How we saved our Ruined short Movie with Editing

Published on June 16, 2023

Cinematography & Filmmaking

Cinematography, Short Movie, Tips and Tricks

A while ago, we embarked on an adventure, our very first virtual production short film. Sure, it was a roller coaster ride of emotions, complete with unexpected plot twists such as missing footage and even an unplanned heist! But in true filmmaking spirit, we didn’t pack up our gear (Which we didn’t have anymore…). Instead, we took this opportunity to flex our editing muscles and breathe new life into our short film. Here, we’re excited to share three editing tips that helped us transform a near catastrophe into a cinematic masterpiece. Buckle up!

Character building

We’re kicking things off with character building. Now, we all know characters are the lifeblood of any story. But how do you make your characters not just exist, but live and breathe on the screen?

To accomplish this, we used a few editing tricks. For instance, we showcased our protagonist’s clumsy nature in the opening sequence. He’s the astronaut who sneezes while taking a group photo. Subtle, yet hilarious! We also employed a drastic shift in the musical score, from an epic backdrop to an awkward silence, emphasizing his far-from-heroic demeanour.

The essence? It’s not just about the character’s actions, but also how you portray them. Be it visual cues, music, or even strategic silences, every element in the edit can contribute to character development. It’s all about finding the right balance!

sound Designing Space

Here’s a quick trivia for you – there’s no sound on the moon! Shocking, right? But then, how do you create engaging audio for a film set in space?

The answer is to innovate and interpret. We chose to emphasize the astronaut’s isolation by highlighting the sounds from his suit. How did we make it happen? With Premiere Pro’s Parametric Equalizer. It helped us craft a distinct auditory landscape for our film, subtly conveying the eeriness and discomfort of being alone in space.

Remember, when it comes to sound design, the sky (or in this case, the moon!) is the limit. So feel free to experiment and create an immersive auditory experience for your audience.

recreating Gravity

Recreating the effect of reduced gravity is a tricky business. The key is to make it feel natural rather than forced. So we took a leaf from the book of “The Silent Sea” series, but with a twist.

Instead of shooting in slow motion, we chose to shoot our film in 30 fps, then delivered it in 24 fps. This gave us the flexibility to subtly slow down certain shots using the speed ramp tool, creating a sense of low gravity without making it too apparent. A word of caution, though: use this trick wisely! It works best for scenes involving movements, not for dialogues or static shots.

To sum it up, every film, every scene, every shot is a new challenge. Sometimes, you have to brave the storms (or a heist!) to bring your vision to life. So the next time you’re stuck in a rut, remember these tips. Be it character building, sound design, or recreating space-like movements, a little creativity goes a long way. After all, in the world of filmmaking, the only limit is your imagination!

Lickd

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