Digital Filmmaking

Post-Production

June 23, 2009 Today I want to talk about post-production because that’s what I’ve spent most time doing in the last number of months. It is an important part of your project. In my next blog I will regress and talk in more detail about the proposal and the ways in which it is key to the success of your project.
 
Post-Production
When I think of post-production, the first thing that comes to my mind is editing, although the other aspects such as capturing the footage, transcribing all the interviews, sound restoration, color correction, and music, to name a few, are important, too.
 
Finding the Right Editor
If you are not going edit your project, it’s important to find the right editor. I feel it’s a good idea to hire a person to edit your project because the editor is able to distance him or herself from the footage and contribute to make a stronger film. But finding the right person can be a challenge. It most likely will take time, but well worth the effort. You’ll want an editor who is not only good technically, but also someone you have a rapport with and who cares about your project as much as you do—well, almost as much. Even though I have had some experience editing (not enough though), with the first editor, I totally gave up my idea of what was important to me and the information I wanted to include in my project. After that, I went from one end of the spectrum to the other---from allowing the editor to do whatever he wanted without even reading my proposal to being an ultra-micromanager over the editor.
 
I like to think I have found a happier medium when working with an editor or anyone I hire to work on my project. However, ultimately I think it is important to remember that this is your project and you can have it the way you want. On the other-hand, it is up to you as the director to have a clear vision as possible in your proposal. Include the synopsis, a list of topics, and a detailed list of scenes in order to communicate to the editor exactly what you want and are working toward in the editing process. Even though I always want feedback from my editor, I also need an editor who will be able to follow my directions and make changes that I ask for.
 
Just recently, I’ve started to read “Directing The Documentary,” by Michael Rabiger, a book that would have been extremely helpful had I read it before I started to work on my final project. I thought I was in first grade in filmmaking, but as it turns out I’m in preschool.  I strongly recommend that everyone who is involved in filmmaking read this book. It will contribute to you greatly as a filmmaker.
 

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