UNIT I FUNDAMENTALS

Evolution of filmmaking – Linear editing – Non-Linear digital video –

Economy of Expression – Risks associated with altering reality
through editing.

INTRODUCTION

FILM MAKING

Film making, also known as filmmaking or movie production,

refers to the process of creating motion pictures for entertainment,
education, or artistic expression. It involves various stages from
conception to distribution, including:

Development:

This stage involves conceptualizing ideas, writing scripts, securing

financing, and assembling the creative team.

Pre-production:

During this phase, detailed planning takes place. Tasks include

casting actors, scouting locations, creating storyboards, designing sets and
costumes, and planning the shooting schedule.

Production:
 The actual filming of scenes occurs during this phase. Crew
members set up equipment, direct actors, capture footage, and record
sound on set.

Post-production:

After filming is complete, the footage undergoes editing, where

scenes are assembled, special effects are added, and sound and music are
mixed. Color correction and mastering prepare the film for distribution.

Distribution:

Once the film is finalized, it is distributed to cinemas, streaming

platforms, or other outlets for audiences to view.

Throughout the filmmaking process, collaboration among various

professionals such as directors, producers,
screenwriters,cinematographers, editors, and sound designers is essential.
The goal of filmmaking is to create compelling visual narratives that
engage, entertain, and often provoke thought or emotion in audience

1.1 EVOLUTION OF FILMMAKING

A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still

images which, when shown on a screen, creates the illusion of moving
images due to the phi phenomenon. This optical illusion causes the
audience to perceive continuous motion between separate objects viewed
rapidly in succession. A film is created by photographing actual scenes
with a motion picture camera; by photographing drawings or miniature
models using traditional animation techniques; by means of CGI and
computer animation; or by a combination of some or all of these
techniques and other visual effects.

The process of filmmaking is both an art and an industry. Films

were originally recorded onto plastic film, which was shown through a
movie projector onto a large screen.

The word "cinema" is often used to refer to the industry of films

and filmmaking or to the art of filmmaking itself. The contemporary
definition of cinema is the art of simulating experiences to communicate
ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty or atmosphere by the means of
recorded or programmed moving images along with other sensory
stimulations. The process of filmmaking is both an art and an industry.

The evolution of filmmaking is a fascinating journey that spans

over a century. It has undergone significant changes, from the early
experiments with moving images to the modern digital era as given below:
FUNDAMENTALS

1. Foundations of Film Editing:

The first moving image device that came to be known to us is
kinetograph and was invented in 1890. Kinetogrpah was utilized to project
frames at a high rate, and through the effect of flickering, it created an
illusion of movement. The device was initially used by Thomas Edison
and William Dickson.
Kinetograph became a foundation to create the first film camera,
known as a cinematograph. Invented by Lumiere Brothers (the first
filmmaker in history), the cinematograph was a light device created to
capture still images in good quality. The frames of the footage were later
on developed and assembled on kinetograph.
At this early stage of film history, editing consisted of mostly
cutting the film rolls. The filmmaker was placed in front of the
kinetograph, and the images were cut and rearranged on their scope. This
type of editing was known as “cutting and sticking” and was the first type
of editing that started being widely used in the film industry.

2. The Great Train Robbery (1903):

The Great Train Robbery (1903) was a short 10-minute film
created and edited by Edwin.S Porter. The Great Train Robbery contained
14 scenes, using cuts and crosscuts and other sophisticated editing
techniques using a machine known as a splicing machine. One method that
he used was cutting and also parallel editing within scenes.

3. Kuleshov Effect:
Kuleshov Effect is a film editing effect demonstrated by Russian
filmmaker Lev Kuleshov in the early 20 th century. Kuleshov was
fascinated with the power of film editing and how it could manipulate the
emotional being of the audience. The effect is a mental phenomenon by
which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential
FUNDAMENTALS
shots than from a single shot in isolation. To put it in simple terms, it is the
sequencing of two shots that adds semantic meaning to the scene itself.
During the silent era, from the late 1890s to the late 1920s, films
had no synchronized sound. Silent films relied on interfiles for dialogue
and were often accompanied by live music in theatres.
Eg: Imagine a shot of an older man smiling. Subconsciously, you
are going to ask yourself a question: what is he smiling at? The next shot
will establish exactly what the older man is smiling at. The content of this
upcoming shot will elicit a particular emotional response in the viewer. If
we include a cute puppy shot afterward, it is implied that the old man is
kind and benevolent. The Kuleshov effect establishes the emotional
casualty (cause and effect between two shots). The comprehension of this
effect has allowed filmmakers to experiment with new narrative
techniques by eliciting the audience’s emotions. This type of editing tied
the basics of human psychology into the process of film editing.
Therefore, it is a deliberate sequencing of the shots that can
strongly affect the viewer and manipulate time, space, emotions, and
narrative structures. This effect influenced filmmakers for generations to
come, as they have understood it could manipulate the viewer’s
emotionally
.
4. Introduction of Sound in Cinema:
The Jazz Singer (1927) has marked the ascendancy of talkies and
has become the first film with fully synchronized dialogue. This marked
the transition from silent films to sound films, commonly known as
"talkies."
Before The Jazz Singer, there have been multiple attempts to
experiment with sound in film. In the earlier days of film, when the
movies were projected in cinemas, an orchestra accompanied the film. As
the technologies of montage became more advanced, it became possible to
synchronize recorded sound with moving images in post-production.
FUNDAMENTALS
5. Golden Age of Hollywood:
The 1930s to the 1950s is often referred to as the Golden Age of
Hollywood. Hollywood studios produced a vast number of films, and stars
like Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and Marilyn Monroe became iconic
figures.

6. Colour Film and Widescreen:

The 1930s saw the introduction of colour film, and widescreen
formats like Cinemascope were developed in the 1950s, enhancing the
cinematic experience.

7. New Wave and Art Cinema:

In the 1960s, a wave of innovative filmmakers emerged, known as
the new wave. Filmmakers like François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, and
Akira Kurosawa pushed the boundaries of storytelling and filmmaking
techniques
.
8. Digital Revolution:
 The 1990s and 2000s saw a significant shift with the advent of
digital filmmaking technology. Digital cameras and computer-based
editing systems revolutionized the industry, making filmmaking more
accessible and cost effective.

9. CGI and Special Effects:

With advancements in computer-generated imagery (CGI) and
special effects, filmmakers gained new creative possibilities for visual
storytelling. Films like "Avatar" and "Jurassic Park" showcased the
capabilities of CGI.

10. Streaming and Online Distribution:

The rise of streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime,
and Disney+ has transformed film distribution and consumption patterns,
allowing audiences to access a wide range of content on-demand.

FUNDAMENTALS

11. Diversity and Representation:

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on diverse
storytelling and representation in cinema, with filmmakers striving to tell
stories that reflect a broader range of voices and perspectives
.
1.1.1 TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

Ampex VTR:
Ampex VTR became available in 1956 and was the first videotape
recorder open to the public. First and foremost, this invention has served
as a replacement for motion picture film stock and has made the recording
of footage cheaper, safer, and easier.

Ampex VTR recorded and played back audio and video material
on magnetic tapes and could be reproduced on an infinite scale.
 The Ampex VTR played a significant role in the development of
video production and broadcasting, setting the stage for further
advancements in the field.

FUNDAMENTALS
CMX Systems:

Another significant milestone in the history of the film editing

revolution was achieved at the beginning of the 1970s. The invention of
CMX systems was a huge boost within the editing industry, as it has given
editors freedom, security, and potential with their edits. The central benefit
of these systems was the potential for nonlinear editing. Non-linear video
editing systems meant that filmmakers could locate a frame within
seconds and go back to their edit to change something. This invention
allowed filmmakers more area for errors and flexibility, as it did not
modify the originally recorded footage. The CMX 600 was the very first
model that offered a non-linear editing video system.

The Harry & AVID:

In 1985, Quantel released The Harry. Harry was the first all-digital
video editing and effect composition system. This invention laid the
foundation for digital video editing as we know it today. Although it was
very different from the video editing software that we use nowadays (there
were no timelines or footage bins), the foundations to what was to come in
the upcoming years were laid with The Harry.
 The accumulation of all the technological advancements and
progress in computer science has resulted in the most recent invention for
video editors: Avid Technology. In 1987, Avid Technology created Avid
(1 Media composer) and had indeed a revolutionary design that has
dominated non-linear editing systems ever since.
The system’s interface was initially developed for Macintosh (later
on adopted for Windows as well) and has won the hearts of many editors
for the combination of editing tools and its non-linear approach.
The interface was relatively user-friendly yet powerful, and thus
from early on, it has been used as an industry-standard editing software for
the past 30 years.

1.1.3 MODERN HISTORY OF FILM EDITING

FUNDAMENTALS
In 1991, Adobe came with its first editing software, Premiere. This
product, created by Ruby Ubillios, allowed thousands of filmmakers,
people, and students to edit their short films.
Premiere Pro, today, has become industry-leading software for
video editing and now has more than 10 million users. The success of
Adobe Premiere was followed by the release of other video editing
software, such as Final Cut Pro, iMovie, DaVinci Resolve, and many
more. Today, film editing has become available to almost everyone, yet it
remains an intricate art of assembling moving images and sound in
deliberate sequences for many. Now, hundreds of software available on
our smartphones allow people to edit whatever they want.

1.2 LINEAR EDITING

 Linear video editing is the process of selecting, arranging, and
modifying the images and sound recorded on videotape. In the days before
digital video formed the basis of editing, everything was done “tape to
tape”. This comprises copying sections of recording from one or more
master tapes onto a separate tape in a certain order.

In the early 1990s, many people used the term video editing
instead of linear video editing. Linear video editing is a mechanical
process that uses linear steps one cut at a time (or a series of programmed
FUNDAMENTALS
cuts) to its conclusion. It also uses Camcorders, VCRs, Edit Controllers,
and Mixers to perform the edit functions.

Linear editing was the most common form of video editing before
digital editing software became readily available. Film rolls had to be cut
and spliced together to form the final project. Since the editing process
required destroying the original reels, filmmakers had to have a
predetermined plan in place for their video. They worked in a linear order
from start to finish ensuring they didn’t make any mistakes.

Say you want to create a flashback structure. First, you copy the
scene with the hero returning to his mother’s house after several years.
Next, you transfer a scene in which the hero is played by a small boy and
the mother by a younger actor. Obviously, the transition needs to be
smooth, and the rhythm of the cuts needs to be pleasing.

As you can imagine (or maybe remember!), physically whizzing

through the tape to try and find the footage you want is time-consuming;
properly copying the excerpt at exactly the right time is hard! Making
mistakes is costly. If you bury a mistake on the tape you are recording to,
you will have to begin again.

Old TV shows which were created using linear editing were

simultaneously shot, one whole scene at a time on several cameras at once.
The editor would then mix the results. This is why they often look a bit
“stagey”.

1.2.1 TYPES

 in-camera editing
 Assemble editing, or insert editing.
In-Camera Editing:
Video shots are structured. In such a way that they are in order and
have the correct length. This process does not require any additional
equipment other than the Camcorder itself but requires good shooting and
organizational skills at the time of the shoot.
Assemble Editing:
Video shots do not have a specific order during the shooting. In
this process, the original footage remains intact requires. It requires at
least a camcorder and a VCR. A new tape contains the new rearranged
footage, without unneeded shots. Each scene or cut is assembled on a
blank tape, either one by one or in sequence.
There are two types of Assemble Editing:
 A Roll: Editing from a single source. It has the option of adding an
effect; such as titles or transitioning from a frozen image to the
start of the next cut or scene.
 A/B Roll: Editing from a minimum of two source VCRs or
Camcorders and recording to a third VCR. This technique requires
a Video Mixer or Edit Controller to provide smooth transitions
between the sources. Also, the sources must be electronically
“Sync’d” together so that the record signals are stable. The use of a
Time Base Corrector or Digital Frame Synchronizer is necessary
for the success of this technique.
Insert Editing:
We can use this technique during the raw shooting process or a
later editing process. New material replaces existing footage, deleting
some of the original footage.
1.2.2 PROS AND CONS
Pros: FUNDAMENTALS
1. It is simple and inexpensive. There are very few complications
with formats, hardware conflicts, etc.
2. For some jobs linear editing is better. For example, if all you want
to do is add two sections of video together, it is a lot quicker and
easier to edit tape-to-tape than to capture and edit on a hard drive.
3. Learning linear editing skills increases your knowledge base and
versatility. According to many professional editors, those who
learn linear editing first tend to become better all-round editors.
Cons:
1. It is not possible to insert or delete scenes from the master tape
without re-copying all the subsequent scenes. As each piece of
video clip must be laid down in real time, you would not be able to
go back to make a change without re-editing everything after the
change.
2. Because of the overdubbing that has to take place if you want to
replace a current clip with a new one, the two clips must be of the
exact same length. If the new clip is too short, the tail end of the
old clip will still appear on the master tape. If it’s too long, then
it’ll roll into the next scene. The solution is to either make the new
clip fit to the current one, or rebuild the project from the edit to the
end, both of which is not very pleasant. Meanwhile, all that
overdubbing also causes the image quality to degrade.

Benefits of linear video editing.

Linear editing was the most common form of video editing before digital
editing software became readily available. Film rolls had to be cut and
spliced together to form the final project.

Since the editing process required destroying the original reels,

filmmakers had to have a predetermined plan in place for their video.

They worked in a linear order from start to finish to ensure they didn’t
make any mistakes.
Although linear editing has largely been replaced by non-linear editing
(NLE), there are still a few benefits for modern digital content creators. It
continues to be:

Inexpensive — You don’t need fancy software. You can use linear editing
methods right on your camera or mobile device without any additional
software for some projects.

Logical and organized — It’s easy to stay on track when working

chronologically through a project.

Simple — There aren’t many complications with hardware conflicts or

formatting issues. Everything is straightforward, literally.

Although there are some benefits, linear editing tends to be more

restrictive. You can’t jump around and make changes throughout the
project. Once you make a change and move on, there’s no going back
unless you want to redo the entire project.

1.3 NON-LINEAR EDITING

In digital video editing, non-linear editing is a method that allows
you to access any frame in a digital video clip regardless of the sequence
in the clip. This method is similar in concept to the cut-and-paste
technique used in film editing from the beginning. This method allows you
to include fades, transitions, and other effects.
Initially, hard disks or other digital storage devices store video and
audio data. In other words, the data comes from a storage device or
another source. Once imported on a computer, you can use a wide range of
software to edit them.
A computer for non-linear video editing will usually have a video
capture card to capture analog video and a fire wire connection to capture
digital video from a DV camera. It also includes video editing software.
Modern web-based editing systems can take video directly from a camera
phone over a GPRS or 3G mobile connections. If the video edition takes
place through a web browser interface, a computer does FUNDAMENTALS
not require any
installed hardware or software beyond a web browser and an internet
connection.
Digital non-linear systems provide high-quality post-production
editing on a desktop computer. However, if storing images with lossy
compression, you will lose some details from the original recording.
No more tapes, no more fast-forwarding and rewinding, non-linear
editing is done on a computer with software. He has direct access to the
video or audio without having to “scrub” back and forth.
The footage is downloaded to the editor’s computer and then
loaded into a non-linear editor (NLE) such as Adobe Premiere Pro and
Final Cut Pro. In these programmes, he or she can duplicate, trim, overlay
and mix in audio and visual effects. When the video is completed, it can
be uploaded to the Cloud or transferred to a CDROM or USB drive.

Benefits of non-linear video editing.

It might seem more difficult to edit videos randomly, but non-linear video
editing provides several benefits to video makers.

First — it doesn’t modify the original content. Because non-linear editing

is accomplished with a video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro,
you can upload all the clips at once and drag and drop them to the proper
locations in the timeline. If you don’t like where something ends up, you
can easily move it without altering the rest of the project. You can

even edit videos on the go right from your mobile device.

Second — non-linear editing gives creators much more freedom
throughout the editing process. You can start working wherever you like.
If you don’t have a plan in place beforehand, that’s okay. Non-linear
editing lets you use a trial-and-error method. Make a bad edit? Just undo
the changes and try again. This method allows for much more creativity
than linear editing.

How to use non-linear editing.

The best way to reap the benefits of non-linear editing is to use

video editing software like Premiere Pro. That will allow you to upload all
your clips at once, then drag and drop them as you see fit. Even if you
don’t like the changes you made, you can undo them and try again until
your video looks exactly like you imagined.

Difference between Linear Editing and Nonlinear Editing

1. Linear Editing:

o Definition: Linear editing, also known as tape-to-tape editing, involves

arranging images and audio recordings in chronological order.

o Process: Editors work with physical film strips or video tapes. They cut
and splice these materials to create a logical sequence.

o Challenges: Editing clips that have already been added to the sequence
is challenging because the order is predetermined.
o Historical Context: Linear editing was popular for movies and TV
shows that used traditional film.

o Workflow Example: Imagine someone using footage from a camcorder

and VCR. They load the tape into a source deck, set in-points and out-
points, and record scenes onto another tape. This process repeats for each
scene.

2. Nonlinear Editing:

o Definition: Nonlinear editing is a more versatile method that relies on

advanced computer software.

o Process: Editors can arrange images and sounds in any order. They can
start in the middle or at the end of segments.

o Capabilities:

▪Copy and Paste: Editors can easily copy and paste clips.

▪ Restore Deleted Segments: Deleted segments can be restored.

▪ Color and Contrast Editing: Clips’ color, brightness, and contrast

can be adjusted.

o Example: An advertiser creating a promotional video for a new product

can intercut footage from different sources, adjust pacing, and add
narration and music. Nonlinear editing allows flexibility without affecting
the entire sequence.
 FUNDAMENTALS

1.3.1 TYPES
There are five types of non-linear editing are
 Offline editing
 Online editing
 Live editing
 Bespoke editing
 Cloud-based video editing
Offline editing:
As you might have experienced, 4K video contains a lot of
information. In fact, that most computers would struggle to process it. The
solution is offline editing, which is done on a lower-resolution copy of the
raw video in a format such as ProRes. This can be more easily edited in an
NLE. This is called the proxy footage and is used to help guide ideas for
what’s known as the “final cut”.
After edits have been made, the so-called “rough cut” is exported
with the original footage replacing the proxy. When the editing process is
done, the editor exports the project with a list of shots called an edit
decision list (EDL).
Now, the original raw video footage replaces the rough cut and an
online editor makes the changes.

Online editing:
Clearly, online editing is the other half of this process: cutting the
original high-quality footage together to follow the rough cut and EDL.
This is where editors will add visual effects, titles, and optimize color and
sound. Online editing requires powerful computers with plenty of RAM
and fast processors.
Live editing:
Also known as “vision mixing”, this is what happens to create a
live TV event like a sport’s competition. There is no post-production
process, but multiple pre-recorded videos are mixed in a live console to
create a live video feed on the fly. Live editing is routed through vision
mixing consoles, which can also produce various transitions and color
signals known as “mattes”.
Bespoke editing:
Like bespoke tailoring, bespoke video editing is made-to-measure.
Production companies create edits of events for clients such as a
conference or wedding.
The footage might be edited together from several cameras. The
aim is to find the best 45 minutes from, say, 10 hours of footage and then
create a narrative sufficient to create viewer interest and meet the movie
objective.
Cloud-based video editing:
Editors, producers, content creators, and directors can work
together on the material held in a secure central location without security
problems or latency issues.
These video editing types form the basis of most editing carried
out today, although there are obviously different genres of videos which
have their own quirks and particularities such as art video editing or
documentary film editing.

1.4 ECONOMY OF EXPRESSION

Economy of expression in video editing is an essential principle
that involves effectively conveying information, emotions, or storytelling
in a concise and impactful manner. It revolves around making deliberate
choices in selecting and arranging video clips, audio, transitions, and