Dialogue EditingDialogue Editing

What’s that?What’s that?

Goals of Dialogue EditingGoals of Dialogue Editing

Goals of Dialogue EditingGoals of Dialogue Editing

• Organize the material and get to know Organize the material and get to know it. Let the tracks tell you what to do.it. Let the tracks tell you what to do.

Goals of Dialogue EditingGoals of Dialogue Editing

• Organize the material and get to know Organize the material and get to know it. Let the tracks tell you what to do.it. Let the tracks tell you what to do.

• Smooth the transitions. Make each Smooth the transitions. Make each scene believable, dramatic and clear.scene believable, dramatic and clear.

Goals of Dialogue EditingGoals of Dialogue Editing

• Organize the material and get to know Organize the material and get to know it. Let the tracks tell you what to do.it. Let the tracks tell you what to do.

• Smooth the transitions. Make each Smooth the transitions. Make each scene believable, dramatic and clear.scene believable, dramatic and clear.

• Fix articulations and remove noises. Fix articulations and remove noises. Take the filmmaking out of the film. Take the filmmaking out of the film.

Goals of Dialogue EditingGoals of Dialogue Editing

• Organize the material and get to know Organize the material and get to know it. Let the tracks tell you what to do.it. Let the tracks tell you what to do.

• Smooth the transitions. Make each Smooth the transitions. Make each scene believable, dramatic and clear.scene believable, dramatic and clear.

• Fix articulations and remove noises. Fix articulations and remove noises. Take the filmmaking out of the film.Take the filmmaking out of the film.

• Enhance the story. Create perspective, Enhance the story. Create perspective, depth and focus. depth and focus.

• Prepare for ADR recording.Prepare for ADR recording.

• Determine proper sync.Determine proper sync.

• Prepare for the mix.Prepare for the mix.

• Prepare for the M&E mix.Prepare for the M&E mix.

Goals of Dialogue EditingGoals of Dialogue Editing (part 2) (part 2)

Serve the StoryServe the Story

What Materials What Materials MustMust You You Have Before You Start?Have Before You Start?

• OMF of locked picture, with all audio tracks• Video that matches this OMF (w/ TC burn-in)• Original recordings• Sound reports• EDLs: audio and video• Script• Picture continuities, if possible

OMF and Initial TracksOMF and Initial Tracks

Deleting dual mono information

Marking ScenesMarking Scenes

Organize Wild SoundOrganize Wild Sound

Script Break-downScript Break-down

Single camera shooting

• Scene 45: INT/night, Dinner at a restaurant • 45: Wide establishment shot of everyone at the table• 45A: Betty CU• 45B: Bob CU• 45C: Blanche CU• 45D: medium shot, POV kitchen

Single camera shooting

Pop Music Track PlanPop Music Track Plan

Organized TracksOrganized Tracks

Three Rules of ThumbThree Rules of Thumb

#1

Whenever possible, play only one source of room tone at a time.

Wall of Room ToneWall of Room Tone

Correct WayCorrect Way

Three Rules of ThumbThree Rules of Thumb

#2

Evenness is a trade-off between noise and smoothness.

Smooth TransitionsSmooth Transitions

Three Rules of ThumbThree Rules of Thumb

#3

Design scenes that require the least amount of processing.

Which Room Tone?

Remove NoisesRemove Noises

• Crew noises

• Actor’s noises

• Location noises

• “Reasonable” noises that nonetheless don’t belong in the film.

Remove NoisesRemove Noises

The solution: room tone and alternate takes.

Typical Radio Microphone Click

Most Clicks Aren’t Easy to See

Add Depth and Focus

Spotting the loops

Cue Sheets

Motion Picture Workflows

Classic Film Workflow

Single-system NTSC

NTSC: Shoot Film/Record Tape

NTSC: Shoot Film/Record Disk

Single-system PAL

PAL: Shoot Film/Record Tape

PAL: Shoot Film/Record Disk

Book Cover