Many low budget filmmakers write, direct, animate and edit their own film projects these days. This means you need to know a little bit about everything to get a good final film. You need to start thinking like a story editor as your write your script in a sense if you are going to be pulling the pieces together. The more I learn about editing the more it starts at the script level and continues throughout the final cut.
"How do you want the audience to feel? If they are feeling what you want them to feel all the way through the film, you have done as much as you can ever do. What they finally remember is not the editing, not the camera work, not the performances, not even the story - it's how they felt."
– Walter Murch
The Art Of Juxtaposition
If you show them a shot of an apple pie then you show them a close up of a character's face the audience will think the character is hungry and wants to eat the pie. Now let us look at the art of juxtaposition a little deeper.
Editing The Documentary
Finding the story structure of your film or information is a big part of making it work.
Editing Tips
If you are new to filmmaking these editing tips will help you get a handle on where to begin.
Editing Invisible Themes
Themes in great films are invisible but the audience gets the underlying idea on some level.
Editing Multiple Story Lines Together
How can you weave together several different stories in your script or on the screen?
Famous Editing Shots Deconstructed
Check out these edits to get ideas for telling your own story visually.
Editing Action Sequences
"The Matrix" shoot out in the lobby is deconstructed cut by cut.
"A genius is one who shoots at something no one else can see - and hits it ."
– Anonymous
Watch some sample movies below from the online Story Engine on Storytelling Goals, Creating Themes and Using Symbols and Metaphors. These short films are samples from the new 20 hour step-by-step "Writing A Great Script Fast" DVD Workshop:
Follow along and create a great film or story idea fast! Download the Workbook PDF fileor DOC file to edit. You can also use a notebook or paper and the Online Workbook or watch it in 20 Steps.
Sample Movies
Below are some sample movies from the 94 minute version above on Storytelling Goals, Creating Themes and Using Symbols and Metaphors. These short films are part of the new 20 hour step-by-step "Writing A Great Script Fast" DVD Workshop:
Learn how to include themes in your films and stories in this free sample movie from the new step-by-step "Writing A Great Script Fast" DVD Workshop:
Learn how to use Metaphors and Symbols in your films, animations or stories from the new step-by-step "Writing A Great Script Fast" DVD Workshop:
Writing A Great Script Fast Makes Screenwriting Easy!
