Motion Picture Editing, Nancy Forner, A.C.E

Motion Picture Editing, Nancy Forner, A.C.E.

USC School of Cinematic Arts

Summer Program

The Critical Study of the Art of Picture Editing

Instructor: Nancy Forner, A.C.E.

SCA 424

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Critical Study of the Art of Picture Editing

Picture Editors are story tellers but unlike writers who use text, or lyricists who use words, editors use visual images, dialogue, sound, special effects and music to stir the emotions of the audience and tell our stories. “How” editors use these elements and “why” editors use them is critical to the success of the film, tv show or any form of visual media. Why should I cut at this frame as opposed to this one? Why is it more important to use off-camera dialog as opposed to playing dialog on-camera? Why should a music cue start at this point in a scene as opposed to that point? When to cut when not to cut, when to stylize when not to and why. This class will analyze and deconstruct all the elements of the art of creatively manipulate the images through editing, Learning the this art is useful for all facets of filmmaking, especially if you want to be a writer, director, producer, or even a cinematographer for after the shooting stops it all comes down to the editor to put the pieces together to make a compelling, exciting and emotional story.

Nancy Forner has over 30 years of editing experience. Since the moment Mel Brooks promoted her from Assistant Editor to full Editor on the movieSolar Babies, Nancy has been busy picture editing movies and television series. During her career she has worked on many notable and diverse projects in genres and styles that range from comedy, horror, action/adventure , fantasy, medical and legal procedurals, to high intensity crime dramas and documentaries.

The award-winning Buffy the VampireSlayer, Law&Order:SVU,The Vampire Diaries,Witches of East Endand the cult classicReturn to Horror Highare a few, but not all, of her many and varied credits.

She is currently cutting the Amazon seriesJust Add Magic.
Nancy is also a Professor and Editing Track Head at USC School of Cinematic Arts and holds the Michael Kahn Endowed Chair in Editing.

CLASS FORMAT

Each week will be a mixture of lecture, viewing of film and television example and class discussion/presentations.

WEEKLY COURSE PLAN:

Week 1

Class 1

Lecture:

-Discuss Log Lines and Scene Analysis. Understanding what and who the scene is about, nuances plots, and subtexts and how that understanding affects the editing.

-Watch “The Cutting Edge” a brief introduction, overview and history of film editing.

Assignment:

-Write out a scene analysis for the script provided “500 Days of Summer.”

-Pick a movie you like, write a log line for it. Bring both to class.

Class 2

Lecture:

-Discuss the differences between “Story, Style, Emotion and Character” and how and why a scene is edited to express each.

-Watch movie and tv clips that support those differences with discussion.

-Discuss log lines and scene Analysis homework.

Assignment:

-Pick any scene from a movie or tv show, bring to class and be prepared to discuss

if the scene is cut for “Story, Style, Emotion or Character.”

Week 2

Class 1

-Lecture on Comedy Editing. Comedy is one of the most challenging genres to edit

requiring precision timing. Discussion on the theories on what makes something funny and what does not.

The Romantic comedy vs. Slapstick. The history of comedy editing, how it has changed and how many of the old rules still apply. Multicam vs. Single camera comedies.

-Watch movie and tv clips that support comedy editing theories with discussion.

-Dicscuss “Story, Style, Emotion and Character” Homework

Assignment:

-Pick any comedy scene from a movie or tv show, bring to class and be prepared to discuss.

Class 2

Lecture on Adventure and Action Editing. An action scene is immediate, visceral and needs no interpretation.

It is the most exciting and also the most technical of all editing genres. Discussion on the theories of

action editing: why are some edits more thrilling than others, how does the editor bend the film to get the

best reaction. The role of the hero and the history of action editing and how much modern technology has changed it.

-Watch and discuss movie and tv clips that support Action editing theories with discussion.

-Watch dailies of Gladiator and ER to analyze for action editing.

Assignment:

-Pick any action scene from a movie or tv show, bring to class and be prepared to discuss

Week 3

Class 1

Lecture: Genre Editing, Horror, Fantasy, Suspense and SCI-Fi Film. Horror deals with the monster, death and morality.

Fantasy with our hopes and dreams and scary romantic figures. SCI-Fi with how we imagine the future.

Suspense keeps us riveted to our seats. It all in the pacing.

Genre editing is the most creative and inventive of all editing styles. Discussion on how does the editor

use this inventiveness yet keep true to the story and the emotions of the characters

and how much modern technology has changed genre editing.

-Watch and discuss movie and tv clips that support genre editing theories.

-Watch dailies of Witches of East End to analyze for horror editing.

Assignment:

-Pick any genre scene from a movie or tv show, bring to class and be prepared to discuss

Class 2

Lecture: Sound Effects and Music

Rhythm is primal and therefore music has a strong effect on an audience.

Sound or the lack of it reinforces the emotions and pushes the elements of story.

Discussion on how does the editor use music and sound effects effectively. What is sound design

and how is that different than simple sound effects.

-Watch and discuss examples of Sndfx. and Mx. in feature films or tv shows

Assignment:

-Pick any scene from a movie or tv show, with interesting music or sound effects. bring to class and be prepared to discuss

Week 4

Class 1

Lecture: Visual Effects and Stylistic Editing.

The difference between a play and a movie is that the editor can be a magician with the film.

Discussion on VFX and how they can transport an audience to another world or intensify the one they

are in. The history of VFX and CGI.

Discussion on cutting for Style vs. Formal editing. Cutting with the rules for narrative dialogue scenes

or breaking all the rules to push the emotion.

-Watch and discuss examples of VFX and stylistic editng in feature films or tv shows

Assignment:

-Research any editor or editing style of your choice. Prepare a presentation to the class

about your research with film clips to support your research. Due Week 5, Class one.

Class 2

Demonstartion in AVID LAB

Editing is not only understanding the aesthetics but mastering the technology of the editing software. Demonstration of the AVID from simple dialogue to advanced Sapphire VFX.

Assignment:

Week 5

Class 1

Presentation of research project. Class Discussion.

Assignment:

Class 2

Lecture: The Auteur Editor

Most editing projects start out with a script, but what about projects that are not scripted where the editor is responsible for the images, sounds, pace, rhythm, story and structure?

Discussion on the auteur editors who cut documentaries, clip shows, art films, trailers, promos, sizzle reels, commercials and music videos.

How the editor, without a script or director needs to arrange images to communicate an idea, create an emotion, tell a story, or sell a product.

Assignment:

Week 6

Class 1

Lecture: Guests Lectureres: TV Director and Producer discuss working with an editor.

Class 2

Lecture: The politics of editing

How do you get a job as an editor. How do you keep that job.

Discussion on the rules of behavior between editor and director, producer, writer, studio and network executives.