Evaluation of my editing process
The first step of my editing process was that I uploaded all my footage and shots onto iMovie. All the shots added together were 4 minutes long and the set time we were given was 2 minutes so, I cut the shots down excluding any unimportant or poor quality shots. Once I had all the important and vital shots imported and cut down, I stabilised any shakiness apart from two shots where they needed to be shaky. By stabilizing the shakiness it increases the quality of the shot which improves the quality of the shot and appeals to my target audience. I decreased the speed of some shots using slow mode as this heightens the tension and sheer suspension to make the audience feel fearful. I didn't increase the speed of my shots as I don't like the effect it has and it takes away the tension from the scene.
I edited my shots by using filters, adjusting the lighting, saturation and colour gradient. I used the filters Camo, Silent Era, Noir, black and white and Aged Film. I think these filters are effective because they make my film opening look quite vintage and old which is the impression I aimed for. Also, they make my film look quite 80's which is the era and style of film I was inspired by. I lowered the brightness of lighting to make the shots look dreary and spooky, this imposes horror on the audience. I decreased the saturation and added a blue tinge over the shot to make it look icy cold to make the audience feel panicked and uneasy. Finally, I decreased the colour gradient to make the shots look monochrome which links in with the aged and vintage look.
I edited so there was non- diegetic sound throughout as the background sound to add more tension. I added drone dark suspense, thunder, volcano, mystery accents, suspense accents, heart beat and footsteps sound effects. I think these sound effects create sheer tension and crescendo's in suspense action shots. Also, they appeal to my target audience because they build up suspension and makes the audience feel on edge. I muted any background and white noise as it was distracting and poor quality sound. In one of my shots, I used the phone sound effect to show that the main character was trying to call for help but couldn't due to the line being busy or no reception. Before, this shot was quite confusing so, the sound effect made it easier to understand and expressed the amount of fear and pressure the character is under. I hardly included any diegetic sound in my film as it was poor quality, unimportant and not as effective compared to the non- diegetic sound I used. The only diegetic sound I included was in a shot where shoes walk across the camera and we can hear twigs and branches breaking. Before filming this shot, I filmed myself breaking up branches and purely used this sound onto the shot of the shoes walking across the camera.
I used a range of transitions to make the film opening run smoothly but rapidly to interest and draw in my target audience. I used the transitions cross blur, cross dissolve and cut throughout my film opening. I think the cross dissolve and cross blur makes the shots run smoothly and blend into each other. I used 'cut' transitions as they create jump scares and impose terror onto the audience because they move onto shots more rapidly and sharply.
In the opening shot to introduce the title of my film 'Compendium of Evil' I edited in a shot of blood dripping down the screen with the title slowly appearing as the blood drips down. I think this was effective because of the colour symbolism of red which connotes evil and hell. In addition, blood is a key thriller symbol which immediately imposes fear and panic onto the audience. I think the font of my title is effective as it's slightly faded that gives the impression of an old effect which blends in with my old monochrome theme. I edited this in through finding the video clip on YouTube and saving it into a file then moving it into a section of the film.
