Agenda for 2/22: Premiere Basics

Agenda for 2.22:

Intro to Premiere

Film Clip (10-15 min)

Premiere Basics (45 min)

Either Reshoot or Edit (50 min)

Goals for today

Understanding the editing process

Folder Structure/Workflow

Premiere interface

Import footage

Creating sequences

Three-point editing

Cutting on the Timeline
Export
Save your premier file from the day with the date on it

Assignment Clarification

You're editing together. You should make all editing decisions together and share computer time. Film is a very collaborative industry and learning how to work with people who think differently from you is key. Just know that you and your partner probably won't agree on creative ideas or working style, and that's totally normal. Learning how to work inside that space respectfully is a really important skill. That's why we're making you work together.

You *may* have to edit outside class (open lab hours in 432N, 470N, the ICIT Mac lab on the 10th floor of the North building)

The focus on this assignment is good shooting and composition, and simple, easy editing. If your shots are good, you can literally lay 10-15 shots on the timeline (approx 10-15 seconds each so it's 2 minutes), leading us into the space, add transitions and be done.

What is the editing process about?

Breaking down shots/clips to create sequences to create meaning and drive the dramatic arc

Creating a system so you can find your footage easily, and pick out story components easily

How does Premiere Work?

Your Premiere Pro Project file does not actually contain your media, but rather it references your media. You’re creating a project file, where you edit your footage, and the program is reading the files.  This is why we stress file organization and keep everything in one folder.

In Premiere, you will lay your footage out on a timeline, edit it and create sequences to make your film. You will then export this project file, upload it and post it to your class blog.

Premiere Interface: There are 4 windows (must be highlighted by clicking in the window to work in them) and a Tool bar

Project Window - (Bottom left) This is where you store the elements of your project live - separate audio files, sequences, titles, video files, etc.

Source Window - (Upper left-hand) This is where you preview and trim the unedited version of each file.

Timeline - (Bottom right) The timeline is where you lay out your footage/audio and splice, edit and sequence it..  There are audio and video tracks on the timeline (A1, A2, V1, V2, etc.) and a timecode.  

Program Window - (Upper right) This is where you view the footage that is laid out on your timeline.

Tool Bar - (Bottom Center) all of the tools you need to cut your footage in a million ways.  For the next two weeks, we will mostly use the Razor tool (shortcut “c”) and the Pointer tool (shortcut “v”.)

Workflow Steps

Create a proper folder structure on your hard drive: Hunter > 160 MEDP > Assignment 1 > Video, Audio, Premiere, Exports

Create a new project in Premiere: Open Premiere > new project named DefineAPlace_Lastname-Lastname. Make sure the project is located in your “Premiere”  folder and that your scratch disks are all located in “Same as Project”

Import your footage: File > Import > Video.  The program will automatically unpack the AVCHD file into the individual MTS/Stream clips/files

Create a new sequence: File > New Sequence > Preset AVCHD 1080/24. Name it Everything

First we're going to scrub through all of our footage and cut out the bits you can't use. We're then going to put the usable bits on the timeline and on the sequence Everything

Edit using Three-point editing: Selecting “In” and “Out” points on your clips and either an “In” OR “Out” point on your sequence timeline.  “In” meaning where you want the clip to start, “out” meaning where you want the clip to end. Keyboard shortcuts are “i” and “o.”

First you’re going to preview all of your clips (using spacebar to play/pause, “J” to go backwards and “L” to go forwards) and select the portions you want in the Source window using the “i” and “o” keys for In and Out. "in" meaning where you want the clip to start and "o" meaning where you want the clip to end. Hit the comma key and it will automatically go on your timeline in the order you cut them.

Then create another sequence called "Best Of"

Pick out your favorite 15 clips, either in your Source window (your in/out marks will still be there) or from your Everything timeline (copy and paste) and put them on the Best Of sequence.

Save your current Premiere Project file.

Save your Project file from that day as "180222-DefineAPlaceProject" and either email it to yourself or upload it to Google Drive. This is in case your hard drive dies or your project file gets corrupted.

Export what you have into a MOV file using the following settings

You can use the rest of class time to either reshoot or to edit

For next week, you need to turn in a simple timeline edit (your 15 or so favorite clips, roughly 10-15 seconds each, or however you can get to 2 min, sequenced in a way that moves us through the space), so we can view them at the beginning of class and have a group feedback session

Next week: Group feedback session, then Transitions and Titles, and adding a music track to your timeline. (Bring a music file to class next week.)

Reminders:

You should be bringing your hard drives to lab EVERY WEEK.  If you’re having problems with your hard drive, you should have this sorted out BEFORE class.  If you need to get footage from your partner, you need to sort this out BEFORE class.

It’s good to have an idea of what you want before you start editing, but be open to change. Pre-visualize the beginning, middle and end.  What do you want to convey about the space?  

As you edit, remember the point of the assignment: Define a Place. This is a basic skill in filmmaking, and a foundation to build on. If you’re hired as a DP on a film and you’re given a scene to shoot, it will be up to you to define that space and translate that space visually to an audience. Show the audience what the space FEELS like.  Put them in it.  Take them on a journey of the space.