Full Editing Process for Whispering Walls

When reviewing the draft editng for Whispering Walls, I knew the areas of detail that needed my exceeded attention. My main focus points, for making this short film have the essence of suspense and inquisitiveness, were:

• the transition shots, for location/environment changes

• the musicaltiy enlining with the characters movements and speech

• colour grading

• audio gain and speed levels

• footage effects

While introducing Abbie Knight's character, Alana Corowall, I wanted to include some scenes that would contribute to the characters backstory. Therefore, when Alana is talking about her discovery and love for art, I found some stock footage of an art studio and a high school on mixkit.com. I had to find some stock footage, as I forgot to include these scenes, when in production. This footage's speed was reduced by 10-15%, for longer duration on-screen. In addition to the stock footage found, I chose to include a vintage video reel effect over the footage, along with colour grading. In my opinion, this gives the element of a 'flashback' more realism.

Another feature I wanted to experiment with in Adobe Premier Pro was reversing footage. This element partnered with the audio from 'Alana' adds to the emotion set to the audience - Alana talks postitbiely about her younger secondary school days, but finds being creaive in college a struggle. The scenes I chose to include in the reverse sequence are all those shown, up to 1:45. The speed of this footage I increased to 4000%. This is because, with the audio found on Pixabay.com, the frequency of this effect will be short.

For one of the most intense scenes, colour grading was the main focus for 'Julia's' (Luna Coret) implied attack/death. Even though special effects makeup was used during production (fake blood), I knew adding a more vibrant colour palette to this scene would draw in the audience's attention more, along with the increased audio gain scream. Additionally, to make the colour effects as bold as possible, I adjusted the settings to 100% on saturation, vibrance and sharpen.

Another intense scene is when 'Alana' falls down the stairs, before facing the 'Shadow'. This scene had its speed reduced to 60% with optical flow, for a smoother transtion, from 100%. This effect also adds to the dramatic stunt and the characters emotions, during and after the fall.

Similar to the flashbacks at the start of Whispering Walls, while she reads through the diary she finds, 'Alana' discovers the story of 'Julia and Simon's' relationship. These flashbacks, with the added effects of decreased opacity, cropped size, vintage video footage overlay and colour grading (centering a yellow-brown shade), give the audience insight to how 'Alana' envisions their partnership in the diary. In addition, I found some stock audio tracks of piano instrumental from BBCSounds.com. This sound, over the altered footage, expands the audiences knowledge of 'Julia and Simon's' relationship characteristics (love birds to violent) and their assigned era (mid 20th century).

Further towards the films ending, another sound effect is added over a scene using special effects makeup. When 'Alana' finds her hands covered in fake blood in the girls bathroom, the transition from her looking around to down at her hands is sudden. Therefore, I chose a sound effect from Uppbeat.com that was short, yet very deep and echoed. This style of audio adds to the dramatic change in the characters conditions.