Molten Sky Documentary Video Edit

FCPx Template

The template includes a logo, titles for the couples names and wedding date, pre ceremony, post ceremony and evening music and the sections laid out. Each section has a 2 second gap with cross dissolves, please use this for the projects as it give a second or so to fade out the music.

The template can be downloaded at the following link; https://www.dropbox.com/s/p8929h3wrftcovn/VideoEditorsFilesApril2019.zip?dl=0

Drone Footage

Cut out all the bad shaky bits or when the camera is recomposing and present all the drone footage at the start of the each section on the timeline. Even if it’s just a shot of a field or the top of trees I may want to use it. (I don’t shoot drone at all weddings, but most.)

Morning Preparation

Open with outside location shots if available. Drone If available.
Include the bride and grooms first names and the date of the wedding on the second or third shot. The titles are included in the template.
There is usually a few nature shots, dog, flowers, cows, sheep etc. include a few of these at the start if available.
Followed by 3-4 detail shots starting with dress, shoes ring, & flowers.
Open with shots of the bride, the first person to appear should always be the bride if possible, not family or bridesmaids.
Continue in chronological order mixing b roll in every few clips.
If there is groom preparation coverage cut them into 3-4 clip sets and mix them in with the bridal footage. Also make sure the first clip of people is the groom rather than a groomsman if possible.
Clips for the groom prep can be longer (4-5 seconds) than the bride prep clips as there is usually not as many so it will help balance it better.
Don’t have make up shots or hair of two different girls back to back as it is visually jarring.
If there is a sequence of make up/hair shots start wide and finish tight.
1-2 seconds is long enough for most b roll shots.
2-3 seconds is usually plenty for most other shots unless there is good animation, bridal party laughing, drinking champagne etc. In other words if it is boring keep it short; if it is good longer is fine.
There is normally 3-5 minutes of usable footage from this part of the day.
When culling the highlight clips for each part of the day please include all usable clips, I can delete if necessary. I find it very frustrating when editors don’t do this and just include a few clips; it is a doc edit not a highlights/best of.
Introduce the church footage before the bride gets into here dress and then every 5-6 shots add 2-3 shots of the bride prep.
Groom prep should end before the church footage.

Audio For Morning Prep

You can keep the audio from all the clips, just set them all to -15db (ctrl and press the – (minus key 15 times).

If there is loud noises, hair dryers, the photographer talking or sudden bangs in the highlights section just mute it and increase the volume for laughter.

Before the Ceremony

Start with outside location shots (there is usually drone coverage) followed by inside shots of the church/room, flowers candles etc.
Ideally the first person shot should be the groom if possible, although it is ok to have shots of people arriving at the ceremony before the groom if they appear this way naturally.
Continue in chronological order mixing b roll in every few clips.
There are usually 4 cameras for the ceremony, 3 static cameras and the main cam. Please skim through the 3 static cameras and take a few clips for each, the groom hugging people, looking at his watch, laughing with the groom’s men etc.
Be very careful of continuity when using these clips and be aware of chronological order. Don’t have the church almost full in one shot and then half empty in a few shots later.

Brides Arrival to Church/Ceremony Location

This is a very important sequence for me to build up tension and anticipation.
When bride arrives cut every second shot between the bride and groom while he is at the altar. If there is a shortage of groom shots waiting at the alter, mix in a few shots of the guests, I don’t want a load of bride or groom shots in a row. You can get shots from the static cameras of the groom.
Make sure the last shot of the bride or groom before the ceremony begins.
There is normally approx. 2 minutes of usable footage from this part of the day.

Audio for before the Ceremony

Same as all highlight clips for prep, keep audio for all video clips at -15db to create some atmosphere.

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Morning Prep / Pre Ceremony Examples

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Ceremony

Typical sequence of events for Irish Catholic Weddings;

walking down aisle
lighting Candles / Introduction from priest (either can be first)
Reading 1 (Guest)
Music between readings (Psalms)
Reading 2 (Guest)
Gospel
Homily
Vows
lighting candles
Prayer of news married couple (most ceremonies, not all)
Prayers of the faithful (Guests)
Mothers brings up the gifts
Consecration/communion
Communion Reflection
Closing prayer/thoughts from priest.

The ceremony begins when the music start and the people stand up.
The ceremony is usually captured with 4 cameras. Ideally I would like the camera angle to cut every 10-20 seconds during the ceremony with a little less emphasis on the congregation camera. Of course for the important bits like the vows it is not necessary to swap between all four views all the time.
For the bride coming down the aisle use the main cam as much as possible with a few cuts to the groom. If it is a very long aisle you can cut more often.
Please include all of the ceremony from start to finish, there is no need to cut the silent parts or the in-between bits such as people walking up the do the readings etc. unless there is no steady footage.
After the vows/kiss it is nice to cut to a wide shot of the congregations applause if available.
Cut to a wide angle for the readings or prayers of the faithful between the speakers changing.
For catholic ceremonies once the mothers bring up the gifts the holy/Sunday mass part of the ceremony, you do not need to cut to edit it and cut to different angles, just leave it as it is. I do not deliver this part to the couple as it is very boring, however I do want it included in case they come back to me complaining it is missing. I will cut it out myself. Once the priest starts talking again after the ceremony continuing editing and cutting to different angles.
The ceremony chapter ends when the priest finished talking and everyone blesses themselves. (This may vary for civil ceremonies) Signing the register is part of ‘after the ceremony’ chapter in church weddings.
Please avoid shaky footage; there is no need with a few angles to choose from.
If there is a quite part of the ceremony where no one is speaking please make sure there is some background audio from one of the recorders even if its just congregation noises.
Please make sure that if you use plural eyes and some of the clips don’t sync with the software, sync them manually, especially if they are important clips.

Audio For the Ceremony

All files beginning with ‘c’ are the church/ceremony audio files.

cReaders1.wav is set up at the readers stand with a lav mic.

cVows.wav is a recorder and lav mic on the groom it can also be called cGroom.wav

cPrisst.wav is a recorder and lav mic on the priest or celebrant. Sometimes the Priests are assholes and won’t let us mic them.

cMusic.wav is for the band / singers

cAlter.wav is placed on the alter behind the flowers to pick up the priest/celebrant. We don’t always use this option.

Sometimes we place a recorder on the main mic the priest uses for the vows. cMainMic.wav or something similar.

cSpeaker1.wav and cSpeaker2.wav are backups taped to the church speakers. They are only to be used if one of the main audio sources is poor. Sometimes the speakers are too high for us to reach so we just leave them in random places so the quality is a lot worse than normal.

The groom and priest recorders have two audio files at 2 different volumes, please use the best one.

Overlap audio tracks so they don’t come to an abrupt halt please.

Some times it may be necessary to have two audio tracks at once, such as the vows and the priest together.

All the audio should appear in the inspector window as below so it can be easily changed from one source to another with a simple click.

Please make sure that the audio is level throughout the ceremony so the audio tracks are between -6 and -12 db so the viewer doesn’t have to continuously change the volume levels on their TV

Audio channels should overlap to avoid silent parts and should be eased in and out. For the Audio to appear under the footage like above, detach audio from the first clip and drag it across the full length of the edit. You can also detach the audio from the rest of the clips and delete it.

Do not wrap the audio files for the ceremony.

After the Ceremony

Short clips of signing of the register are fine, 3-4secs. There is usually 5 people signing, bride, groom, celebrant/priest and two witnesses, please include all people.
Include the alter shot of the bridal party if available.
After the signing include as much usable footage of the bride and groom coming down the aisle as possible. It is good if you can use some audio from the camera for the guests cheering & applauding as they walk down the aisle.
There are usually 2 cameras for walking down the aisle, use both if possible. Include 3-5 seconds of the bridal party walking down the aisle of the church on the wide back up angle if available.

The Greeting Line

I want all the greeting line included when possible.
Usually the first few minutes are shot with two cameras so please cut between both.
Please try not to include clips of the photographer/videographer taking gear out of the church after the ceremony and when guests stand in front and block the camera for over 2 seconds or if the couple are just standing there looking awkward.
Add a dissolve transition when you cut the greeting line to avoid jump cuts.
You can finish the greeting line as they meet the last few people.
You don’t need to mix candid shots of guests during the greeting line; they can just be included all together afterwards.
5 second fade out with music and dissolve before the next section.

After the Greeting Line

Place the 5-6 strongest shots first, usually people laughing and having a good time.
Mix up wide and zoom candid shots of guests outside the location.
2-3 second clips of people standing around are usually fine unless there is lots of animation such as Laughing/joking.
Don’t use shots of people with bad expressions, coughing, scratching noses etc.
If it is just an average shot of people, not smiling etc., a 1 second shot is good.
If there is video of family photos, mix them in with the candid guests shots rather than present them in a row
Try to finish with a wide shot of the location if it is available.
5 second fade out with music and dissolve before the next section.

The Photo Location

Start with b roll location and then champagne shots if available.
The shaking of the champagne shot can be longer to show all the animation of the bridal party.
Mix up the order of the couple shots with the candid bridal party shots.
If there is a set of groomsmen shots and bride’s maid’s shots in a row, mix them up rather than having all the shots of the girls in a row and then all the shots of the guys in a row.
I don’t want lots of couple shots in a row, it does not make very interesting footage, it becomes very repetitive and just awkward for them to watch. Try to mix them in with the b roll and bridal party shots.
5 second fade out with music and dissolve before the next section.

The Wedding Reception

The wedding reception should ideally start with an outside shot of the building and then have some details such as the banquet room and table settings mixed with guests mingling.
I like to set the scene with 6-8 shots before the bride and groom arrive.
Use audio from the crowd if they are gathered for the bride and grooms arrival.
There is usually two parts to the wedding reception, the first is the drinks reception which is usually in the lobby of the hotel and bar sometimes without side shots and the the second part is after the bell is rang and guests enter the dining room and sit for dinner.
Mix candid shots of guests with b-roll of location and dining room, mix the dining room detail/b roll shots with candid shots before guests enter the room.
Ideally there should be a bell ringing shot and/or guests looking at the table plan and/or guests walking into the room to seperate both parts of the reception.

Bridal Party/ Bride and groom entering ballroom for dinner.

The wedding reception section should finish with shots of bridal party and bride and groom entering the room and sitting at the top table.
Fade out the pop music for the candids and use the full audio from the hotel manager welcoming them into the room.
Please include the full bridal party and not just the bride and groom.
I shoot the bridal party entrance to the dining room in multicam. There is usually a very wide safe shot pointing at the door. A manned gimbal camera and a third pointing at the top table. Sometimes there is a forth camera if the speeches begin before the starters.

The Speeches

The speeches are usually captured with 3 cameras so I want the camera angle to change every 10-15 seconds during the speeches with a little less emphasis on the wide camera.
The speeches should start when the hotel manager gives the mic to the best man or applause rather than cutting to the father of the bride speaking.
I think 3-4 seconds on the bride and groom can be enough unless there is a lot of animation. I think it is just awkward for them to watch.
Please avoid shaky footage; there is no need with a few angles to choose from.
Please include every second of the speeches, do not cut out parts in between speakers.
The audio should be just one long clip, it should not be cut up.
If there is grace before or after the meal you can include it but you do not need to cut it. I can cut it if I decide to leave it in.
Make sure there is no shots that include the photographer or videographer where possible. If you do please mark them so I will clearly see it.

Speeches Audio

There is usually two recorders attached to the main mic, e.g.; sMic.wav, use the best one please. Detach the audio from the video footage similar to the ceremony, see screenshot below.

Evening Footage

Most weddings will include a some evening footage that usually help bridge the speeches with the dancing. You can include the cake footage in the middle of this section.

Cutting the Cake

The edit is usually only about 20 seconds with 5-6 clips.
Use a few b roll shots taken of the cake during the drinks reception to bulk it up a bit.
We don’t always cover cutting the cake, sometimes we are on a break when it happens, so if it does not appear in the files, don’t worry about it.
Detach audio from one of the cake cutting clips and drag it across to cover the rest of the clips

Dancing

Include audio from the band introducing the bride and groom on to the floor for the first dance.
The dancing is usually captured with 3-4 cameras, monopod, gimbal and one or two high wide angles.
Clips are normally 3-10 seconds depending on how good they are but they can be a lot longer for the first dance.
I want the first dance delivered as a multicam edit, using as much as the manned camera as possible. Only cut where it is shaky or out of focus.
If there is a father daughter dance or Mother son dance also include these in full if possible. These very rarely happen.
After the first dance is over you can just cut highlight clips of the rest of the dance footage. There is usually about 3-5 minutes worth. Again clips are normally 3-10 seconds long but if there is a good clip that is only one second include it as I can use slow motion to make it longer.
Please include all usable footage for both the first dance and other dance highlight. I can cut out anything I don’t want, but I would prefer to have a good choice. The only thing not to include is the singer for the highlight clips if he is singing as it will be out of sync and possibly a different song.
Dance footage is very important to me as it is the final part of the film the the couple will watch so I want them to finish on a high.
There are usually two audio sources, dance1 and dance1, if they are not available use the audio from the wide static camera.

Wide angle for Dancing

Use a wide angle shot of the bride and groom coming out on to the floor.
Use a wide angle shot of the bridal party coming out on to the floor .
Use a wide angle at the end of the first dance footage of the crowd clapping before cutting to the highlights.
Finish the dance sequence should end with a wide angle if there is a good crowd on the floor.
Don’t use wide angle shots where the photographer/videographer are the first thing you see / are very noticeable.
Use 4-5 random wide shots to mix up with the highlight clips.
The video should close with an outside shot if there is one available or else my animated logo.

After editing the full video please scan for shaky footage and black spots or camera obstructions please.

Delivery Details

I deliver by dropbox. I will include the folder size so you know you have downloaded the correct amount. If I forget to include it please ask for the total.

Deliver XML file by email in new email with the couples names as the subject. Also include a link to the uploaded Library as sometimes there is issues linking the XML files.

Please note any issues/ problems faced with the edit in the email or any clips you marked for my attention.

If you are using Plural Eyes include all the audio drift files.

Also create a dropbox/google drive folder where you can drop all the xmls for every project and send me the link so I can bookmark it for easy access.

You will be paid straight away or as soon as I get back to the office, its very rare I don’t pay within 24 hours.

Never delete project files until I confirm I am happy and I have delivered the project to the client.

Please read this brief before delivery to ensure projects are completed correctly.

GENERAL NOTES

Try not to include footage of videographer or photographer if possible unless it is necessary or a very strong shot. I know it is hard to avoid sometimes.

Please fade in an out for all audio, e.g. at the start and end of speeches, switching audio tracks during the ceremony edit.

Fix exposure on on all highlight clips,

I usually only use transitions/dissolves when switching between locations or showing the passage of time.

If one of the angles is poor composition or slightly soft/out of focus in parts for the multicam for the ceremony and speeches it is ok to leave it out or use it very little.

Keep the audio for the highlight clips (prep, photo-shoot etc.) at -10db. You can select all clips and click ctrl > – (minus)

DRONE SHOTS

Drone shots can be 6-10 seconds, as they are locations that mean something to the bride and groom they will enjoy longer shots while they look boring to us. More than one drone shot can be used for different sections. They are not just for establishing shots. So for example you can use 2-3 different drone shots for the morning prep if they are different from each other.

CLIP LENGTHS

1-2 seconds is long enough for static b roll shots.

2-3 seconds is usually plenty for most other shots unless there is good animation, bridal party laughing, drinking champagne etc. In other words if it is boring shot keep it short, if it is good it is ok for it to be longer.

Please include as much good clips as possible, I will go through and delete what I don’t want. It really annoys me when editors leave out good footage; not just because of the work I put in on the wedding day but also because I have to find, import and place them in the timeline. I want all useable footage included without duplicating clips in the same scene.

Slider/pans/tilts should start moving and end moving unless they are very smooth, rather than start or begin with a bumpy start..

Be careful of ND filters being changed during recording, this footage cannot be used.

Try and mix the rack focus detail shots etc. with the slider detail shots rather than have similar shots back to back. I don’t want a few slider shots in a row.

If there is video of family photos or bridal party photos mix them in with other footage rather than have them in a row.

Check the multi-cam to make sure all important files are linked and manually link if you have too.

Don’t have manual zoom in shots such, this is me recomposing, not doing a zoom shot.

Leave out or cut bad expressions of people, yawning, coughing, scratching nose etc.

For some shots I change the exposure and white balance mid shot, don’t show the change if possible, unless it is a strong shot, chose either side of the transition.

Beware of audio levels, try and keep them between -12 and -6 db

If there is a long clip of dancing / couple laughing etc it can be cut up and used a few times in a different location

Don’t mix in poor shots/angles for the sake of it, used best available — example dancing, vows etc.

Please take notes of any issues when editing and send them to me on delivery

If you are using plural eyes to sync the multicam footage please send the audiodrift files when you are delivering the xml/library.

If there is shots with text on them, menu, welcome signs etc. keep them long enough long enough so they can be read, 3-4 seconds should be fine.

For the ceremony and speeches when cutting to different angles select times when there is a pause between paragraphs or the speaker is taking a breath rather than randomly while they are speaking. It is easy to see this when the audio is detached from the video footage. Of course it is not necessary when there is lots of animation.

5 second fade out at the end of ceremony, speeches and dance footage.