I have looked into how to edit an action scene for a film. I have briefly looked at this for when I was researching how to pace the film, but I decided to look in to how to pace an action scene more as I need to plan how I am going to edit the fight scenes that are in the film at the beginning and end of the film. It is important for me to know how to edit a scene like this correctly as the fight scenes need to look as real as possible, which already is a challenge due to our inexperience with choreographing fight scenes and making sure our actors are safe while performing them.
1 – Cutting Frames
When shooting a stunt that requires impact such as a punch, a collision or a car crash…remove a couple of frames right before the impact to exaggerate and speed up the moment. By cutting out the 2 frames before a punch connects, you accelerate the action and deliver the decisive moment a fraction before the audience was expecting it. It adds a superhuman and extra-powerful feeling to the punch/collision/car crash and makes it appear more violent than it actually is. Those 2 frames removed can make a safe and sterile looking stunt suddenly seem viscerally realistic.
2 – Digital Snap Zoom
To emphasize something in a static camera shot…use your editing software to quickly zoom into the frame to point something out to the audience. This technique can used on a shot of a computer screen, a gun or a face. If utilized at the last possible moment, you can easily blow up an image by 200% and not worry about the resolution. By digitally zooming in you can create additional impetus to drive the edit to the next shot by introducing a sense of urgency at the pivotal moment. Often times on set, the take will end with a close up or a static frame during a dramatic moment. This technique allows you to utilise that moment…then build onto it and propel directly into the next shot. Stylistically, this is a bold visual decision but when used within a frenetic and chaotic sequence it can really add some excitement when you need it.
3 – Shoot at 22 frames per second
In 1913, Mack Sennett shot the 'Keystone Cops' at 12 frames per second and played it back at 24 frames per second. This sped up their actions two-fold and made their actions and movements extremely comical. The Keystone Cops ran, drove and prat-falled in every conceivable way much to the delight of the audience. This technique of under cranking the camera to get faster motion is a staple of action movies. For believable results shooting at 22 frames per second is a great starting point. For car chases, actors running and fight sequences, 22 frames per second retains a natural and authentic look but adds a palpable boost of energy. Once you get to 20 frames per second or less…you risk a comical or unnatural look to action. That’s not to say it won’t work…as the tone and genre of action films can vary from serious to full out comedy. Many cameras will allow you to dial in the frame rate and capture it directly. If your camera doesn’t have that option…change the speed by the appropriate percentage in your editing software. Experiment and use what works best for you.
I found these tips online and will look into these factors more in the future. But in my opinion, the 22 fps is unnecessary for our production as it could be too jumpy between the end scene of the film where it is all quite calm then suddenly a fight breaks out, this seems more suitable for more complex fight scenes or car chases than what is happening in this scene. But, the cutting frames is something I will be looking into for the fight scenes as it has to look believable that they are fighting and not acting like they are, and the digital snap zoom has given me ideas also, it could also be used to make a shot look tighter to look better than it originally is.
I found these tips online and will look into these factors more in the future. But in my opinion, the 22 fps is unnecessary for our production as it could be too jumpy between the end scene of the film where it is all quite calm then suddenly a fight breaks out, this seems more suitable for more complex fight scenes or car chases than what is happening in this scene. But, the cutting frames is something I will be looking into for the fight scenes as it has to look believable that they are fighting and not acting like they are, and the digital snap zoom has given me ideas also, it could also be used to make a shot look tighter to look better than it originally is.
