Studio Production: Trailer Editing & Result

When editing the trailer, I found it to be a relatively simple process, due to the fact that the GoPro shots are all continuous and do not need to be cut together. The process consisted of...

• Selecting the best framed, timed and performed clips from each 'school morning rule' segment
• Ordering them chronologically in the Final Cut timeline
• Speeding up parts of clips that dragged slightly, also saving time in the length of the trailer
• Reframing clips that showed too much - such as hair that had fallen down and parts of the set that needed to be cut out
• Cutting down unneeded parts of clips, such as pouring cereal and milk - cutting it to simply eating the cereal
• Adding the last clip to the timeline - the Sony EX1 shot clip of the 'mature' student saying "Sorry sir" and proceeding to wink at the camera. Then overlaying a new sound clip of her voice as no sound was recorded on the clip
• Creating the School Morning Rules and broadcast schedule GFX in Final Cut. By using a new blackboard template created by the DOP, and then simply overlaying the text with a typewriter-style transition. I felt that any dramatic effects on the GFX features of the trailer could have been overkill and was best to keep it simple
• Overlaying the presenter's voice recorded on a Rode Mic on filming day for the clip with the line of "You're late!" as the sound recorded on the GoPro was of too low quality
• Adding the presenter's voice over of the school morning rules and schedule over the GFX clips
• Adding the soundtrack and cutting the GFX and clips to the timing of the music to allow the trailer to flow together with the music
• Correcting any flaws and rough cuts in the sound
• Adding SFX sound from Freesound, consisting of: a yawn, a gasp, cutlery tapping ceramic (for the spoon and bowl), cereal crunching, brushing teeth sound and eating sweets sound. These added a realistic aspect to the POV feature and bring a slightly comical and childlike side to the trailer that is needed
• Colour correcting every clip and intensifying their exposure and saturation for a more vibrant and colourful overall look

The most challenging part of editing was overlaying the voice on the final clip. As when the DOP recorded this clip there was a technical issue with the sound and the clip resulted in being silent. To fix this, the DOP re-recorded her line in multiple takes, and I was able to lip sync her voice with the clip along with adding effects to make the voice sound like it's in the same room.

For the final trailer I also needed to use the same track used in the test shoot, as I couldn't wait for the show's theme song to be created any longer due to delays from the sound department. I felt that this music fit extremely well in the test shoot and think that it is actually more effective than the theme song, rather than continuously using the same track.

I feel that the GFX parts of the trailer have greatly improved since the first test shoot edit in comparison to the final result...

Test shoot trailer GFX - stretched blackboard & chalk, unfitting aspect ratio

Final result trailer GFX - Tidied blackboard & chalk, correctly fitting aspect ratio, transition added in editing

I also think that the overall appearance of the trailer is much more eyecatching due to colour correction in comparison with the original clips from filming...

Original clip

Enhanced clip

I think the end result of the trailer is an entertaining one that fits the theme of the show very well and suits the previously researched CBBC style. The only parts that I would change are the framing of some shots that needed to be cut around and more active actions performed if possible.

Below is the final trailer for Teach 'Em A Lesson...