editing video planning

Pre-production Planning:

Characters:

• Vedha (the character entering the room)
• Vikram (the character already seated at the table)

Setting: The room is dimly lit, with an air of tension hanging in the space. A table sits between the two characters. Vikram is already seated on one side, awaiting the arrival of Vedha. The door opens, and Vedha enters, his footsteps echoing softly on the floor. With deliberate calm, he crosses the room and takes a seat across from Vikram, the weight of the moment thick in the air.

Filming the Scene:

1. Wide Shot (Establishing the Room and Action)

• Action: The camera is set at a distance, capturing the room’s layout. We see Vikram seated at the table in the center of the frame, with the door at the far end of the room where Vedha will enter.

• Technical Details: This shot introduces the setting and shows the spatial relationship between the two characters. The door is visible, and the frame shows both characters in relation to the room.

2. Medium Shot (Match on Action: Vedha Opens the Door)

• Action: Cut to Vedha opening the door and entering the room. The shot captures him as he walks through the door. This shot can either be from a low angle (to create an imposing presence for Vedha) or a more neutral angle depending on the tone you're aiming for.

• Match on Action: As Vedha opens the door in the first shot, cut to the medium shot to show his continued movement walking across the room. The match here is that Vedha’s hand movements (turning the door handle) should smoothly transition into his stride across the room.

3. Close-up (Vedha’s Entry)

• Action: Cut to a close-up of Vedha's face as he walks toward the table. This shot builds tension and highlights Vedha’s focused, calm demeanor as he approaches Vikram.

• Technical Details: Use a tracking shot or a subtle camera dolly to follow Vedha’s movement toward the table. The focus is on his expression to convey the intensity of the moment.

4. Over-the-Shoulder Shot (Vikram’s Perspective, Establishing the Dialogue)

• Action: As Vedha walks toward the table, cut to an over-the-shoulder shot from Vikram's point of view, showing Vedha approaching the chair. The shot is framed from over Vikram’s shoulder, looking at Vedha as he sits down across from him.

• Technical Details: Ensure the room’s layout and characters' positioning are consistent. Vikram is seated in the foreground, while Vedha is seen walking into the frame. This establishes the spatial relationship between the two.

5. Close-up (Vedha Sits, Ready for the Conversation)

• Action: Cut to a close-up of Vedha’s hands as he sits down, possibly adjusting his position or relaxing into the chair. This shot focuses on his body language as he prepares to face Vikram.

• Match on Action: The transition from the medium shot of Vedha entering to this close-up should flow seamlessly, capturing the moment Vedha sits down while maintaining the continuity of the action.

6. Reverse Shot (Vikram’s Reaction, Dialogue Begins)

• Action: Cut to Vikram’s close-up as he reacts to Vedha sitting across from him. Vikram’s face is framed, showing his calm but intense response.

• Technical Details: This is the first shot of the dialogue exchange. It should show Vikram’s reaction to Vedha’s entrance and create anticipation for the conversation. Keep the 180-degree rule in mind — Vikram should remain on the same side of the axis throughout the dialogue exchange.

7. Shot/Reverse Shot (Dialogue Exchange)

• Action: As the conversation begins, continue alternating between reverse shots of each character.
• In the first reverse shot, show Vedha's close-up as he speaks his line to Vikram. Focus on his calm but intense expression.
• The next reverse shot can go back to Vikram’s close-up as he replies to Vedha.
• This creates a natural back-and-forth flow of the dialogue, maintaining visual and emotional tension.
• Technical Details: These shot/reverse shot transitions should feel seamless, highlighting the characters’ emotional states and the tension in the room. The dialogue should be placed at the center of the frame to emphasize the power dynamics and emotional stakes.

8. Over-the-Shoulder Shot (Continuing the Dialogue)

• Action: To break up the alternating close-ups and provide visual variety, cut to another over-the-shoulder shot from Vedha’s point of view. Show Vikram’s reaction to the conversation, possibly leaning in or maintaining eye contact.

• Technical Details: Ensure the spatial relationship is clear. The camera should follow the 180-degree rule throughout this sequence, keeping the characters on their respective sides of the axis.

9. Final Two-Shot (Concluding the Conversation)

• Action: As the conversation reaches its conclusion, consider cutting to a two-shot that shows both characters in the same frame. This gives the audience a sense of the power dynamics and finality of the scene.

• Technical Details: The two-shot might show both Vedha and Vikram at the table, allowing the audience to see both their expressions simultaneously, concluding the scene with a sense of balance.

Editing Techniques:

Match on Action

• Key Moment: When Vedha opens the door, the action of opening and walking through should be matched seamlessly. Cut from the door opening in a wide shot to Vedha’s movement across the room in a medium shot, maintaining the flow of the action. This ensures continuity of motion.

Shot/Reverse Shot

• Key Moment: As the dialogue begins, alternate between close-ups or over-the-shoulder shots of each character. This creates the shot/reverse shot pattern, allowing the audience to engage with both characters' perspectives during the conversation.

180-Degree Rule

• Key Moment: Maintain the 180-degree rule throughout the sequence to ensure the spatial relationship between Vedha and Vikram remains consistent. If Vedha is on the left side of the frame in the first shot, he should stay on the left for all subsequent shots, and Vikram should stay on the right side.