Editing Super-8

[chris.crook]

I've just started to edit my first movie on super-8, but when I splice shots together, and then play them back on the projector, some of the edits are upside down. For example, in one cut, my actress walks out of the front door to her car, but the next shot of the car leaving the driveway is upside down! Is there a good beginners guide to editing film, or some secret to keep in mind when editing S8 film? There are three different reels in all, and as far as I can make out, I can't cut them together...

TIA,

chris (who thinks he should've stuck to DV)

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[eddie]

It sounds like you have just lost track of which is the head and which is the tail of the clip.
(Head is the First frame in a scene, tail is the last)
Just turn the clip around.
When I cut my film I used a wooden frame with horizontal strings running across it, and I used clothes pegs to hang them head first from the string, just to keep track.
I also numbered every single cut (over 100!)
It sounds like your film is quite a lot shorter, but I recommend this, itll help you keep sane.
Remember to always follow the natural curve of the film too, otherwise everything will become a mirror image and it could jam the projector.

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[Mr Blackstock]

try to pick up an editor, a little winding device to trial your edits. Also, try picking up some large reels from a projector supplies shop to join your three reels together(make sure both reels are the same capacity) and maybe a grease pencil to mark the head and tail.

Good luck

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[chris.crook]

Thanks. I took a break last night, calmed down, and I've been splicing happily ever since.

Will it matter when sending off to film festivals/comps and the like that there are black gaps of about a second in between each cut because of the opaque splicing strips I'm using? It's purely asthetic thing, but what do you think?

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[Kathy S]

We use to put a little pointing arrow to mark which way up it should go. Make sure you don't get yourself stuck with the tape. I always put it on lopsided- which made it get stuck and play all funny

k

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[eddie]

I dont think there is much you can do other than try and keep your edits as clean as possible.
Or transfer it to video, and remove those frames on a PC.
If the story is good no one will notice or care about the cuts.

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[eddie]

one other thing why black gaps?
Didnt you use transparent splicing tape?

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[miker]

splicing tape?

i remember using some wacky film guilotine, shaving off the emulsion and using splicing glue ... i guess the tape holds better than the glue ;-)

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N305UDB

[Alex]

chris-

You owe it to whoever's projector you will foul-up when you play your film in it to do splices the correct way.

End of Story.


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Alex

[Alex]

Whatever did happen to your first effort?

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Alex