What is the
Headless Horseman
edit?
Simply put, it
involves the
elimination of the
visual attached to a
talking head during
the last 2/3's of
your film. To be
effective, your
documentary needs to
be at least twenty
minutes in length.
By Using the
"Headless Horseman
Edit", your
Documentary will
take on the tone of
a narrative dramatic
film, instead of
looking like cable
television.. You
can see this
technique in the
recent documentary
"Beyond The Call
Directed by Academy
Award Nominated
Adrian Belic
(Genghis Blues
2000). During the
first third of the
film, Adrian
introduces the
characters with
on-screen-interviews.
. During the
last part of the
film Adrian NEVER
cuts back to an
on-screen talking
head (sit-down
interview).
For the last
Third of the film,
Adrian eliminates
the talking head
visual. He uses
the audio from
these interviews,
but never with it's
picture..only as
sound bites "under
action" to help
describe or add a
character's
reflection on the
unfolding event.
For example, in
BEYOND THE CALL,
there is a scene
where a Character
named Ed, screams at
a Vietnamese Border
Guard who
refuses to let him
enter a refugee camp
he wants to
re-supply. He yells
at the guard and
get's nowhere.
After his tirade, he
walks away, and you
hear the voice of
another main
character saying, "
Ed needs some
lessons in how to
win friends and
influence others".
It creates a
humorous moment, and
helps give
perspective on what
is happening in the
film...BUT
remember you DO NOT
SEE this man on
screen with this
comment..ONLY his
voice is used,
over images of him
and Ed walking away
from the entrance to
the Refugee Camp.
How do you
know who is speaking
if you can not see
their face?
They have been
established earlier
in the Film,
voice and image
together, you
recognize the
character's voice.
Another
tip:...
Begin the
character's sound
bite when you see
him/her on screen
engaged with the
person/situation he
is talking about.
In Adrian's film, he
began the
Headless Horseman
Edit with a shot
of both the men
together after the
failed attempt by ED
to convince the
Guard to let them
into the refugee
camp.
Summary
- The Headless
Horseman Edit
- Off with
your Talking
Heads!
- Cut out the
T-head visual
last 2/3 of your
film
- Create a
more Dramatic,
less Television
looking
documentary
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