The Trailer Editing

The first step after filming was to import the footage which we had filmed onto the computer. We used Apple macs for the editing process and the software which we used was called Premier Pro. With only being able to use one computer at a time to edit we both decided Sarah would be more useful operating the computer because she has more experience with this program and knows where everything is which would save time. At times when we worked alone we would take notes on what needed to be done and worked on those.

The footage was taken from the camera and put onto the computer, we copied onto the mac and Adobe premier pro was opened and imported the stream of clips. They were dragged onto the video bar and we started to cut and re-arrange clips, using the razor tool to cut and the selection tool to move them, the zoom in and out made for more precise.

To make clips shorter Sarah used the rate stretch tool to shorten the length of the clip, this can be used to lengthen clips too.

To insert a title.


At the start of most trailers there is an image which tells the audience the trailer is able to be viewed by anyone or a specific age group. We called it the green screen. To capture the green screen, we found a trailer on Youtube and paused it at the right point. For the best image we made the video full screen and made a screen dump by pressing Shift+Apple Key+4. The image saves onto the desktop where Sarah imported it, dragged it to video bar before adjusting the size and rendering it.


A convention found commonly in horror films is a fade to black transition and we used this a lot in the start when introducing the poison pen captions. This was achieved by selecting video transitions > dissolve > dip to black.

To get an audio track for our trailer we used a converter which converts videos on YouTube into mp3 format so it can be used as a music track. This is downloaded as a file which we imported to Premier Pro and added it to the audio bar so it plays whilst the trailer plays. Like the footage we were able to click and drag the audio to determine when it starts. The music enters after the Bruckheimer Films clip. The audio we chose to use was an Evanescense instrumental.

To create the typewriter effect on the 'SCORPION EYE' we had to create 12 different frames each with an added letter until it eventually spelled 'SCORPION EYE' we had to make sure the letters didn't move too much from the frame before but some movement was good because it makes it seem more jumpy.

The Re-shoot Schedule

1. Chase scene through forest path

Too shaky because filming running alongside actor.

NEXT TIME: Film long shot and have actors run towards camera.

RE-SHOOT: 25th November 2010 3:30pm - 4:00pm (beginning to get dark)

2. Break in scene

Continuity error, door wasn't open enough in one shot, next shot the door was too open.

NEXT TIME: Film both scenes and have door open all the way in each then match during editing

RE-SHOOT: 25th November 2010 6:00pm (completely dark)

3. Running out of house

Reflection of person filming in front window.

NEXT TIME: Film from an angle which doesn't reflect in the window and for the shot directly in front of the window use tripod and stand away. Tripod is less obvious and can hardly be seen

RE-SHOOT: 25th November 2010 6:10 (completely dark)

4. Restless sleep

Doesn't look realistic.

NEXT TIME: Take some practice shots judge what needs to be different, and mess up hair.

RE-SHOOT: 25th November 2010 6:30 (can't see outside so time is not essential)

5. Blurry waking up shot

Unable to shoot because actor is unavailable

NEXT TIME: Use look alike, someone with same build and size. Make sure the camera doesn't focus enough to see detail

RE-SHOOT: 25th November 2010 6:45

The Filming Schedule

October 12th

• Film the setting in day and night
• Forest area to set scene in during the trailer.
• Use pans and zooms.
• Must Be slow to create an eerie feel.
• No actors needed.

October 13th

• Re shoot night setting earlier (at dusk) not sufficient lighting to shoot in darkness

October 29th

• Film front door scenes with protagonist (Still camera looking at door slight tilt to represent something unusual)
• Pick up mail montage, change appearance of arm so it looks like its on different days (Close up on mail, only see hand and wrist)
• Reading letters and putting on the table. (Over shoulder shot then short pan around to see table)
• Actors needed - Helen Palmer

November 14th

• Film the break in
• Gloved hand opening door shot from inside and outside (Pan from letters on table to door, close up on door handle)
• Pick up knife (Close up on knife block, slowly pulls out menacing blade)
• Shadow in frosted glass door (Similar to front door shot static camera, bright kitchen light contrast with dark figure)
• Protagonist wake up shock (Point of view shot from the intruder looking at protagonist, point of view shot from protagonist at intruder, blurry to show awakening from deep sleep)
• Also film alcohol sequence where actor slams a bottle of drink down on a table and rolls over asleep. Under the influence = Vulnerable (shot from the level of the protagonist on the couch. Camera pointing at where the bottle will be put down)
• Actors needed - Helen Palmer, Joe Phipps

November 20th

• Chase scenes through forest (tracking shot of both protagonist and intruder)
• Running out of the house (shot from front, back and side to get different angles of running to, away and past the camera)
• Take photos for poster, magazine and other print advertising.