Topic-3 Lecture- 6

Rules of
Video Editing
Unit-I
Introduction to Video Editing

Subject: Video Editing

By: Sumantra Sarathi Das

OBJECTIVE OF LECTURE

Students would be able to :

- Understand why continuity is important to

be followed in video editing.
- Understand the application of the carious
rules of continuity while shooting and editing.
 Technical continuity

Any apparent, sudden, or unwanted shift in audio

or video throughout a production is considered a
problem in technical continuity. Many continue to
accept certain problems of technical continuity but
not every time.

News coverage and documentary films are often

shot in vastly different situations, so we prefer to
embrace issues like shifts in the color of video or
the soundscape of audio between scenes.
 Technical continuity

But in such things as dramatic productions we don't

want technical inconsistencies diverting our
attention from the storyline. The television medium
should be completely seamless because you want
your story or the message to be as clear as
possible for the viewers.
 Problems in audio continuity
Continuity problems in audio can happen because
of different factors including shot-to-shot variations
in:

-background sound
-sound ambiance (echo within a room, distance of
the microphone, etc.)
-frequency response of mic or audio equipment
-audio levels
 Problems in audio continuity

In single-camera production many of these

inconsistencies are not easy to detect on location.
Again, it's only when the various shots or takes start
to be assembled during editing that you discover
the problem.
As you cut from one scene to another you may
discover that the talent suddenly seems to move
closer or farther away from the microphone, or
may be your background sound varies because of
traffic sound, fan, AC etc..
 Problems in audio continuity

Some issues can be removed with the experienced

use of sound equalizers or reverberation units.
Changes in background sound can sometimes be
masked by recording a bed of some additional (and
consistent) sound—such as music, street noise, or
even birds or crickets chirping.
As in most of life, it's easier to avoid problems
than to fix them (assuming there even is a way to
fix them).
 Problems in video continuity

There are video continuity problems; for example,

changes in:

- Balance of the color

- Balance of the tone
- Levels of light / exposure
- Sharpness for using camera optics/ lens
- Quality of the recording

Balance of tone

Color balance
 Problems in video continuity

Exposure Levels

Sharpness

Quality of recording
 Problems in video continuity

Inter cutting scenes from cameras with noticeably

different color characteristics (color balance) will
immediately be apparent to viewers.

To eliminate this problem all cameras should be

carefully color-balanced and compared before a
production. That's particularly important when
using multiple cameras.
 Problems in video continuity

The skin tones and color balance of the primary

subject needs attention. Backgrounds are less
critical, since your audience probably doesn't know
what color they are supposed to be anyway. Using
a cut from the close up shot to the two-shot will also
pose a problem due to the change in the person’s
head position.
 Problems in video continuity

Editing systems often make use of a vectorscope

for adjusting colors. A vectorscope (which
graphically displays and measures the color and
saturation level) and a waveform monitor (which
graphically displays and measures the brightness
or luminance level of the video.)
 Problems in video continuity

And a waveform monitor (which graphically

displays and measures the brightness or
luminance level of the video.)
 Problems in background music continuity

Background music must contribute to the

production's overall mood and impact without
drawing attention to it. The chosen music should
suit the mood of the narrative, pace of narrative
flow, and time period. Prevent using music vocals
when there is a natural dialogue happening
between the characters to save clashes.
With today's computer-based editing systems
musical selections can be shortened or lengthened
to accommodate accompanying video.
 Storytelling Continuity

Most narrative videos or films are made with the

intention of creating a simple and logical
framework of events so that the audience can
easily grasp the sequence of events portrayed
therein.
For this reason, filmmakers focus on systematic
procedure to edit the distinct camera shots which
build up a film together. Many of these
mechanisms, such as the cuts, fade-out, fade-in,
or dissolve, are intended to signal a change in
scenes.
 Storytelling Continuity

Continuity editing is essential for managing the

perception of spatiotemporal ellipsis as films never
portray each and every minute events which make
up a larger event.
For example, one shot might show an actor
reaching a building's stairs and then the next shot
could show the actor entering the room. In such
instances, audiences are expected to interpret
such occurrences in space and time as being
approximately continuous. So cut is the only best
option to choose for while portraying the visual
continuity.