tighten it up

For: Groups of Two
Difficulty: Advanced

Objective
Upon completion of this lesson, students will demonstrate the ability to edit a sequence, then tighten it by cutting time off of their first edit.

Points to emphasize

• Editing is about removing videography mistakes and also about understanding the “life- span” of an individual shot.

• TV is a time-based medium; time is money in broadcasting. Everything that can be shorter should be shorter.

Equipment: One camera, tripod, and editing station per group

Assignment

Each team will shoot a sequence of a student walking into the school building, stopping to get a drink at a water fountain, then going into a classroom to sit down and read a book. After the raw footage is shot, the teams must edit the sequence into a 15-second story. Once you approve that edit, ask students to re-edit the sequence to 10 seconds.

NOTE: You can come up with the specifics of the assignment to fit their surroundings. Allow teams one class period to shoot and one to edit. Do not allow narration or music. Challenge the students to shoot lots of natural sounds (doors opening and closing, footsteps, water fountain sounds, etc.).

BONUS: Consider challenging the students to edit the package even further to an 8-second sequence for extra credit, or to foster discussion about which sequence ultimately is most effective.

Relevant Lessons:
Volume 1, Chapter 3: “Sequences”