Production Notes- Editing

We are getting down to the last few weeks of principle photography of "Uncle Louie", and editing has begun. We have all seen the title card for an editor on every movie and television show we watch, and more than just "cutting and pasting" the scenes or takes together, the editor can have a major effect on the delivery of the story, and the pace and timing of that delivery.

Editing is considered part of the "post" production phase of the film. Not only is the film pieced together during this phase, but it is also the time that special effects, soundtrack editing, music, and titles are added. While most movies shoot over a period of 25-35 days, the editing process can take months. I usually divide movie production into "eighths" - three "eighths" for pre- production or planning, one "eighth" for shooting, and four "eighths" (or half) for post production. Television production moves much faster due to broadcast schedules, but we'll save that for another time.

It is up to the director to get all the shots needed, and in the fashion he desires to tell the story.
He must get "coverage", or different angles on the actors, not just to keep the visual movement,
but also to give the editor enough "pieces" to put together. Many times an actor will deliver his or her lines better in different shots, and the editor can use that angle to get the better dialogue. Just as importantly, the director must also pick the shots he wants to "hang on an actor", even without dialogue, to add emotion. This is especially important during thought provoking or poignant scenes.

The editor must always be looking at two things, timing of the cut, and making the cut as invisible as possible. Cut too fast, and it looks choppy, cut too slow, and it drags the scene.
Depending on the story, sometimes cutting fast or slow adds to it. A car chase for instance, is cut "fast" to give the heighten the speed of it. As the chase nears its end, the cuts are even quicker, which tells the audience its concluding. Poignant shots and emotion can "slow" the cuts. We want the audience to pause and think about what they see, or make them emotional.

Cuts are made more "invisible" to the audience by the editor, who looks for "matching shots"; in other words were the actors actions or position is the same from the other angle. Also, a different shot all together, or a "transitional" shot, such as interior to exterior can make a cut less apparent. Music or sound effects laid under the cut can also help hide it.

Timing, though is everything. If you ever have been told a scary story as a kid, or to your kids,
you can build fear through the delivery and timing of the words. Bad editing is like listening to a really great story, and then have the story teller have to get up to go the bathroom in the middle of it! The audience loses their emotion, and interest. Story over. Movie ruined. I'll make sure this doesn't happen to the editing of "Uncle Louie" !!

Next time I'll give some insight to the editing system we're using, and how I work with it.