For my 3rd role in my film portfolio, I’m planning to produce a 3 minute film, focusing more on the editing aspect of the project. I also plan to do the directing as I have a vision for how I want the editing to go, and I feel that my skills in editing are stronger.
The main techniques I want to focus on with editing are:
- Colour grading
- 180 degree rule
- Match/match on action cuts
- Transitions
- Parallel editing
- Linear editing
The outline for the plot is as follows:
- Couple argues and breaks up (characters 1 + 2)
- Character 2 shown as upset
- Characters 1 + 2 go on various dates and meetings with other people – doesn’t feel right to them
- Shots of old photos of characters 1 + 2 together
- Characters 1 + 2 struggles to move on – shots of them using dating apps, exercising, working, etc.
- Character 1 gets in a new relationship
- Character 2 messages them – is ignored
- Shots of character 1 being unhappy
- Character 1 leaves relationship
- Character 1 shows up at character 2’s door in the rain
- Ends
I want to use colour as a primary technique in telling the narrative and establishing mood – using blues, purples and darker tones to portray a more depressing tone, and using oranges, yellows and brighter tones to produces the opposite. I want to use the 180 degree rule for the purpose of establishing an open dialogue and connection between the two main characters; despite the fact that they’re both apart and are trying to move on from one another. My planned use of putting together match/match on action cuts should be used similarly, and should help the plot progress quickly.
I only really want a shooting script for this project, as I want to use music and ambient sound to portray the narrative as opposed to dialogue.
My inspirations for this project are Ray Lovejoy – particularly his usage (and violations) of the 180 degree rule in The Shining (1980) to tell a story – and Hoyte Van Hoytema – as I might try to experiment with non-linear storytelling like his work in Dunkirk (2017). My movement influences for this project are German Expressionism and French New Wave.