How To Shoot & Edit Dialog Scenes - Part 1

Summary

In this video, Jason Tumeric explores the art of editing dialogue scenes in filmmaking. He emphasizes the importance of shooting scenes with ample coverage to provide editors with options, including establishing shots and over-the-shoulder angles. Tumeric advises against overlapping dialogue during close-ups to maintain clean edits and suggests varying emotional intensity in takes for more post-production flexibility. He also discusses the technique of minimizing ambient sound on set to allow for controlled addition in post-production. The video concludes with a promotion for Tumeric's comprehensive filmmaking course, which offers in-depth training and resources for aspiring filmmakers.

Takeaways

• 🎬 Editing dialogue scenes can significantly influence the emotional tone and audience engagement in a movie.
• 📹 Providing editors with various shot options during filming is crucial for enhancing the final performance in post-production.
• 📽 Coverage is key: Filming entire takes ensures that editors have all the material needed to make informed decisions during editing.
• 🤝 Over-the-shoulder shots and clean single shots are essential for capturing each actor's performance without overlapping dialogue.
• 🚫 Avoiding dialogue overlap during filming allows for more creative control in editing, enabling the manipulation of emotional intensity.
• 🎞 The way actors deliver their lines on set can greatly affect the technical feasibility and quality of the scene in post-production.
• 🔊 Minimizing ambient sound on set is important as it allows for greater control over the audio in post-production.
• 🎥 Shooting clean dialogues without interruptions ensures that each line can be clearly heard and used effectively in the editing process.
• 🎦 The editing process can transform the nature of a scene, even if the on-set performance was improvised or different from take to take.
• 🎥 Experimenting with different emotional intensities during filming provides editors with a range of options to choose from in post-production.

Q & A

What is the significance of dialogue scenes in a movie?

Dialogue scenes make up a significant portion of a movie and when done right, they draw an audience into the moment between characters, shaping the emotional tone of the scene.

How can an actor's performance in a dialogue scene be manipulated?

An actor's performance can be manipulated through the use of editing, including choices of when to cut, how long to hold on a reaction shot, and the pacing of the edits.

Why is it important to shoot a dialogue scene in a way that gives the editor many options?

Shooting a dialogue scene with many options allows the director and editor to craft the performances in post-production, providing flexibility in the final editing process.

What is meant by 'coverage' in the context of filming a dialogue scene?

Coverage refers to shooting an entire take from beginning to end, ensuring the entire scene is covered and providing the editor with complete material to work with.

Why is it crucial to avoid overlapping dialogue when shooting close-ups and reverses?

Avoiding overlapping dialogue in close-ups and reverses allows the editor to control the emotional intensity of the scene by manipulating the overlap, pauses, and inserts without continuity issues.

What is the proper way to shoot a dialogue scene to facilitate easier editing?

The proper way is to ensure each actor's lines are recorded separately without overlap, and to shoot clean singles or tight over-the-shoulder shots to avoid seeing the other actor's mouth.

Why should ambient sound be removed as much as possible during the filming of dialogue scenes?

Ambient sound should be minimized to give the editor control over the type, volume, and tone of the sound in post-production, as it's always added later and can be difficult to change once recorded.

What is the impact of recording ambient sound naturally on set during a dialogue scene?

Recording ambient sound naturally can make it hard to remove or change it later, and can cause a shift in ambience when editing different shots together, drawing attention to the edit.

How can the emotional intensity of a dialogue scene be controlled in the editing room?

The emotional intensity can be controlled by adjusting the overlap of dialogue, adding pauses, cutting to insert shots, and manipulating the timing between actors' lines.

What additional advice is given for shooting dialogue scenes to enhance the editing process?

To enhance the editing process, try different takes of varying emotional intensity, and consider shooting clean singles or tight shots to avoid continuity issues.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Effective Dialogue Scene Editing Techniques

Jason Tumeric introduces the importance of editing in shaping the emotional tone of dialogue scenes in films. He emphasizes the need for providing editors with as many options as possible during the shooting process to enhance the final performance in post-production. Techniques such as shooting wide shots, over-the-shoulder shots, and ensuring clean recording of each actor's lines without stepping on each other's dialogue are discussed. The importance of rolling through entire takes for coverage and avoiding overlapping dialogue in close-ups is highlighted to give editors the flexibility to manipulate the emotional intensity of a scene.

05:01

🎥 Shooting Techniques for Dialogue Scenes

This section delves into the specifics of shooting dialogue scenes effectively. It advises on capturing clean singles or tight shots to prevent continuity issues and suggests varying the emotional intensity in different takes to provide more editing options. The paragraph also addresses the issue of ambient sound, suggesting that it should be minimized on set since it's typically added in post-production. This allows editors to control the type, volume, and tone of the ambience, avoiding the problem of inconsistent ambient sounds between shots which can be distracting in the final edit.

10:02

🎓 Advancing Filmmaking Skills with Film Skills Unlimited

Jason Tumeric concludes by promoting his comprehensive online training program, Film Skills Unlimited, which partners with industry leaders to provide an extensive curriculum used by over 115 film schools and universities. The course covers a wide range of filmmaking topics, from screenwriting and directing to cinematography and post-production. He also mentions exclusive discounts for software and gear, access to projects and exercises, and personal mentoring opportunities. Lastly, he invites viewers to a free one-hour filmmaking course, offering top secrets for achieving a professional look in film production.

Keywords

💡Dialogue Scene

A dialogue scene in film is a sequence where characters communicate with each other, often driving the narrative forward. In the script, the importance of effectively editing these scenes is emphasized to draw the audience into the emotional dynamics between characters. The video discusses how editing choices, such as when to cut or hold on a reaction shot, can manipulate the emotional tone of the scene.

💡Editing

Editing in film refers to the process of selecting and combining shots to create a cohesive narrative. The script highlights that editing can significantly alter the emotional impact of a scene. It's not just about assembling shots but also about controlling the emotional intensity through the manipulation of dialogue overlaps and pacing.

💡Coverage

Coverage in filmmaking is the practice of shooting a scene from multiple angles and setups to provide editors with various options. The script mentions that shooting a dialogue scene with full coverage allows editors to have the flexibility to craft the performances in post-production, which is crucial for maintaining the emotional integrity of the scene.

💡Over-the-Shoulder Shot

An over-the-shoulder shot is a camera angle where the shot is taken from behind one character's shoulder, looking at another character. The script explains that capturing these shots for each actor throughout the entire action is important for providing complete coverage and ensuring that editors have all necessary perspectives to construct the scene.

💡Ambient Sound

Ambient sound refers to the natural sounds of the environment in which a scene is set. The script advises filmmakers to minimize ambient sound during filming, as it can be controlled and adjusted later in post-production. This allows editors to maintain consistency and focus on the dialogue without unwanted noise interference.

💡Continuity

Continuity in film editing ensures that actions, movements, and other details appear consistent throughout a scene. The script suggests shooting clean singles or tight shots to avoid seeing the other actor's mouth in over-the-shoulder shots, which helps maintain continuity and makes the editing process smoother.

💡Emotional Intensity

Emotional intensity refers to the level of emotion conveyed in a scene. The script discusses how editors can control this by adjusting the overlap of dialogue and the pacing of edits, which can make a scene feel more realistic or increase dramatic tension.

💡Overlap

Overlap in dialogue refers to when characters' lines of dialogue run into each other, creating a sense of natural conversation. The script uses the example of increasing overlap to make a scene sound more like a real argument, demonstrating how editing can enhance the realism and emotional impact.

💡Pacing

Pacing in film editing is the speed at which the narrative unfolds through the arrangement of shots and scenes. The script mentions that the pacing of edits in a dialogue scene can shape the emotional tone, with faster cuts creating tension and slower cuts allowing for more reflection.

💡Post-Production

Post-production is the phase of filmmaking where the footage is edited and finalized. The script emphasizes the importance of post-production in shaping performances and the overall impact of a scene, suggesting that careful shooting on set allows for greater control in post-production.

💡Film Skills

Film skills are the technical and creative abilities required to make films. The script refers to 'Film Skills Unlimited,' an online training curriculum that aims to improve these skills. It suggests that learning and practicing these skills can lead to professional growth and better filmmaking.

Highlights

Dialogue scenes are crucial for drawing audiences into the moment between characters.

An actor's performance can be manipulated through editing choices such as when to cut and the pacing of edits.

To effectively edit a dialogue scene, it's important to shoot it in a way that provides the editor with many options.

Shooting a scene with full coverage allows for more editorial flexibility in post-production.

Establishing shots are essential to set the scene's location and context.

Over-the-shoulder shots on each actor provide crucial angles for editing.

Avoiding dialogue overlap in close-ups is key for maintaining continuity and emotional impact.

Recording clean lines separately ensures the editor has the material to manipulate the scene's emotional tone.

Improvised dialogue can make editing difficult due to inconsistent takes.

Properly shot scenes allow editors to control the emotional intensity through dialogue overlap and pauses.

Shooting scenes with clean singles or tight shots helps with continuity and editing.

Experimenting with different emotional intensities in takes provides more editing options.

Minimizing ambient sound on set allows for greater control over the sound design in post-production.

Changes in ambient sound can draw attention to edits, so controlling it on set is beneficial.

Reducing ambient noise on set helps in achieving a cleaner audio recording for the dialogue.

Film Skills Unlimited offers a comprehensive online training curriculum for filmmakers.

The course includes insights from award-winning filmmakers and special discounts on software and gear.

A free one-hour filmmaking course is available, sharing top secrets for achieving a professional look.

Transcripts

[Music]

hello i'm jason tumeric

dialogue scenes make up a significant

portion of a movie and when they're done

right they draw an audience into the

moment between the characters

well the actor's performance in the

scene can be manipulated through the use

of editing

your choices of when to cut from one

person to another how long to hold on a

reaction shot and the pacing of the

edits all help shape the emotional tone

of the scene

so in this lesson we're going to explore

techniques for effectively editing a

dialogue scene

before we can get into the

technicalities of editing a dialogue

scene i'd like to share a few pointers

on how to properly shoot a dialogue

scene first

every scene should be shot in a way that

gives the editor as many options as

possible in the editing room

the reason for this is because you want

to be able to provide options

in the final editing process and so if

you're making editorial decisions on how

long to shoot for example one angle on

one performer

and then you cut away from that

well they're still talking

they're still emoting

and if the director chooses to cut away

from that that material is no longer

available in in the edit bay and you can

lose very valuable

material you can significantly alter the

emotional impact of a scene simply by

the way you edit it and by giving the

editor as many options as possible the

director and editor can help craft the

performances of each scene in

post-production so how do we do this

well it all starts on set when a

dialogue scene is being filmed

if you have a couple eating dinner

you would want to start off with a wide

shot an establishing shot and you can

see both of them and you can see the

restaurant or elements of the restaurant

around them this establishes their

location and you want to be able to roll

through an entire take that way you have

the entire scene covered which is why we

call it coverage

the next shots that are generally

considered in in a standard shoot would

be the over-the-shoulder shot

most importantly

on each actor and each performance you

want to roll through all the way through

again from beginning of action to the

end of action

then you want to reverse the angle and

you want to get the female performer

from beginning of action to the end of

the action

make sure the actors do not step on each

other's lines when you're shooting the

scene on set even if the scene calls for

the characters to cut each other off in

say an argument scene

make sure each actor's lines are

recorded separately for example

in this scene the actor's dialogue was

recorded incorrectly

julia

what what what do you know what time it

is no you know what time it is right now

you're four hours late i'm not four

hours late i am not foreign

manager's dialogue steps all over the

waitress's dialogue in her medium shot

and she steps all over his lines in his

medium shot and there's no way to remove

the overlapping dialogue in the scene

we're basically stuck with the way the

footage was shot

and because it was partially improvised

each take is slightly different from the

next making it even more difficult to

edit between the actors medium shots

well the overlapping dialog makes it

nearly impossible for the editor to

assemble the scene

forcing them instead to cut around the

dialogue instead of editing for the

emotion of the scene

well this is a perfect example of how

not to shoot dialogue

even though the performance seems real

on set in the way the actors interact

with each other it doesn't work

technically and it severely affects the

quality of the scene

now let's take a look at the correct way

to shoot the scene each actor will still

say the same lines but this time on set

they won't walk all over each other's

dialogue so each actor should pause

before replying or the off-screen actors

line should be inaudible now it is

challenging for an actor to perform this

way but as you'll see it's much easier

to edit

no i'm not four hours late what are you

talking about no no no no you know what

you just give me a break i'm never late

no that you're so unfair no you're

unfair don't turn around no hey

four hours late that's absolutely

ridiculous you can't keep doing this to

me and you're a mess when you show up to

work and you serve your customers

terribly i'm doing all your work by

shooting the scene this way the editor

is able to control just how much the

actor's dialogue overlaps they can

manipulate the emotional intensity of

the scene by increasing the overlap or

decreasing the overlap they can add

pauses they can cut to insert shots

essentially changing the nature of the

scene in the editing room for example

take a listen to how the scene sounds

when we assemble it loosely allowing a

little bit of time between each actor's

lines

what four hours late

no i'm not four hours late what are you

talking about four hours late that's

absolutely ridiculous

no no no no you know what

give me a break i'm never late no that

you're so unfair you can't keep doing

this to me and you're a mess when you

show up to work and you serve you may

have noticed that the scene sounds

staged and very staccato well if we

wanted to increase the dramatic tension

in the scene or just make it sound more

realistic we have the option of

increasing the overlap between each

actor's lines so that it sounds like

they're talking over each other

now even though it wasn't shot this way

on set the editor can increase the

intensity of the scene by editing it so

that the actors are talking over each

other

julia

what four hours late no i'm not four

hours late four hours late that's

absolutely ridiculous no you know what

you just give me a break you can't keep

doing this to me

and you're a mess when you show up to

work and you serve your customers

terribly i'm doing all your work for you

every time you serve somebody i gotta

copy them the way you treat them no no

no you know what take your apron off and

go

i quit

i quit you're fired you're gonna miss me

no i don't care okay whatever

the final result sounds natural as if

the actors were actually arguing and

cutting each other off

well this little bit of movie magic

gives the director and the editor more

control of the performances even after

the scene has been shot

so you can see that editing this

dialogue scene isn't just about

assembling the shots but because it was

shot properly the editor can control the

emotional intensity of the scene

allowing the director to make

storytelling decisions in the editing

room instead of on the set

so when you're shooting a dialogue scene

on set the actor's dialogue can overlap

when they're both in the same shot

namely a wide shot or the master

but for close-ups and reverses make sure

you shoot each actor's lines clean with

no overlap

your framing on the close-up also

matters so considering shooting clean

singles or tight the shoulder shots to

avoid seeing the other actor's mouth and

this will help you edit the scene

without having to worry about continuity

and lastly on set don't be afraid to try

a couple different takes of varying

emotional intensity and that way you

have even more options when you're

editing the scene in post

[Music]

the second technique in recording onset

dialogue is to remove as much of the

ambient sound as possible now ambient

sound is the sound of the location it's

the waves at the beach or the cars and

pedestrians on a busy city street

although these sounds add realism to the

scene these ambient sounds are always

added later in the editing room giving

the editor control over not only what

type of ambience to use but also the

volume and the tone of the sound

now were you to record the ambience

naturally on set

it'll be really hard to remove it or

change it once it was recorded

so recording the ambient sunset poses

another problem well it changes

say you have two actors talking to each

other when you shoot one actor's lines

well the microphone placement will not

only record their dialogue but also the

ambient sound

what does this get me

so that when you switch the camera to

shoot the other actors lines

my silence

the tone of the ambience changes because

you change the microphone's position

so when you edit these two shots

together the shift in ambience is what

draws the attention to the edit

and you're going to help us win

and if i don't

bribery's a felony dana so speaking of

this is how things get done

now although you can use noise reduction

filters and eq settings to reduce the

effect of the ambience you can never

fully remove it

so when you're shooting a dialogue seen

on set try to reduce as much of the

ambience as possible so you only record

the actors dialogues and movement

alright guys there you have it a few

techniques to help you improve your film

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[Music]

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