Class 8: We will discuss the steps towards editing your documentary

1. EDITING
YOUR DOC
STEPS & PROCESSES
CLASS 8
SM2229/ A 2014

2. What is Editing?
More than a technical skill, it is an art!
Editing is an art of composing space (as totality or fragment, continuous
or discontinuous) and time (linear or non-linear) through the arrangement,
assembly and interaction of images (static or dynamic) and sounds (on
screen or off screen), and an art of visualizing rhythm and tempo as
emotional flow or movements of intensities.

3. WHY IS THE EDITOR
IMPORTANT?
• SELECTION
• TIMING
• ARRANGEMENT

4. "... Editing is a lot about patience
and discipline and just banging
away at something, turning off the
machine and going home at night
because you're frustrated and
depressed, and then coming back
in the morning to try again.”
-Thelma Schoonmaker

5. STAGES IN THE
EDITING PROCESS
• Digitizing footage
• Organizing and Naming footage
• First Assembly
• Rough cut
• Fine cut
• Final Cut

6. 1. Creating Bins &
Organizing:
Key First Steps
Time permitting, this first step should be comprehensive and will make all
subsequent steps much easier.
Organizing and Naming footage is a key part of conceptualizing the film for
the director and the editor.
Assistant Editor often does this just UNDER DIRECTION:
Bin Logic – These can be cross referencing:
• Characters
• B Roll
• Time
• Locations
• Themes

8. 2. Creating Sequences:
Finding Character Arcs
Dealing with the footage of your characters can be attacked in
multiple ways.
•Central issue of story line of character
•Key points of interview
•Emotional moments
Creating separate timelines for each character can be helpful

9. 3. First Assembly:
Getting material together
This first, longer cut is the loose bringing together of all the
footage that you think will make up the final film.
Bringing this footage in from the sequences onto a single
timeline.
•Do you have everything you need?
•Do you need to reshoot? Additional footage?
•Do you need archives?
At this stage you want to make sure you have everything you
need now in your project folder.

10. 4. Rough Cut:
TEST SCREENINGS
Getting feedback at this stage is critical.
Test Screenings:
•Invite people who are good critics.
•It is good to have a mix of people you know
and that you don’t know.
•Think about the questions you have clearly
beforehand.
•Have people write down comments first, then
have an open discussion

11. The Hamburger Method
1. Is the criticism truly constructive? Here are some
synonyms for “constructive”: Positive, helpful, productive,
useful, beneficial, and practical. Antonym: Destructive.
2. Why am I offering this criticism in the first place? Is it
because I’m trying to be helpful or just because I’m an
a**hole?
1. Is the criticism necessary and appropriate? Does it
have a great impact on the “grander scheme of things”, or
am I just being nitpicky. Will focusing on this issue be
worth the time and effort in the long run?
2. Do I have the right, or better yet - have I earned the
right to speak into this person’s life? The difference
between “management” and “leadership” has a lot to do
with the relationship you have with your team. “Managers”
tend to focus on control, whereas real leaders take people
to the next level.
3. Finally, have I noticed at least two things to
compliment before commencing with the criticism?
From: http://n8tip.com/the-hamburger-method-of-constructive-criticism-works-
for-vegetarians-too

12. Editing Room Criticism:
• Does the edit make sense? Were you confused? When? About what?
• Is the story clear? If not, why not?
• Are there shots that really work? Are there shots you don’t like? Why and why not?
• Is there a clear flow & rhythm to the edit? Does it feel smooth, or is it disruptive?
• What is your emotional response to the edit?
• To the characters? Did you have certain feelings or responses to characters?
Elaborate
• Was the pacing too slow or too fast?
• Were there cuts that jumped out (this can be a good or bad thing)
• Were there moments you felt your attention drifting? Make note of those shots
Add specific questions that you want test viewers to answer for you

13. 5. Fine Cut:
After the Cut is Locked
After the Fine Cut is LOCKED it is time to start the sound edit. The stages that
happen after fine cut are:
•Sound Edit
•Sound Mix
•Colour Correction
•Graphic Design/ Inter-titles / Subtitles / Credits
•Outputs and Conform

15. In the Final Mix with my Sound Editor, Daniel Lagace &
Mixer / Sound Engineer, Jean Paul Vialard
at the National Film Board in Canada.

16. Rough Cut Screenings
Tuesday November 18, 4pm
1.Jing Jing
2.Ying
3.Kalman
4.Salome
5.Shawn
6.Vicky
7.Victor
8.Regina
9.Josh
Wednesday November 19, 12pm
1.Kei
2.Daria
3.Emily
4.Ariane
5.Carmen
6.Yu
7.Anna
8.Mao