Editing Log - Entry 1

Text Graphics

My film has two scenes where the main characters, Lauren and Chloe, converse via text. My original idea was to film the phone screen as Lauren received the texts but I had to discard this idea when I realised you could see the camera reflected in the screen. To solve this problem I have decided to add the texts over the footage so that I can control the speed in which the texts are sent and received. The effect will be similar to in the hit TV series Sherlock where the same technique is used in this way. (See my post Other Influences) 

However, this isn’t the only way I intend to use text graphics in my film. During the editing process I found that the second park scene seemed to jar as it was the only scene where there was any dialogue. For this reason I am going to mute the sound on the scene and add the text separately. After completing my textual analysis of a silent film and identifying the conventions I said that I intended to use Intertitles as seen in many original silent films but when I put this into practice I found it hard to make it flow as seamlessly as I wanted it to. To solve both of these problems I have used the text effect 'racking focus' to write key parts of what they say over the footage. The overall affect is slightly confusing but I like this because when you are apologising to someone you tend to bable and this confusion replicates that. 

I feel the impact will be greater if the only sound is emotional non-diegetic music that sets the mood so I am pleased with this development.