Shoot for Editing
Always think about where the final output will be projected, always
frame for the screen where it would be most played, (e.g. for television you
would do more close ups to see the details).
Always shoot overlaps, the more footage the better for the editor.
Start and end the shot with the main subject coming into and out of
frame. You can achieve this by avoiding panning too much.
When shooting cutaways look for parallel action, so when you decide to
cut in the middle it can seem seamless (works better for interviews, with short
films it’s better to use cutaways)
Although you should film cutaways, avoid using them.
Do a geography shot, make the audience understand the space; go wide
just for the sake of sense of space.
Shoot long; shooting long is essential for editing
Allow a 5 second run up so you give more comfort of time for the editor,
don’t yell cut until you are sure nothing more to be added, (the
cameraman/woman) should know when to cut on their own, if you yell cut to soon
you could miss an opportunity)
Never cut if there are interruptions it could be surprising.
(*Personal Note; lots of big
blockbuster film have improvisations or errors that are kept on film that ended
up as great performances, looking into this I found out the following, Leonardo
DiCaprio actually cut his hand in Tarantino’s “Django”. Midnight Cowboy,
The line "I'm walkin' here!".
Only use camera moves if you have a reason too, it should always be
justifies (*Personal Note;
Track in to create tension, pan down to reveal an object, etc.)
Make Continuity of Direction, don’t cross the 180 line, keep the sense
of direction true to the motion, if the character is in a car driving right,
make sure the motion is always to the right. (*Personal Note; usually when the character is moving
from left to right it signifies something good, and the opposite makes the
audience feel slightly negative )
Minimize background noise, if you want it, dub it later
Edit
Make sure you slate in parallel to the script, you can be more detailed
with the time code.
Make a cutting order first “paper edit” do everything according to the
script, not worrying if it’s too long, after that check the assembly of it all.
Work with an offline edit to keep your edit faster and simpler, when
exporting make sure it’s broadcast quality for the colour grading/correcting
stage.
Work on detail of the edit; is the shot too long/short? Is the sound not
matching? Etc.
Cuts would be less obstructive if you avoid parallel cut, try cutting
the sound before the picture, and see how that seems from a fresher eye,
Don’t cut from the same sized shots, it creates a bad continuity, to get
the best cut; cut in the middle of the motion, the mind assumes that it is
perfect naturally.
Editing should normally take twice the time of the shoot if not more.
Keep in mind the rhythm and pace of the piece, don’t let the cuts be
predectible. (*Personal Note; I tried this by watching successful feature films, and
every time I never knew when the cut was) the
best cuts in films go unnoticed.
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