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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
F/TV D027.
Course Title (CB02)
Nonlinear Editing
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2021
Course Description
This course covers the concepts and techniques of nonlinear digital video editing, including organization of the editing process, working in the timeline, audio editing, and basic visual effects. Emphasis will be placed on identifying general principles of film editing as well as different aesthetic techniques for different source material, such as commercials, dialogue scenes, and documentaries.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is intended to meet the requirement of the A.A. degree in Film/TV: Production and serves as a UC and CSU transferable undergraduate course. In this class, the student learns professional editing techniques and workflows in a leading industry-standard editing program.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Formerly Statement
(Formerly F/TV D053.)

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours3.57.0
Laboratory Hours1.50.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
42.0
Laboratory
18.0
Total
60.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
84.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
84.0

Prerequisite(s)

F/TV D020.

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

In-class screening and critique of assignments and lab exercises

Assignments

  1. Regular assigned readings from required text: recognition, identification, and analysis of the editing concepts and procedures.
  2. Creative editing projects requiring analysis, integration, and application of course concepts.
  3. Group analyses of films and videos in the context of aesthetic and technical concepts of editing.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Midterm and final exams: combination objective (short identifications) and essays of concepts and procedures covered in class. Basic operation and identification of tools in the software in addition to broader editing vocabulary and history will be evaluated.
  2. In-class screening and individual evaluation of editing projects. Based on the assignments, areas of focus and grading will include: pacing, performance choices, and basic narrative structure as well as demonstrated editing techniques, sound design, and the overall success of the final product.
  3. In-class group presentation on genre-based editing techniques accompanied by a written report. Collaboration, visual aids/film clips, and overall content of the presentation will be evaluated for their accuracy, depth, and relevance to the assigned editing genre.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • Hard drive for backing up and submitting projects
Essential College Facilities:
  • Lecture room with video projector and facilities with nonlinear digital editing equipment

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Kauffmann, Sam. "Avid Editing: A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users." 6th ed. London: Routledge, 2017.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Bowen, Christopher, and Roy Thompson. "Grammar of the Edit." 3rd ed. Woburn, Mass.: Focal Press, 2013.
Castle, Bryan Jr. "Media Composer 7: Editing Essentials." Avid Technology Inc, 2013.
Dancyger, Ken. "The Technique of Film and Video Editing." 5th ed. London: Routledge, 2015.
Eisenstein, Sergei. "Film Form: Essays in Film Theory." New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Jovanovich, 1969.
Eisenstein, Sergei. "Film Sense." New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Jovanovich, 1969.
James, Jack. "Fix It In Post: Solutions for Postproduction Problems." 1st ed. London: Routledge, 2017.
Murch, Walter. "In the Blink of an Eye." 2nd ed. Beverly Hills: Silman-James Press, 2001.
Purcell, John. "Dialogue Editing for Motion Pictures." 2nd ed. Woburn, Mass.: Focal Press, 2014.
Staten, Greg. "Media Composer 7: Effects Essentials." Avid Technology Inc, 2013.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Analyze the history and techniques in the development of nonlinear digital editing.
  • Utilize intermediate nonlinear techniques to perform the process of editing a film or video production.
  • Apply nonlinear audio editing techniques including the construction and mixing of sound tracks.
  • Identify and evaluate major film and video editing principles and aesthetics.
  • Explore the varied editorial styles needed for different project formats.

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate a professional post-production workflow for nonlinear editing in a film or video.

  • Apply techniques and aesthetics of video and audio editing based on the project and format requirements.

Outline

  1. Analyze the history and techniques in the development of nonlinear digital editing.
    1. The nonlinear approach of film editing.
      1. Technical and system requirements.
      2. Differences between film and nonlinear editing.
    2. The linear process of video editing.
      1. The development and use of timecode.
      2. The edit decision list.
      3. The offline and the online video editing process.
      4. Time base correctors and digital vs. film effects.
    3. Editing styles over time.
      1. Silent Film Era.
      2. Early Sound Era.
      3. Continuity/Hollywood-Style Editing.
      4. Dynamic, Subjective, and Reflexive Editing.
  2. Utilize intermediate nonlinear techniques to perform the process of editing a film or video production.
    1. The digital nonlinear editing workflow.
    2. Paradigms of the nonlinear digital editing system.
    3. Digitizing and storing the film and video image.
    4. Editing on the nonlinear digital editing system.
      1. Logging the shots.
      2. The timeline.
      3. Trimming and fine cutting the sequences.
      4. Visual effects.
      5. Transitions.
      6. Titles.
    5. Output to film and tape.
    6. Saving and storing the edit.
    7. Media management.
    8. Color grading and visual effects finishing
  3. Apply nonlinear audio editing techniques including the construction and mixing of sound tracks.
    1. Digitizing sound sources.
    2. Building audio tracks.
    3. The synchronization of image and sound.
    4. The split edit/L-cut in dialogue editing.
    5. Audio sweetening.
    6. Audio mixing.
  4. Identify and evaluate major film and video editing principles and aesthetics.
    1. Aesthetic styles.
      1. Continuity.
      2. Montage.
      3. Deep focus.
      4. Modernist.
      5. Post-modern.
    2. Principles of continuity.
      1. Scene coverage.
      2. Matching action.
      3. Screen direction and the 180 degree line.
      4. Continuous diegetic sound.
    3. Pace of the edit.
      1. Timing.
      2. Rhythm.
      3. The jump cut.
    4. Sound and its influence on narrative.
      1. The objective of the sound edit.
      2. Dialogue.
      3. Narration.
      4. Music.
      5. Ambience and sound effects.
      6. Creative use of sound/sound design.
      7. The sound transition.
  5. Explore the varied editorial styles needed for different project formats.
    1. Syncing image and sound.
    2. Editing dialogue.
    3. Editing for visual continuity.
    4. Editing styles in documentary.
    5. Editorial styles for PSAs, commercials, and trailers.

Lab Topics

  1. Basics of Organizing Footage
  2. Assembly Editing
  3. Refining the Edit in Trim Mode
  4. Visual Effects and Keyframing
  5. Color Correction and Corrective Effects
  6. Audio Editing and Sound Design
  7. Syncing Dailies
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