Hello and welcome to my second article here at College-Film.com. This week I'll be discussing combining editing with directing, so let's get down to business.

Let's say you plan on editing the short film you're directing. Number one, this saves sooo much money in the long run, and it also gives you great experience as a director. When directing a scene, keep in mind how you can edit it. Blending shots can be difficult if you didn't think that far ahead, but it can be easier if you have it in mind while shooting.

For instance, let's say that you have a dialogue scene between two people standing in front of a doorway. Ok, you film it in three angles: front, overhead, and an angle looking up. Each shot you do four takes of the actors speaking their lines. First thing you do is establish a shot with the scenery so you don't have to show it anymore and the audience gets the point. Go with the front shot. Edit in each actor saying one line in the front perspective shot and move on. When you blend these, do a hard cut to the next angle, the upward shot. This will seem like the conversation moves at the pace it's written.

Next, take the bulk of the dialogue and edit in the angle facing up at the actors. This will keep the audience's attention and make the dialogue seem to move faster. While filming, it's also good to film each actors lines up close. You can blend these in during your second shots: the angle up, and the overhead. This seems to work even if you think the dialogue is stale. Remember to use the overhead shot last, because it can be a quick shot of the last line spoken, and it will end the scene with a dramatic angle. By keeping all of this in mind while directing and lining up your shots, you will have a lot more to play with in post-production, and your film will have a dynamic approach to the actors dialogue.

Remember that the actors are only a small part of your storytelling, and that camera shots will make or break your short film. Do not cross the 180 degree axis when doing any shot, because in post, it will not blend with your other shots you worked so hard to film. With any camera angle, repitition is a key. Having line delivery exact every take is a must, especially when you go to edit multiple shots in one small dialogue piece. By editing together several shots for one scene, and not having one long drawn out speech from a wide shot, helps you have a style and diversity to your short film. This will help grab the attention of your audience, and will help the film pace itself better. 
 

If you decide to go from the wide front shot, then angle up while blending in the close up shots, and then ending with the overhead as the dialogue ends, this will better set the flow of the scene. Keep all of this in mind when you direct, and pay attention to key lines the actors say. These are perfect for close up shots, and will emphasize the point you're trying so hard to make. One spoken line not edited into your film in the right way can confuse or turn people away from enjoying your work. I personally have both failed and succeeded at this, and having learned my lesson, I can share it with all of you.

It doesn't matter what the story is about, but stale camera angles and simple editing can kill your film fast. I recommend that if you direct a film, edit it as well, otherwise, you'll have no idea how to improve as a director. If you need to, storyboard a dialogue piece, and then when filming starts, follow the storyboard and the editing will be a breeze in comparison.

Until Next Week....

Stephen J. Semones