Editing a film with multiple storylines can be a challenging and rewarding task. You have to balance the pace, tone, and coherence of different narratives, while keeping the audience engaged and invested in the characters and themes. How do you do it? Here are some tips and techniques to help you craft a compelling film with multiple storylines.
Before you start editing, you need to have a clear vision of how your film will unfold. You can use tools like script breakdowns, storyboards, outlines, and timelines to map out the structure and flow of your film. Think about how you will introduce, develop, and resolve each storyline, and how they will intersect and contrast with each other. You also need to consider the genre, style, and mood of your film, and how they will affect your editing choices.
Editing a film with multiple storyline is one of the most exciting things to start with because it allows us to experimenting with cutting (deconstruct the structure, and reconstruct backward or forward, etc). I personally think we can have fun with different timeline, different angle, without having to restrict ourselves with chronological order.
I’m currently working on a script set in the not only the same town but the same house in 1908, 1958, and 2008. One would be tempted to tell the stories consecutively but what would be the thrill of that for the audience? How would they see the interaction of place and time if not for the alternating scenes? I am planning this project to the hilt! It will be important to go in knowing this can work and not find unpleasant surprises along the way of production.
One of the main challenges of editing a film with multiple storylines is to avoid confusion and inconsistency. You need to establish clarity for the audience, so they can follow and relate to each storyline. You can use visual and audio cues, such as transitions, colors, music, and voice-overs, to signal the shifts and connections between different narratives. You can also use editing techniques, such as parallel editing, cross-cutting, and montage, to create contrast and tension between different scenes and characters.
It's critical to plan if you anticipate doing a 'weave' of storylines - but once youve executed your initial plan you may be surprised to see that a lot of the ideas fall flat or dont do what intended. To make it watchable and clear, now is the time to let your intuition guide you and be honest if "its working." What this often looks like is remove and simplify and then add back shots/scenes etc. Rinse and repeat until it makes sense and feels right!
It is important to respect our audiences and avoid gimmicks. Nothing is more important than to see tired tropes and outdated structure ideas employed. The characters and their situations must me delineated very clearly so that the narrative and exposition can play their role without relying on over explaining as well as being too coy or too vague.
Another challenge of editing a film with multiple storylines is to create rhythm and momentum. You need to balance the pace and duration of each storyline, so they don't drag or rush the film. You also need to vary the intensity and emotion of each storyline, so they don't bore or overwhelm the audience. You can use editing techniques, such as cutting on action, match cuts, and jump cuts, to create continuity and movement between different scenes and characters. You can also use editing techniques, such as long takes, slow motion, and freeze frames, to create emphasis and impact on key moments and themes.
When we think of the perfect metaphor for storytelling, we most often think of a traditional wooden roller coaster, with its ups and downs. But films have gotten more sophisticated in their structure just as roller coasters have added loops and propulsion. Pacing has more wiggle room since films like Pulp Fiction, Mulhollland Drive and Memento changed the game. And after Everything Everywhere All at Once, structure and pacing are making roller coasters take a second look. I feel that if one believes in their vision and has something to say, the pace and structure will inherently fall into place. There are many ways to tell a story but we each have only one way; filtered through our experience.
The final challenge of editing a film with multiple storylines is to find the balance and harmony of your film. You need to make sure that each storyline has a purpose and a payoff, and that they complement and enhance each other. You also need to make sure that your film has a central theme and a message, and that they are conveyed through your editing choices. You can use editing techniques, such as flashbacks, flash-forwards, and non-linear editing, to create complexity and depth in your film. You can also use editing techniques, such as fade-ins, fade-outs, and dissolves, to create transitions and closure in your film.
Editing a film with multiple storylines can be a rewarding and creative process. By following these tips and techniques, you can craft a film that will captivate and inspire your audience.