Editing Fundamentals: Narrative, Emotion, and Flow in the Short Film
3.0
creditsAverage Course Rating
Robert Bresson said that “a film is born three times... First in the writing of the script, once again in the shooting, and finally in the editing.” Editing a film is one of the most important aspects of narrative filmmaking. Most professional directors arrive on the set with a good sense of how the scene they are about to shoot will eventually be edited. This class will focus on teaching the fundamentals of film editing by looking at techniques, tools, and approaches to understand what makes for a good cut and how to shape both a performance and a story (matching visual action, visual fluidity, pacing, transitions, montage, time manipulation, and time ellipses). We will discover how story beats are revealed and how the audience connects with the characters, as well as how to employ the elements of question and answer to build suspense and surprise. The class will focus specifically on the short film, an essential format for filmmakers in their early careers, as we define the different types of shorts (narrative, non-fiction, commercials) and learn how they employ different cinematic languages and story structures unique to the format. By the end of the class, you will know the rules, but also when to break them - all in service of the story and an emotional experience.
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