The Un-Editing Challenge

The Un-Editing Challenge

Choose a scene from a movie or TV show that you know well, and try to "un-edit" it. This exercise involves analyzing a moment in a film where editorial choices are made to convey the story. Your job is to break the scene down and understand the editorial choices made, identifying patterns and reasons behind them. Pay close attention to what’s conveyed through each shot, how each piece works on its own, and how the progression of shots contributes to the overall storytelling.

How To Do It:

Choose a Scene – Pick a movie or TV Scene you know well, ideally one that relies on visual storytelling (e.g., camera angles, framing, blocking, and production design) to convey the story.

1. Capture the Shots – If using video, screenshot key moments from the scene. If using still images, break the scene into individual shots, focusing on the visual details like framing, camera angles, and the placement of characters.

2. Detail Each Shot – In your video editor, a spreadsheet, or your notes, document each shot with these details:

   • Subject (Who or what is the shot focused on? Which character, object, or element is in the frame?)

   • Shot Type (Wide, Medium, Close-up)

   • Camera Angle (Eye-level, High angle, Low angle)

   • Camera Movement (Pan, Tilt, Tracking, Static)

   • Composition (Rule of Thirds, Leading Lines, Symmetry)

   • Framing and Blocking (Where are the characters placed in the frame? What’s in the background? How is the space used?)

Why This Matters:

This exercise will help you understand how editorial choices contribute to storytelling. By isolating individual shots, you’ll develop an appreciation for the decisions that guide the pacing and flow of the scene. You’ll also become more aware of how filmmakers use visual elements (composition, camera movement, framing) to communicate information and drive the narrative.

How Often?

Try this exercise with a different scene once every few weeks. As you become more comfortable with the process, experiment with longer sequences or scenes that rely on more complex shot selection and progression.

Want to Take It Further?

After analyzing the scene, reflect on the editorial choices made. Can you identify patterns or reasons behind the shot selection and progression? This will deepen your understanding of how these decisions shape the storytelling, giving you a more hands-on approach to visual storytelling.