film analysis / continuity / birdman
methodology
The long take shot ties us to real time. On the other hand, It could represent the dream stage. Long take stimulate us to understand and feel what Riggan who the film stay with the most. He is obsessing with his thought and reputation, the long take could encourage the viewer to see the chaos and continuous complexity he faces.
“To really not only understand and observe, but to feel, we have to be inside him. The one shot was the only way to do that.” said, GONZÁLEZ IÑÁRRITU, director
I thought the continuous take would serve the dramatic tension and put the audience in this guy’s shoes in a radical way. said, Lubezki, director of photography
The text in the bottom right said, A thing is a thing, not what is said of that thing This can related to the how Riggan thinks of himself.
There is the relation between the first and last scene. Sam probably see her dad death by his intention. He commits suicide, he is done with his life and goes to somewhere else.
32 - 33
film analysis / continuity / boyhood
methodology
BOYHOOD 2014 Written and Directed By Richard Linklater. One of the most authentic coming of age film that take about 12 years to film with the same of set casts. It followe the protagonist from the age of six to eighteen. And this would be the film that take the longest time of producing that I’ve ever seen. The film has shorten 12 years into 3 hours. The story were told through the eyes of Mason. I’m really impressive and would love to see how the characters really grow up. The film is very spontaneous and reveal the America social and family problems such as how the kids grows up in divorced family. However, the film deals with the changing of the times, seeing people growing up, trend chaning sush as ipod is replacing CD player. And tends to raised the important of time, by using this long term process and also the message of the film. Boyhood is only once in your life. At the age six to eighteen, I thought the film just wanted you to go back and revise what happened there.
power of editing
film analysis / irritation / the diving bell and butterfly
methodology
/ IRRITATION
The diving bell and the butterfly 2007 Directed By Julian Schnabel. Screenplay Written by Ronald Harwood. Based on true story and book Written by Jean-Dominique Bauby. Jean-Dominique Bauby, a potagonist, is a successful editor. The big turning point is he becomes paralyzed. Only his left eye isn’t paralyzed. He can’t speak and doesn’t any activity anymoe. The only way to communicate is through rolling and wink hie eye. Most of the visual in the film is POV shot of him. And mostly it’s the still frames which has fixed length and position. The angle of visual is rely on how he leans his head. I decided to stop pitying myself. Other than my eye, two things aren’t paralyzed, my imagination and my memory. said, Jean-Dominique Bauby.
The title is like the feeling of him, uncomfortable and irritated like wearing the diving bell in deep ocean but his thought and memory still alive.
34 - 35
methodology
film analysis / irritation / tribe
THE TRIBE 2004
Written and Directed By Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy.
In my opinion ‘tribe’ could represent the community of deaf, which live and spend most of their times and activities together in broading school. the film that has no sound of people talking and no subtitle. The only sound we can hear is the ambient of each scene which might be overlooked or not impact if the movie has dialogue. We can guess and understand the story or the message they want to give by the action, hand gesture and facial expression. What I have observed about this film is that they used a lot of freezing scenes , long shot and also the tracking shots. From these techniques, I feel exhausted sometimes. It makes me feel like I was the part of the film trying to find or search for something. It also makes me feel like there must be something happening. In this film there aren’t a lot of close up shot, even focus on hand gesture to tell what they are talking, even the person who know hand language could hardly see what they want to say. I think it’s the same reason why they don’t even put subtitle, the director doesn’t want limit the imagination of the audience. I think most of the point of view in this film is not from the main character but it is from our point of view, like we are people who watch everything happens. After the movie end, I just wonder the names of actors. Because of no sound, so audience can’t even know how they call other. And I just wonder how deaf talk about the third person who are not standing in front of them. This film is very different from other films. They tell the story to represent deaf people in the different way. They represent them as normal people, although they were doing bad things, which we would never see this kind of thing much when we think about deaf people. They represent that they have normal teenagers gangster life. Go for a night out, drinking, having sex, etc. It seems like they created their own world. There were very rare times when they attract to normal people, not the deaf. I also feel that these people tend to follow their instinct more than normal people.
power of editing
film analysis / irritation / tribe
methodology
My favourite scenes are the scene that truck hits deaf man scene and also the last scene that the deaf man murders the men who bully him while he is sleeping. From the normal people point, if we notices sound of car or the crashing object when we sleep, we should walk a way from that area or wake up. It’s quite simply but not in the case of deaf who can’t hear those sound. It makes me annoyed and feel pity for them. What interest me is how the film make use of the limitation of deaf people. And theses two scenes becomes tragedy comedy for me.
The posters obviously communicate that this movie is the story of deaf by adding hand launguage on them. Blue and Gray are used as the main colors, these two color represent the quiet, sadness,loneliness, negativity, bored,depression, isolated, violence and moody which is also the mood and tone of the entire movie. The tone of color in movie is blue, not vivid and the movie give feelings of empathy for main character’s isolation and alienation. The poster also focuses on sexuality and lust by using two naked couple in sex position.
36 - 37
methodology
film analysis / irritation / the human centipede 2
The Human Centipede 2 2011 Written and Directed By Tom Six.
This is one of the most disgusting I have ever seen. Probably it deals with the issue and body of human, so people can feel this disgusting gesture clearly. Martin, the mentally disturbed protagonist who intends to create the 12-person centipede. He sew one’s mouth to another ass. Forcing the first person to take purgative to stimulates evacuation of the bowels. Consequently, the feces could transfer from person to another. The function of mouth is to eat food not feces. And normal person are not going to poop on one’s mouth. Martin is pleased with the disgusting thing. Besides the disgusting, this film could metaphor to the vicious cycle in which it is a chains of situation which strengthen themselves through a result loop, and the problem of social status. The rich people always be and get priority do not have their mouth sewn with one’s ass. They can choose what to consume. While poor people has to deal with what the rich leave them.
power of editing
film analysis / irritation / chungking express
methodology
CHUNGKING EXPRESS 1994 Written and Directed By Wong Kar-wai.
The film begins with the scenery of Hongkong street which is very chaos and crowd. Zhiwu, a cop badge number 223, is walking in Hongkong street. He is sad and depressed because he just broke up with his girlfriend. The film use low frame rate video in this scence to represent his feeling and mental stage and it looks jagged could create the visual disturbance. Also the place he’s walking through, the hustle and bustle of the big city. Each second is passing very slowly for him because he is in hard time. Suddenly, he saw the thief and he need to chase and arrest him. There are some POV shot showing his unclear point of view. He accidentally crash with a woman and he has a crush on her later on. She is wearing wig, sunglasses and overcoat all the time, no matter what weather is like. The film tell that she intends to keep the distance and protect herself from the others. One important reason should be she is a drug dealer. Overall what i’m impress is how the film expresses the sense of loneliness, confusion and uncomfortable through the low frame rate motion picture.
38 - 39
methodology
film analysis / irritation / fight club
Fight Club 1999 Written and Directed By David Fincher.
My first impression for this film began when I first noticed that there is a hidden image inserted quickly while the film is running. It got my intension and i’m keep thinking if there is a problem about the file or my internet in the first place. But after I saw the another images flashed up several time. I’m confident it was the intention of the film, not the coincidence. Eventually, the film reavel the reason of inserting the images of naked people and Tyler, a character in this film. It’s planned to support the behavior of Tyler. He is working as a projectionist at the cinema and he always insert the image into the film.
Fight Club talks about the desperate cry of the consumerist modern man for something to end his anxiety and push him to be better. After The main character (also narrator) lost his apartment and everything, he met Tyler who is the brave and has everything he want to be. The twist point is Tyler is not real, Tyler is a part of him. He does things that he is nerver brave enough to do when he is him, he doed it when he is Tyler. There are several hints about the twist point. For example, The first met of narrator and Tyler, They both have the sam suitcase. When the narrator makes a call to Tyler from a pubic phone and the phone rings back, the camera zooms into the handset and a sticker reading ‘No Incoming Calls Allowed’ is visible. That means he is talking to himself.
In the ending scene, there is a flash frame of male sexual organ, just like Tyler inserted into films at his job.
power of editing
film analysis / contradiction / mulholland drive
methodology
/ CONTRADICTION
Mulholland Drive 2001 Written and Directed By David Lynch.
The outstanding point of this film is the ambiguity. The film is divideded into two parts which supposed to be dream and reality. The first part begins with the car accident scene of Rita who lose her memory at Mulholland drive. Betty went to Hollywood and she was doing well with her career. Adam, the director likes her so much. During the casting she met the girl named Camila who is an actress by cheating. She met Rita at her aunt’s place. They try to seeking for the truth about who Rita is. While they are in restaurant, Rita saw the name tag of the waitress named Diane. She thought she could have this name as well. So they searched for Diane and what they found is a body in the house. They came back home and had sex. There is a money and blue key in Rita purse. Rita open a box with the key. This is end of part one. Everything seem to be too easy and happy in this part because it just the world that Betty make up.
Since the each part of film use the same actress but act different character, it could cause confusion and empowered the storyline. In each part, the props or shots were reused significantly. The film connected two part smoothly and wisely.
The second part is the reality portrays the ineffective life of Diane (Betty in first part) She is a unsuccessful actress who has a girlfriend named Camila (Rita at first part). Camila tries to stay away from her because she is going to marry a director, Adam. In stead of having sex, Diane has to masturbate. Diane is talking to a guy in the restaurant, she hired him to kill Camila. She saw a waitress named Betty. A guy told her that everything is done when she saw a blue key. She hallucinated and decided to commit suicide.
Three different person
40 - 41
methodology
film analysis / irritation / split
SPLIT 2016 Written and Directed By M. Night Shyamalan. Multiple personality disorder. Dissociative identity disorder (DID), more commonly known as split-personality disorder
Kevin Wendell Crumb has other distinct 22 personalities which is a neat guy named Dennis, a kind woman named Patricial, a 9 year-old boy named Hedwig, a designer Barry, Orwell, and Jade. Each personaility was identified by the look, costume and acting. Kevin become personality disorder since three years old. His mom hit him wit the hanger because he mess thing up. This is why a neat Dennis exists. How people were raised is very matter. A person in the past and the environment there affect him in present and future.
The broken are the more evolved Said by Denis
Dennis kidnapped three young girls. He released only one girl, Casey who was sexually abused by her uncle sine she was young. The scar on her body hints that she has had hard time and depression like him before. I guess he saw himself in her. He said she is different from her two friends who already were killed.
power of editing
expand and depict the terms
methodology
Then I made videos reflecting the film in relation to the selected the term.
16 This is the partial of my works, I got the terms ‘Exaggerated’ and I thought it could related to the film, A clockwork orange. It is futuristic and dystopian film. The film is about violence sexual harassment. This work, I make use of the symbolic about sex and violence to reflect the film, a clockword orange.
42 - 43
methodology
expand and depict the terms
17 I record timelapse video of landscape to depict the term ‘continuity’ in relation to the film boyhood that took 12 years in production process.
power of editing
methodology
expand and depict the terms
18 5x zooming in the video in order to create the feeling of disturbance. Based on the studied film ‘The diving bell and the butterfly’ that show POV shot of the main character who is dealing with the paralyzed. Only his left eye still works like usal. So his eyesight is like fixed lense which cannot adjust the focal length. By that, it could create the visual ‘disturabance’ to him by percieving the same freeze frame for long time without doing anything.
After that, I decide to observe the behavior of a person who has a problem with the eyesight; shortsighted. The interesting point is that a shortsighted person has her own method that help her to see clearer by looking very close and pulling eye lid.
44 - 45
power of editing
methodology
diagram
CONTI NUITY
DISTUR-
BANCE
EXAGGERATION
48 - 49
first storyboard
methodology
Refer to my collected terms, I found the connection between the terms ‘continuity’, ‘disturbance’ and ‘exaggeration’ By that, The main purpose of film editing is to narrate the flow story and make the viewer engaged in story, This showed how important of ‘continuity’. But what if the film is lack of continuity. It could create the ‘disturbance’. Having the overused of disturbed shots and scenes, I think it could give the sense of ‘exaggeration’
power of editing
first storyboard
methodology
THE FIRST STORYBOARD
I intended to depict those three terms through three chapters of short film which could present the ironic perspective about mundane daily routine. According to those terms which is generally found in most of the film. So my first draft storyboard is about the general routine of a normal girl. The film is going to begin with the getting up scene and show the daily activitied in one day of that girl before go to bed in the end of the day. It’s the behavior of everybody in normal life, getting up from bed in the morning and go to bed in the night.
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FIRST PART / CONTINUITY
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first storyboard
first storyboard
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SECOND PART / DISTURBANCE
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first storyboard
first storyboard
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THIRD PART / EXAGGERATION
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first storyboard
first storyboard
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final storyboard
THE FINAL STORYBOARD Stil divided into three chapters and also depicts the same three term in ironic perspective The first chapter of film depict the term ‘continuity’ I intend to mimic about visual elements of Mise-en-scène. Making the shot discontinue to the following shot. The discontinuity could disturb the flow of watching film to the viewer which lead to the next chapter. The second chapter of film depict the term ‘disturbance’ I focus on the visual and editing to create the uncomfortable visual. The overuse of sequential (or same) disturbed shots could give the feeling of exaggeration. The final chapter of film depict the term ‘exaggeration’ I intend to emphasize the scene by using slow motion shot and the excited sound effect.
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SYNOPSIS
A forth year student, currently working on her project about film editing, spend most of the time in her house, getting bored with her mundane life until she found someone knocks her door and left a suitcase with the eyes inside which could evolves into something much more.
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final storyboard
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PROLOGUE
including the establish shot and some scenes that reveal the story
wide wide shot / from top angle showing a suitcase surrounded by the grass
Close up a dropping water on its surface
part 1
CONTINUITY I intend to change the props, visual elements and lighting (Mise-en-scène) between each shot Making the shot discontinue to the following shot.
Close up Title ‘ Part I ’ Alarm clock sound is continue ringing.
Close up shot of an alarm clock. Alarm clock sound is volumn up. greenscreen, gradually zoom in, change props
wide
wide She gets up and opens the curtain
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Insert some landscape view.
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PAGE 1
Close up Reflection of the suitcase in an eye
Close up A opening hand is begging for something. Alarm clock sound is gradually in.
change props
medium Alarm clock sound is volumn down a littie bit. A girl is lying in her bed. She changes the position and turns off alarm clock.
wide adding taking a bath sound ambient
wide Alarm clock sound is stop. She is lying on sofa and turns off the alarm clock.
wide Cut to her working space, a computer on her desk. The wall is full of movie poster.
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close up Cut to her working space, a computer on her desk. The wall is full of movie poster.
Cut to her working space, change of movie posters.
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medium Stare at computer screen
medium
close up
wide
medium Immediately leon on the chair, use sound cut
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PAGE 2
close up Eye pain. The camera is zooming in.
wide Cut to the working space. Change posters
medium
close up
close up
close up
Different kinds of fruit
Top view
Quickly open eye, top view, sound cut.
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final storyboard
change props
part 2 Creating uncomfortable visual by focusing in editing part
DISTURBANCE super close up Title ‘ Part II ’ Super close up shot of rambutan hair as the background
wide Slowly zoom out. A girl is staring at computer screen while eating fruit
medium pick it up
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Slowly zoom into her eye
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PAGE 3
wide Cut to her working space, change of movie posters.
close up POV shot of her seeing the editing programe
close up
close up
Eye drops bottle change to be binoculars
Cut to front
close up, medium, wide Try to open door knobs several time.
close up
Througn them away.
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medium
medium She open the door and found a suitcase.
Difficultly drags the suitcase into the house.
Close up
Close up An amout of bottles with eyes inside
Pick an eye up.
wide POV shot - two eye see differently. A dot is growing up.
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Close up Replace both eyes.
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PAGE 4
medium what its containing surprises her. This is the first shot showing her injured eye.
Open the suitcase.
Close up
Close up Open her eyes.
Replace it.
Close up Replace it. Her appearence is changing to Chinese girl
medium Eat some food with chopstick.
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Close up She replace the different eyes over again and again.
Close up She cracked an egg into a bowl.
Close up Everytime she is changing the eyes, her appearance changes. A dot is getting bigger.
Close up Slow motion. Egg is falling down
Close up
She replace the different again.
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medium
Notice someone in her house.
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PAGE 5
medium Everytime she is changing the eyes, her appearance changes. A dot is getting bigger.
Close up
Close up Take the eggs out of the fridge.
medium She replace the different again.
See eat some food.
medium
He comes closer and begs for something. But he said nothing.
wide
She run. A dot is getting bigger.
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medium
medium
She takes eye drops bottle out from her pocket
medium
Close up A guy is gradually dis appear
Tear is running out
part 3
EXAGGERATION Exaggerated visual and sound by using slow motion and excited sound.
Close up Title ‘ Part II ’
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Dissolve. She can’t sleep. Laying on the bed. A dot is appearing again.
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PAGE 6
medium Drop on her eye.
Close up A dot is slowly vanishing.
medium
wide She goes to bed
A guy is gradually dis appear
wide Counting sheep.
wide That guy is chasing the sheep.
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wide She flinchs. That guy is standing behind her bed
wide She runs + Excited song.
medium Falling coins
Cut to his angry face
wide Cut to a shot that she is in the suitcase
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Close up
wide A suitcase in tall grass (first shot)
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PAGE 7
wide Slip.
His POV.
medium He taking her eye out
medium
wide
He drags and took her in the suit case
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BEHIND THE SCENE
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behind the scene
behind the scene
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behind the scene
FINAL OUTCOME
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final outcome
PROLOGUE Reveal some important shots of the film including ending shot in order to secretly guide the viewer about what is going to happen.
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Part 1
Focus on Mise-en-scène; the props, visual elements and lighting between sequential shots
Clock
Continuity
Bed
Making the shot discontinue to the following shot.
Sofa
Orange eye drop bottle
magnifying glass
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Tomato
different kind of fruit
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fruit
fruit
different lighting, movie posters, and other props
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Part 2
Disturbance
Follow movement of her excessive blink. Cut to black when she closes her eye.
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Mainly focus on editing, creating uncomfortable and unpleasant visual and sound.
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Record the fall of disgusting eyeballs in slowmotion
Animated black dot which getting bigger in relation to time
Overuse of different angles of the same shot
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part 3
EXAGGERATION Mostly, the scence are exaggerated by using slow motion, excited sound and visual metaphor.
Falling eyes and coins negatively represent the heavy loss.
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Slow motion of running shots of a girl & horses (same gesture)
discovery
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discovery
DISCOVERY Since the project began with my personal interest in film editing. It drove me to explore the different way of creating the contradictoty versions of the original film. And I found that it’s not only about film editing that can create the meaning of each scene or change the whole story of film but the cinematographic technique and screen writing is very essential. Generally, these three subject are the structure of the meaning making in film and they are linked and supported each other. Doing this project stimulates me to watch a lot of films with various genre, including those which was in the research. Reading some film analysis and also analyzing them myself make me regard other perspectives and notice some little details that I haven’t seen before which could benefit the thinking process. Furthermore, I really appreciate how the directors pay attenetion to every single detial of the film including the Mise en Scene and yet it make the film stronger. Watching films leads to the research and study about film editing and cinematographic technique. Which could answer one of my research question ‘Why (and how) editing works’ and one importance answer is the films making used of the meaning and significant of each film editing and cinematographic techniques that can tell story visually. And I intend to apply each technique in my film to see the effect of them. Another research question is ‘How to form the work based on the terms which derive from the studied films ?’ Even if I’m ended up with a short film but i’ve research about methods of producing time based meduim. Besides the film, time based medium could be in many different forms. I.e. analytical research, video installation, video art or even the sound experiment. Hence, any kind of work that audience needs to spend somtimes on perceiving the film sequentially since the meaning changes with respect to time. In the production process, I face some problems that cause me a little upset. For example, At this time, it’s not rambutan season (it should be one of the props in the film) and due to the limited time, I can’t create the artificial one. Then I use the canned rambutan with the false eyelashes instead. And it turns out to be cockroachlike. Anyway, it could give the sense of digusting and visual distrbance that I want. Moreover, it’s raining in the production day so a few outdoor scene have to be postponed. The footage that I got was shifted a little bit from the storyboard (location, camera angle, prop). And in editing part, after I finish the first draft version of my film, I got some new idea then reshoot some scenes and add them to the film. Consequently, some parts of the film has been changed a bit from the storyboard. It can proves that the story is created through all the pre-production, production and post-production process. I show my film to many people. Of course, no one understand every single details that I intend to present. The interpretation is depend on each person. At least, they got something in their mind. Likewise, the begining of this film, it was developed from the terms and something that I got from the film.
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reference
power of editing
reference
REFERENCE Chandler, G. (2009). Film editing : great cuts every filmmaker and movie lover must know. Michael Wiese Production. Edgar, R., Marland, J., & Rawle, S. (2015). The language of film (2nd ed.). New York, USA: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. Sijill, J. V. (2005). Cinematic storytelling : the 100 most powerful film conventions every filmmaker must know. Michael Wiese Production. Thompson, K., & Bordwell, D. (2015, February 23). Observations on film arts : BIRDMAN: Following Riggan’s orders. Retrieved February 10, 2017, from http://www.davidbordwell.net/ blog/2015/02/23/birdman-following-riggans-orders/ Smith, G. P. (2010, October 23). Film Analysis – A Clockwork Orange. Retrieved February 14, 2017, from http:// www.gavinpsmith.com/film-analysis-a-clockwork-orange/ Parsa, A.F. (2004). Visual Semiotics: How Still Images Mean? Interpreting Still Images by Using Semiotic Approaches. Retrieved from http://cim.anadolu.edu.tr/pdf/2004/1130853696. pdf Fraley, J. (2013, October 31). Psycho (1960). Retrieved February 14, 2017, from http://thefilmspectrum.com/?p=7082 Brian, R. (2006). Why Editing Works. Retrieved from http://www1.icsi.berkeley.edu/~stellayu/artvis/project/filmedit/ index.html Tamés, D. (2016). Notes on montage and classic continuity Thrown together. Retrieved from http://kino-eye.com/ docs/handouts/Notes-on-montage-and-classic-continuity-v6.pdf Oscar, W. (1889). The Decay of Lying. Retrieved from http://virgil.org/dswo/courses/novel/ wilde-lying.pdf Winkler, F., McMullen, S. (2011). Continuity and Montage. Retrieved from http://www.gardensandmachines.com/Summerprogram/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/editing_techniques. pdf Sibel, O. (2015). A Semiotic Analysis of an Activist Image in Social Media. Retrieved from http://ojad.emu.edu.tr/ articles/32/321.pdf Lynne Warren. (2006). Encyclopedia of twentieth-century photography. Retrieved from http://www.federaljack.com/ ebooks/Encyclopedia%20of%20Twentieth-Century%20Photography%20%20Volumes%20I.%20II. %20III~tqw~_darksiderg/Encyclopedia%20of%20Twentieth-Century%20Photography%20%20Volumes%20I.%20II. %20III~tqw~_darksiderg.pdf Tasos, F. (2016, March 21). Tasos Fratzolas. The Beautiful Lies of Sound Design [Video file]. Retrieved from https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDy5j0c6TrU
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THANK YOU / Teema Muekthong, thank you for pushing me forward ! / Mom and Dad, thank you for being my personal sponsors and supporters. / Gun who appears in the whole film. / Tah, Khai, P’fin, Mind, Kate, Aim, Zile, Ged, Krumkrim. P’ bow / Production and lighting crews.
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