Post-Production
During AS, we used Adobe Premiere Elements sow e felt it may be useful to use this software again. I had experimented with Windows Movie Make in the past but found it too basic and Iain had used Final Cut Pro in the summer so it was interesting for us all to find new tools on this software.
After last year, we found it easier to attach video clips to music rather than add the music afterwards. Therefore, we began by finding some copyright-free music that we thought may be generic to our Hollywood film (dramatic and epic music that would build up a quicker/pace).
We also really liked the sound effects used within the 30 Seconds to Mars- Up in The Air music (listen form 00:35- 00:54).
We also really liked the sound effects used within the 30 Seconds to Mars- Up in The Air music (listen form 00:35- 00:54).
When we began, after our first shooting dates, we had trouble finding files, converting them and editing on the software as it kept crashing. The PC we were using was old and gave us trouble last year so we decided to act quick before we began to edit anymore. Starting from scratch, we moved our files onto the Apple MAC as it ran Premiere Elements 11 much smoother than the computer. Although this meant starting our editing again, we knew it would benefit us within the next few weeks.
With only a few scenes shot, at first, we found it very difficult to edit as it was not a linear sequence (because it was a trailer.) Due to this, we decided to put a lot of editing on hold (and just put small sections together) until we filmed the rest of the shots.
After filming the beach scene, we had all of the shots to finally edit everything. With all of the shots, we began to follow our storyboard and put them together. However, we began to improvise as certain aspects did not work as well as we visioned it to.
We found that one of the major issues, was our choice of soundtrack. We decided to slow down the first track (that we were going to place at the beginning), using time-lapse, to create a sadder and more serious tone. Although both tracks worked well with what was on screen, they did not match on another or smoothly move into one another. We attempted to fade them into one another and chopping sections out, but nothing seemed to help. Due to this, Iain suggested that he would find some other music to use. Last year he was very reliable with finding soundtracks so we left it up to him.
When it came to editing next, Iain had found some useful tracks. Although we know the rights of copyright, Eden Pictures is a Hollywood institution, therefore, generically orchestras are used. However, as students we do not have an orchestra to use so we decided to use this track. If we were to produce a real film, for profit, we understand that we could not use a copyrighted track such as this.
On the morning Iain and Daniel tried adding the new tracks but failed to find one they liked so began to work with the old tracks. Later that day, Daniel had a lesson so me and Iain went to edit. I urged him to try the new tracks again. After moving a few shots around, one of the tracks started to work effectively and match what was happening on screen.
On the morning Iain and Daniel tried adding the new tracks but failed to find one they liked so began to work with the old tracks. Later that day, Daniel had a lesson so me and Iain went to edit. I urged him to try the new tracks again. After moving a few shots around, one of the tracks started to work effectively and match what was happening on screen.
Me and Iain found that something vital was missing since the trailer did not seem to make much sense even to us. Suddenly, we realised that we needed some form of copy to tie the shots together. We decided to add quite dramatic declarative such as 'people will change' and 'friends become enemies'. This was to help the shots flow better and to help the narrative to flow. Another piece of copy we used, that we did not storyboard, was 'based on the bestselling novel'. Our influences often used this so we thought it would be a good USP for our film and its genre.
With the copy and new track in place, me and Iain were very happy with its progress. Daniel took some convincing as we had to move the track around a little. We chopped sections out that did not work as well and faded parts in and out, overlapping sounds to ensure it complimented the shots on screen. The track really worked well for the ending when Haden slams Michael to the floor and when it Haden states, "Find Them" as the music fades out.
One thing we found was that some of the dialogue was too quiet or overshadowed by noises around so we felt it was necessary to get voice-overs. The two main shots that needed a voice-over were Haden's (Iain) "find them" as the water of the stream was too loud and Selene's (Clare) "watch them die" as the wind was terrible. We also added a voice-over of Eve (me) in at the beginning to narrate the trailer.
To ensure the recordings did not sound echoed we did them outside. This was because we originally filed outside so we did not want it to sound un-natural.
Here is a few of the recordings:
After finalising our sounds, we decided to add filters to our trailer. Some shots were quite bright such as the Karen (my mum) cooking in the kitchen or the corridor establishing shot. therefore, we added filters to darken certain shots to compliment other scenes better and represent our apocalyptic genre.
Moreover, me and Iain felt the trailer looked better without the 'goodnight' scene at the beginning. Daniel disagreed but we cut it out and asked other people. They agreed with us. However, we decided that our survey would give us better results.
