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Why “Whiplash” Won an Oscar for Best Editing

williamdickersonfilmmaker.com

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Re: Why “Whiplash” Won an Oscar for Best Editing

#11

Post by yodsanklai »

sharkweek wrote: post #4

Interesting article - I am always curious how the psychology behind the edits subconsciously plays into my understanding of, and feelings toward, character dynamics. For those who haven't seen it, Whiplash is my favorite movie of the past several years. The "third act" is probably the most intense finale I've seen in quite some time as well. Highly recommended to anyone, musical background or not.

> For those who haven't seen it, Whiplash is my favorite movie of the past several years. The "third act" is probably the most intense finale I've seen in quite some time as well.

Totally agree. I watched it during a flight totally randomly. I didn't expect much but it was a great surprise. The finale was so intense I had to watch it a second time.

Re: Why “Whiplash” Won an Oscar for Best Editing

#13

Post by ectoplasm »

bedhead wrote: post #9
sharkweek wrote: post #4

Interesting article - I am always curious how the psychology behind the edits subconsciously plays into my understanding of, and feelings toward, character dynamics. For those who haven't seen it, Whiplash is my favorite movie of the past several years. The "third act" is probably the most intense finale I've seen in quite some time as well. Highly recommended to anyone, musical background or not.

I am generally a movie curmudgeon with a high bar. I got it as an iTunes rental for a long flight. iTunes only gives you 24 hours once you press play. I watched it three times before expiring.

What else do you like you as much as this?

Re: Why “Whiplash” Won an Oscar for Best Editing

#14

Post by anigbrowl »

MichaelGG wrote: post #10
anigbrowl wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry to be pedantic, but Whiplash won the Academy award for best sound mixing ; the award for best sound editing went to American Sniper. Mixing involves the spatial and tonal quality of the sound; editing the temporal and semantic quality. But either way yes, it is very meticulous, and I think you'd be even more shocked to look at the project files, because each individual sound you hear in a film often involves mu…

Have there been blinded tests done to gauge audience impact? I hobbied a bit with sound and when I see, for instance, the result of "professional mastering" side by side, I've often thought the pre-mastering version was better. No doubt this isn't always the case, but it makes me wonder. Especially given how much myth and superstition seems to happen in audio, even coming from pros. Not to come across as rude - I'm j…

Not really. There are some loudness measuring standards and conventions about the 'right' level for dialog vs peak volume, but really it's down to the combined tastes of the mixing engineers, the director, and the producer, with the latter having priority. Thus there are fads about particular sounds (eg notice how every big exposion in a sci-fi film now is announced with the same falling sub bass sound...) and pressure to push the volume envelope on action pictures (Michael Bay is notorious for this sensory overload approach to both picture and sound).

Re: Why “Whiplash” Won an Oscar for Best Editing

#15

Post by miles932 »

anigbrowl wrote: post #5
miles932 wrote: post #3

I loved this movie, and immediately commented to a few movie-buff friends of mine that I was certain that they'd get an oscar for the sound editing. The actual movie edit was artful and amazing, but the sound edit.. talk about meticulous.. every single drum hit?! Called it! http://www.nabshow.com/thought-gallery/oscar-winner-ben-wilk...

Sorry to be pedantic, but Whiplash won the Academy award for best sound mixing ; the award for best sound editing went to American Sniper. Mixing involves the spatial and tonal quality of the sound; editing the temporal and semantic quality. But either way yes, it is very meticulous, and I think you'd be even more shocked to look at the project files, because each individual sound you hear in a film often involves mu…

Wow! I was instantly sure that this came down to someone at some DAW making a few million little tweaks on individual drum hits... Thanks for the correction and the detail!

Re: Why “Whiplash” Won an Oscar for Best Editing

#16

Post by bedhead »

ectoplasm wrote: post #13
bedhead wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am generally a movie curmudgeon with a high bar. I got it as an iTunes rental for a long flight. iTunes only gives you 24 hours once you press play. I watched it three times before expiring.

What else do you like you as much as this?

Spinal Tap. Point Break. Sneakers. Primer.

Re: Why “Whiplash” Won an Oscar for Best Editing

#17

Post by anigbrowl »

superdude wrote: post #8
anigbrowl wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry to be pedantic, but Whiplash won the Academy award for best sound mixing ; the award for best sound editing went to American Sniper. Mixing involves the spatial and tonal quality of the sound; editing the temporal and semantic quality. But either way yes, it is very meticulous, and I think you'd be even more shocked to look at the project files, because each individual sound you hear in a film often involves mu…

"Mixing involves the spatial and tonal quality of the sound; editing the temporal and semantic quality." What does that even mean? I thought sound editing was the creation of all the sounds and sound effects, and mixing was the mixing.

The same thing you said, though in a more abstract way. By temporal I mean where they go on the timeline, and by semantic I mean the content of the sound. Much of the time what you hear simply matches what you see on the screen, either from production sound or from a sound effects library or by a foley artist, eg if you see a glass bottle smash on the floor you will probably just use a natural sound for that. But then you have to look at what it means in the context of the story - suppose the bottle is being smashed on the floor by an alcoholic who has finally decided to fight his addiction? You migh choose to emphasize that with music, or you might emphasize it by layering in other sounds from elsewhere in the soundtrack or some purely expressionistic sound like a heavy lock opening. Also, you'll frequently use sound to speed up or slow down the action by transitioning into the next scene before or after the camera cut.

Mixing involves setting the levels of the different sounds, but it also includes some decisions about how the sound moves, what sort of reverb and coloration are used (spatial) and how it's balanced against the music, how it's EQed (tonal).

Hope that helps.

Re: Why “Whiplash” Won an Oscar for Best Editing

#18

Post by agumonkey »

sharkweek wrote: post #4

Interesting article - I am always curious how the psychology behind the edits subconsciously plays into my understanding of, and feelings toward, character dynamics. For those who haven't seen it, Whiplash is my favorite movie of the past several years. The "third act" is probably the most intense finale I've seen in quite some time as well. Highly recommended to anyone, musical background or not.

Even as a musician, it's the human expression side that talked to me. Expressing your voice and ideas. Also the existential notion of time, no rush no drag, very important outside of the instrument.

The final part was like being in a rocket taking off, pretty intense.

Re: Why “Whiplash” Won an Oscar for Best Editing

#20

Post by ectoplasm »

bedhead wrote: post #16
ectoplasm wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What else do you like you as much as this?

Spinal Tap. Point Break. Sneakers. Primer.

Cool, agree on the first two, will have to rewatch Sneakers, haven't seen Primer. Here are some of my favorites: Kramer vs. Kramer, High Noon, Groundhog Day, Leon: The Professional. High Noon in particular is told in real time so it has this intense feeling like Whiplash.
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