So you wanna make an indie film....Editing (last blog / next
blog) So your shoot is done, and you have all your raw footage. Now it is time to edit!
Who should cut the film? If possible, try to hire someone to cut the film who hasn't been involved in the production so far. The biggest reason for this is perspective. Your editor is your first audience, in a way. The audience that sees your finished film will never know all the hard work that went into every shot – sure, they know that you worked hard, but they don't know that this shot or that one was really difficult or time consuming unless you tell them. Likewise, you want an editor with this same perspective. A good editor needs to be able to say “you should start a scene with this shot” or “this line can be cut, you don't need it.” The editor has no idea that one shot was harder than another, or what went on during filming. They just see the footage for what it is: acting, camerawork, sound. Those are the basic building blocks that an editor will use.
Can I cut the film myself? Yes, of course you can. Many times, you will have to be the editor if you can't afford to hire someone else (or if you really like editing). If you cut your own film, it is essential that you put yourself in a different frame of mind. Forget being the on-set director or producer, and focus on the footage you have in front of you. Do not force yourself on the film. Yes, it is your baby but you can not boss the footage around. You need to respond to what you have in your footage and make it work to the best it can. You need to be brutal with your film. Every single thing that does not work needs to go, leaving just the best stuff. And that doesn't mean that you, your actors, and crew didn't do a good job. But sometimes a scene reads differently on paper and on set than it does when you watch it in context. Look at each scene and ask yourself, “Do we need every shot we have? Can we cut any lines from a scene and still get the same effect? Can the pace be quicker?"
99% of the time good editing means taking things out, not putting them in. There is a saying that you need to “kill your darlings”. This means that there might be things that you love for one reason or another but just don't work in the finished film. Recognize the film you are making and kill any darlings you need to (and trust us, there will still be plenty of darlings left in the final film). There are many kinds of editing software out there, which makes editing much more accessible than it used to be. Find some online forums, read some reviews, and pick the software that is right for you. You will need a computer, and you might need to upgrade you current one or possibly get a new model. There are lots of websites where you can find good deals. So go forth and cut! We'd love to here your comments, questions and additions to this Blog. Please
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