Rough cuts

IN THIS POST: ROUGH CUTS, WHAT'S MISSING, WHAT HAS CHANGED

ROUGH CUT 1:

MISSING: FIRST SCENE, IDENTS, TITLES, SOUNDTRACK, FOLEY SOUND

TESTING: NARRATIVE, DIALOGUE, SHOT TYPES, EDITING, SFX

Also tested a font style. (See Font Post)

In this cut, we focused on makeup, props, lighting, and script. Our sample scenes were not in the preferred location, with the wrong cast and little to no props. We also tested the narrative to see if audiences would follow the preferred reading if archetypes were clear and the plot makes sense. 

ROUGH CUT 2:

MISSING: LAST SCENE (3 years later), IDENTS, TITLES, SOUNDTRACK, FOLEY SOUND

RESHOOT

What changed?

• Naturally location and mise-en-scene
• The main difference is: Emma's phone conversation became a radio man announcing a homicide tragedy.

Opportunities for a larger audience with the song "Every Breath You Take" By The Police (1983)

Some necessary changes according to media student feedback and individual reflection:

(Rushed edit)

• Add electrical droning from lights
• Extend and recut the first scene
• Shorter takes in general to keep verisimilitude
• Less focus on the remote control (not the best weapon)
• Ellipses is too abrupt
• Cut away to stalker shots more often
• Add black cards for titles, ellipses will be more convincing

ROUGH CUT 3:

MISSING: LAST SCENE (3 years later), PROPER IDENTS, SOUNDTRACK, FOLEY SOUND

TESTING: BLACK TITLE CARDS, FONT, IDENTS

What changed?

• Added black title cards, allowing for shorter takes and even more ellipses
• Colour correction on scenes that were too bright, over-saturated, and didn't fit the tone
• More audio bridging 
• Shorter dialogue scene
• The first scene is more chopped up
• Removed awkward "Hey um, thank you for everything but I think I'm gonna head home my parents are probably really scared..." entirely 
• Added kettle sound
• Music/radio glitch, music plays again for the stabbing scene
• Testing a main title

Some necessary changes according to media student feedback and individual reflection:

• Continue to cut the first scene even shorter
• Chop up dialogue entrance scene
• One ident needs an audio bridge
• Extend characterising establishing shots at the start 
• More dynamic main title
• Drop black card titles and develop titles in general

See Fonts and Titles post for precise feedback.

ROUGH CUT 4:

MISSING: EDITING DETAILS, SOUNDTRACK, ESTABLISHING SHOTS

What changed?

• Added cover of "Every Breath You Take" By The Police
• Added man's voice for radio
• Removed Black title screens, added some earthquake animation
• The main title is more dynamic and layered 
• The last scene (3 years later) added, needs refining
• Screams and stab sounds were added before the title screen

Some necessary changes according to media student feedback and individual reflection:

• Titles need more animation
• Scenes still need cutting up
• Stabbing sounds aren't realistic 
• (Last scene) Broken branch and head turn needs to change
• Fade to black at the end
• Add key sounds or some reference to a killer in the basement scene
• Music should be cut before the main title

ROUGH CUT 5/FINAL CUT:

What changed?

• Soundtrack was added
• Changed opening shots
• Added more animation on titles
• Recut dialogue 
• Recut basement sequence
• Changed stabbing sfx
• Audio bridge with last ident

See Final Cut Post