UNIT 15 EDITING Structure 15.0 Introduction 15.1 Learning Outcomes 15.2 What Is Editing? 15.3 Historical Background 15.4 Video Editing: Techniques and Guidelines 15.4.1 Continuity Editing Approach 15.4.2 Parallel Editing 15.4.3 Montage Editing 15.4.4 Video Transitions 15.4.5 Basic Guidelines for Video Editing 15.5 Non-Linear Editing: Interface, Process and Technique 15.5.1 Non-Linear Video Editing Software 15.5.2 Non-Linear Editing User Interface 15.5.3 Process of Editing In Non-Linear System 15.6 Let Us Sum Up 15.7 Further Readings 15.8 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers 15.0 INTRODUCTION Editing is an important stage of television programme production. Only after the completion of this stage, a programme comes into its final shape. Whether it is news programme or entertainment programme, editing plays a major role in all types of television production. But it is also true that the time available for editing in different types of television programmes may vary. For example, you will get significantly less time to produce a news package than an entertainment television show. Therefore, in this case, editing should be very fast. You will certainly find difference in editing a news programme and editing a documentary or a short film or a film. Generally, news programmes are produced in a hurry and their main focus is on providing information to the audience as quickly as possible, instead of the aesthetic aspects of the presentation. In such cases, the speed is more important than aesthetics in TV news editing. In this unit, we shall discuss the different aspects of video editing. 15.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES After going through this unit, you will be able to: ● discuss the importance of video editing in television programme production; ● explain the process of non-linear video editing; ● describe the different techniques and guidelines of video editing; and ● understand the user interface and tools of a video editing software. MJM-027_NEW SETTING_5th Proof.indd 242 05-05-2021 12:30:55 15.2 WHAT IS EDITING? Editing Editing takes place in all the mediums but in this unit, we shall discuss editing in the context of audio-visual programme production. In simple words, we can say that selecting, combining and trimming various audio and visual elements to convey the intended message effectively is called editing. You can compare editing with cooking. Just as in cooking, we prepare a final dish using various ingredients; similarly in video editing we create a final programme using various audio and visual elements. If you take the example of a documentary film, we have many materials such as recorded footage, voice-overs, interviews, graphics, background music, audio and video effects, etc. During editing, we use all these components in such a way that finally an effective documentary comes out. Figure (1) explains this process clearly. Figure 1: Editing Writing with Images: We have already discussed in previous units that audio-visual media use both audio and visual components, but the visual always dominates. Thus, for a good editor, it is necessary that s/he knows the art of storytelling with images. It is basically the art of writing with images. Different shots interact with each other and create meaning. Shots should be arranged in such a way that they can convey the desired meaning. Just like different arrangements of the same words can give different meanings, similarly different arrangements of the same shots can create different meanings. See the following example: Shot 1: A college student enters his house. Shot 2: He opens his bedroom’s door and comes into it. Shot 3: He is shocked after looking towards his bed. Shot 4: A black cobra is sitting on his bed. Now we put these shots in two different sequences. Case A: Here we shall put all four shots in following sequence: shot 1 – shot 2 – shot 3 - shot 4 So, in case-A, suspense will arise after shot-3. After shot - 3, viewers will think why that college student was shocked. 243 MJM-027_NEW SETTING_5th Proof.indd 243 05-05-2021 12:30:55 Audiovisual Production - II Case B: Here we shall put the same four shots but in a different sequence: shot 1 – shot 4 – shot 2 - shot 3 Here too, the same four shots are used, but they are arranged in a different sequence, so it will also have an impact on the meaning. In this case, after seeing shot 4, there will be a mixed sense of fear and suspense in the audience. They have already come to know that there is a snake on the bed. Now they are thinking that there is a snake on the bed and this college student is going there, what will happen to him? We shall discuss it with one more example. The following figures (2) and (3) will explain it further in detail. Figure 2 The figure (2) has a total of six shots in a particular arrangement (1,2,3,4,5,6). After watching this arrangement, one may think that the child is sitting on the couch and thinking something. He then calls someone on the phone. Meanwhile, his elder sister arrives and asks him to disconnect the phone. He follows his sister’s instructions and listens to her. Now look at the Case 2 in figure (3). This case also has the same six shots but in different arrangement (6,5,1,2,3,4). Figure 3 244 MJM-027_NEW SETTING_5th Proof.indd 244 05-05-2021 12:30:55 Here in the case-2, different arrangement of the same shots creates different Editing meaning. In this case, one may think that the boy is sitting on the couch and his sister is asking him to call someone. He thinks something and then follows the sister’s instruction. We can clearly see that if the same six shots are arranged in different ways, almost opposite meaning may be derived. Therefore, a good editor should know the art of storytelling with the help of images. An Invisible Art: Editing is often called an invisible art. It is a unique process, particularly in film and video productions, where multiple motion pictures are combined to create a story. This ‘cutting and joining’ process is often referred to as ‘invisible art’ because, as in any well-edited film or programme, the viewers are so deeply involved and so engrossed in watching it that they cannot even think about the editor’s efforts. Editing: Technology and Role of Editor Basically the job of any video editor is to simply put different pieces of motion pictures together, cut off unwanted footage, and edit dialogue sequences along with balancing their audio. It is just like joining the pieces in a linear way. An editor has to handle lots of images, motion pictures, dialogues, music and other elements. S/he mixes all of them in such a way so that when it is played before the viewers, they assume the whole film or programme as a single piece. It is very challenging for any editor to maintain the pace, continuity and rhythm. Until the 1990s, editing was very challenging and a highly specialized job. After the expansion of computer technology and digitization of photography and videography, it moved out from the limited expert hands to the common masses. Simultaneously, it now opens up the new challenges for video editors to utilize and experiment with these tools for crafting new stunning and mesmerizing visual effects to attract the viewers. Traditional analogue film editing process had lots of limitations. But now, technology offers various digital editing tools in form of both commercial and open source software. Software like, Adobe® Premier Pro®, Sony Vegas®, Final Cut Pro® etc. are some professional high-end digital editing software. These are commercial software, and can be used after purchasing their licenses. Some open source software are also available which are free for use. These free open source software are - HitFilm Express®, Openshot®, Shotcut® etc. Along with these, editors also need photo editing and special effects compositing software such as Adobe Photoshop®, Adobe After Effect® etc. Both are commercial software and require valid license to use them. Here, you can also use open source digital photo editing software such as Krita®. These new digital tools not only help to perform fast and quality editing but are also helpful in controlling colors, lights, image resolution and basic motion jerks, keying and overall balancing etc. Here, one important thing you may note is that these software will enable you to finish the job effectively, but do not expect magic from them. Technology can only help in functioning or execution; it is the human brain and creative skills that transform any piece of edited film into an extraordinary production. 245 MJM-027_NEW SETTING_5th Proof.indd 245 05-05-2021 12:30:55 Audiovisual Production - II 15.3 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND In 1895, the world’s first commercial movie screening was held in Paris. This movie was produced by two brothers, Auguste and Louis Lumiere (Lumiere brothers) from France. They invented a motion picture camera Cinematographe (Fig : 4). This camera was unique in itself as it could capture, record and project the scene. This three in one Cinematographe machine had one roll of film on which continuous visuals were recorded and after processing it with photographic developing chemicals it was ready for projection through the in-built projector. This invention of Lumiere brothers had changed the paradigm of motion picture technology. Image source: By Victorgrigas - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36486714 Figure 4: Cinematographe Development of editing process for motion pictures can be divided into three phases: • Physical cutting of film • Electro-magnetic video tape editing and • Digital Non-Linear Editing In the initial phase of motion picture, there was no concept of editing.