The reading re-hashed that there are some editing styles that typically correspond to the documentary modes. As I’ve mentioned throughout the semester, I want my documentary to go beyond the expository mode, and use participatory and/or reflexive qualities. What I’m looking at at the moment is editing together a voiceover, personal vlog, B-Roll footage, interview and musical score – which all correspond to the expository style. I have managed to keep it quite reflexive so far with mics on-screen, my voice in the background of interviews, but I think using even more reflexive attributes in post-production like text, illustrations, borders and contrapunctal sounds could make it more interesting. As the reading pointed out though, you don’t want this to be too overwhelming, and my footage is already pretty jarring.
Otherwise I’ll be going for a continuous style of editing – think Ugly Delicious again.
I’ve said from the start that my main idea was to dissolve from the ingredient in its natural habitat to the dish/end product, and I think this is still manageable. The tone I want to achieve is pretty mellow. I think dissolves will create that feeling – of a quiet appreciation for the ingredients and the land we live on, as well as pushing that journey of plant to plate. Playing with speed – speeding up for long processes, slowing down for garnishes and intimate moments – will also set this tone through pace. Rhythm is something that I appreciate when I watch films, so it’s something I want to focus on and get right.
What went well in this exercise: Got a pretty good idea of how the equipment works (I hadn’t used them before).
What didn’t go so well/things to work on: Lighting could be improved. Very echoey audio. Forgot to phrase the questions in the answers after a while. Didn’t think about how I’d edit this together so it jumps from topic to topic.
How it will help for my vid: Good to know for my interviews!
In-Class Food Assembly (Week 4)
What went well in this exercise: The handheld camera’s footage was really good, and having cameras A & B made editing really easy.
What didn’t go so well: We messed up at one point and one camera stopped filming, which confused the rhythm in the edit. The audio in the edit sucked – music would have made it better. Make sure to use headphones to edit next time. Also I could cut more from the video to make it shorter/more engaging.
How it will help for my vid: How to follow a person’s actions while they’re doing something, picking up audio for voice-over, editing B-Roll & subject footage together.
Vox Populi (Week 5)
What went well in this exercise: We asked the same set of questions each time, so editing was easy. We also had the interviewer approach the subjects with the camera/sound people following shortly behind, so that they could see the setup but didn’t feel obligated to participate – which made people less awkward. Our cameraman also kept rolling while we were figuring out what to do next, which gave us handy b-roll to work with.
What didn’t go so well: It was awkward to film/edit. Tips would be to make small talk before asking the proper question – to make sure the crew is ready – keep moving forward instead of circling a particular space, and make sure the interviewer stands next to the mic if you want to pick up their question.
How it will help for my vid: Make me more comfortable filming spontaneously and asking questions on the spot.
Interview (Week 5)
What went well in this exercise: I think we were good at asking follow-up questions and letting a small silence lead to further explanation. Using text in this video was fun to do. The asymmetry in the shot was nice also.
What didn’t go so well: Didn’t set up the situation – would have been better to have her seated maybe? We didn’t get her to phrase the question in the answer. Also we all kind of jumped in with questions at random points, which meant her eyeline turned to three places at random times. Lighting was off. Editing definitely wasn’t seamless.
How it will help for my vid: Getting used to quick interview situations, the importance of setting it up properly.
B-Roll/Observational Experiment (20th April)
What worked well: Some of my close-ups and mid-close ups’ compositions work well. I did a good job at adjusting the ISO each time so that I got nice deep colours and shadows.
What didn’t work so well: I went overboard playing with the focus. Some shots could linger for a little longer. Need to work on my long shots – they look grainier for some reason… Will need to have more of these for each plant if I want have establishing shots. Also, how do I change frame rate when filming or at least adjust the speed of clips in premiere pro? Something to research.
More to work on: I’ve thought about adding subtitles for each plant or illustrations to make it more engaging… Next experiment. (I’ve downloaded Paint by 53 on my iPad so I can make animated hand-drawn visuals and text.) Also, this wasn’t an exercise in sound but I noticed that I should have recorded an atmos track to underlay all of the clips – the result is that it’s very clunky and distracting.
I’ve mentioned previously that I want to go for a minimal soundtrack for my documentary. What this really means is that I want to match clear atmospheric sound to my voiceover tracks, and blend them in a way that is subtle and unnoticeable – what I’m trying to achieve here is the illusion of realism that the reading discussed.
Dulce did this well, and so does this excerpt from Ugly Delicious (Episode 3: Home Cooking).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OqZ4nZklBo
One of the tricky things mentioned in the reading is recording atmospheric or direct sounds in the first place. There can be plenty of variables in an environment that could interfere with the specific sound you want to capture. That’s why I think that this clip probably has been manipulated quite a bit or used post-production sounds recorded elsewhere – because it’s a busy kitchen! You can’t rely on your brigade to make mellow sounds in the background if they’re making a stir-fry – and that’s one of the problems you’d encounter if you wanted to capture a busy place, candidly. That’s going to be something I struggle with when I visit the South Melbourne Market – the hubbub that I record with my Zoom mic might sound too chaotic in post-production. I don’t just want to slap in a sound effect that I found online but if it creates the effect of reality… Might have to.
As for music: I like the fade in of the calming, eerie music in this clip, which kind of sets up the change in location. I do think it’s a bit over the top at the start – it takes you out of the moment and zooms out to the face value of the episode – but I think it blends nicely at the timestamp 0:08. I will be aiming to music sparingly – to add emotion or drama, but more so to give it a rhythm and add more subtle nuances. Hopefully I can make my own music or have a friend make some chords or ask an up-and-coming artist to muck around with a demo (tell her she’s dreaming).
Long shots of native edible trees with afternoon sun filtering through the leaves, w/ slow pans and subtle shifts in focus. Shots of lorikeets and kangaroos.
VOICEOVER:
– Nornie talking about the importance and personal sentiment that native foods has, and why she’s passionate about it. Basically have her answer the questions: “What/why makes this so important to you?” “How do you feel when people show an interest in these foods?” “What do you want to convey to my age group (RMIT students) about native food?” Expect answers like – When I was a child… My mother/father… Native food was something that I saw a lot of in my childhood…
– Nature sounds. Atmos captured at Pep Ridge Farm, CERES. Relevant sounds for animals.
Setup of locations, characters and tone.
I’m inspired by the opening of Ugly Delicious (two people walk down a street, talking about the neighbourhood), Chef’s Table (a voiceover as they look out of a train window), and Girls Skate (two people skate down a path and the title appears on screen).
Also episode of Chef’s Table w/ opening of location and plants – a pensive intro.
Kick it off with interview of Nornie at Mabu Mabu. Establishing long shots and intimate mid shots & action shots), and the candy coloured shelves. Also establish that it’s in the market – sound.
Mid Shots in the store, cut out to market.
Shots of the shelves at Mabu Mabu. & Observational action shots of Nornie at her cashier, may be out of focus.
INTERVIEW:
– Nornie tells us in voiceover/interview about her store – stockist of native foods. Also a little bit about herself and her background.
– Then turn to the subject of the native foods themselves. End on the note that there are so many flavours.
– Lemon Myrtle plant shot (various shot sizes)
– Illustration and subtitle on screen
TOUR INTERVIEW OR VOICEOVER:
– Anthony’s or Botanical Garden’s description of Lemon Myrtle, explaining a bit about it:
– The flavour, where it grows, its history, what recipes it goes best in.
– Nature sounds – record myself or use stock sounds.
– Talk about taste, use descriptions.
Fade to ice-cream churning OR being served in-store or on the beach.
Little stylistic montage. Lots of colour.
Probably just more atmos, but music could be good to add more interest.