The Ideal Rushes for a Problematic Scene

The problematic scene is at 1:42 and shows the janitor imagining he is hitting a floating apple with a bat.

I encountered a number of problems while editing this scene, starting with the fact that it had been filmed on two different cameras, a Canon 6D and a GoPro. This meant that the white balance, exposure and picture quality were all different which made the two pieces of footage visually contrasting.

The performance was the next noticeable issue as, due to the short length of each take and camera positions, the actor kept stopping and starting at certain points in the script, instead of continuing with the direction for an entire sequence. E.g. when he hits the apple, he stops and looks around instead of continuing the action in the script.

 Finally, the framing of some of the shots, especially when the apple actually gets hit, was questionable as they were filmed differently to how we had planned due to geographical space and safety concerns.

My ideal set of rushes:

1. Same framing but get the actor to move into shot and block the view of the apple, then track right to reveal it. This would be to immerse the audience more as it makes them want to know what the character is looking at and see the events in the film through his eyes, allowing them to empathise more with him.

2. Close up of the apple, same as shown.
3. Front Angle MS of him bringing his hands up and then pausing. Then we would give him the bat and continue with the swinging action. This is so I have options to cut in and out of the whole take at any point in the scene during the edit, whilst keeping the camera position locked to prevent jarring cuts.
4. Same XCU of his eyes but then I would also have liked a XCU of the floating apple to build the tension between the two, and so the audience is aware of his intentions.
5. Cutting to a back angle shot here would have been good, so the audience can see the reveal of the bat in his hands, confirming what he is about to do.
6. Idealistically, I would have wanted a front and two side angle mid shots of him as he swung the bat, as well as a close up on the exploding apple itself, all filmed on the same type of camera. The actor would need to continue the motion and follow the script after smashing the apple, to prevent more unnecessary cuts being made.

Finally, all of this sequence should have been filmed with the soundtrack being played on set, so the actor could have timed all his movements to the music, making his performance seem less forced and rigid.

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