Film school:Narrative Dialog Editing:Story of Penny and Eggbert:Narrative music

An example for the course on Narrative Film Editing

"Inserting narrative film music"

Narrative film music is music which narrates (explains) a scene. The music acts like a narrator to explain what is happening in the scene.

Narrative music has only one problem. Extreme care must be taken when you insert narrative music in a conversation so it does not step on the actor's dialog.

If you are not careful how you insert the narrative music, there can be lip sync problems.

Rule #1: You may add narrative music when people will not notice the lack of lip sync.
Rule #2: Don't add narrative music when people will notice that the audio and picture are not in sync.
It is that simple!
The story of Penny and Eggbert
Intro: Penny & Egg Introduction
Page #1: The story and script
Page #2: The camera setups
Pop Quiz: Penny & Egg Pop Quiz #1
Page #3: The dailies
Page #4: The rough edit
Page #5: "L-Cuts"
Page #6: Creating "L-Cuts #1"
Page #7: Creating "L-Cuts" #2
Pop Quiz: Penny & Egg Pop Quiz #2
Page #8: Planning the film score
Page #9: How to insert narrative music
Homework #1: Create the film score
Homework #2: Editing the scene


Note: Penny and Eggbert are 3D Poser models created by 3D Universe. For this lesson, these characters were posed and rendered with the free DAZ Studio.
Before we start, remember these are two different concepts.


Look at the differences

L-Cuts vs. Narrative music

Before we start learning about editing for narrative film music, remember this is not the same as creating simple "L-Cuts". There is a difference

When we make a motion picture, we edit the audio and the picture so the conversation has a natural rhythm. Then we create "L-Cut" to make the picture less ugly.

Now we need to add very strong music to provide the mood for the motion picture. This requires a different kind of editing.

Editing for narrative film music looks very similar to creating "L-Cuts". However, there is a difference.

These two steps look similar. Don't get confused. There is a difference

Let's compare

Take a quick glance at the two pictures. Do you see the difference?

One demonstrates how "L-Cuts" are created and the other shows how narrative music is added.

As you can see, these are two totally different concepts.

See the difference?


Edit for Picture

Dialog Editing - "L-Cuts"



This is what happens when you create simple "L-Cuts"

To create a simple edit, you edit for sound, lock sound, roll the picture edits to get the best visual transition (under the circumstance) without loosing lip sync.
See the difference?


Edit for Music

Film scoring - Narrative film music



This is what happens when you add narrative music

Edit for sound, put the clips apart, insert room tone, add narrative music, roll the picture edits to get the best visual transition (under the circumstance) without loosing lip sync.
Editing for Narrative Film Music is different

Keep this in mind

There is a different.
When you insert narrative film music into a scene, remember, this is not the same as creating simple "L-Cuts".





Inserting narrative music
Step 1 of adding narrative music

Step 1 - Add a gap in the dialog

In between sentences (or wherever you wish), pull apart the pieces of the rough edit.

Create the gap for the music

Add the gap

Narrative music is sound strong, it needs a gap in the dialog.

Step 2 of adding narrative music

Step 2 - Fill in the gap with picture

I rolled (expanded) the clip on the end by unrolling more of the footage. This filled the gap.

Create the gap for the music

Adding room tone

Without room tone, the audio will sound very bad.

Step 3 of adding narrative music

Step 3 - The room tone

The silence will sound bad.

The natural sounds of the room

Adding room tone

Without room tone, the audio will sound very bad.

Step 4 of adding narrative music

Step 4 - Add the music

Add the narrative music to fill the gap.

Add the music

Add the music

The music should fill the gap completely so that the pause in the dialog seems totally natural.

A major difference

Keep this in mind

There is a difference.
From what you just saw, editing dialog so you can insert narrative film music between the sentences of the dialog is very different from creating simple "L-Cuts".
Look at the possible camera setups

The next page

That ends the theory. Now you must create the music and perform the edit. Click here to go to the next page.

If you have any questions

Your instructor for filmmaking classes is Robert Elliott.
If you have any question, click here to email me.