Transition: Role Research
As part of my ongoing research for this unit, I want to look in to the role of an editor to learn as much as I can about the role to benefit me in this unit.
An editors main responsibility is to convert out of sequence clips and rushes in to a complete and ordered story.
Editors work from a screenplay as well as their own notes to ensure the sequence they piece together coherently follows the story laid out by the director.
Team Working
Contrary to popular belief the editor's job is not a solo one. On big budget productions, they would work with at least one assistant editor (sometimes two), delegating tasks and sequences among the team to improve the efficiency of the edit.
Since our production is very small I will not have an assistant editor, however I will be working very closely with my director.
Creative skillset says that it is important that the editor sits and talks to the director, even in the early stages of a production so that they can understand the director's creative vision for the project.
In our production, I will have the director sat in the same room as me so that they can offer their advice and opinion on the edit as it progresses.
Multiple Cuts
As an editor, it is important that you produce multiple cuts of a film before the final version. This way you can review the edit at different stages to establish early on what works and doesn't work. This also allows the director to get a proper view of the project as before now they may have not seen it in full or in order. This is their opportunity to discuss with the editor the changes they would like to see.
A rough cut and a fine cut are the minimum you should produce and BBC academy suggests that you may even want to produce multiple rough cuts, giving you a chance to test out different shots/sequences, grades, effects etc.
For my project I aim to get a rough cut done quite early on so my director can help steer the edit, then towards the end I will produce a fine cut that is closer to the finished project. This means that both the editor and the director have more time to focus on tidying up smaller key details and adding finishing touches, rather than spending all their time on the major storytelling aspects.
Bins
The Art Career Project talks a lot about the key skills you need as an editor. One of the biggest it talks about is organisation. Often TV has a quick turn around and the edit needs to get done fast. To make things as smooth as possible sites like The Arts Career Project recommend the use of "Bins" to help keep your dock tidy and allow you to access the clips you need fast. This process involves organising your footage/clips in to different folders within your editing software so that they are kept in categories such as their content, usage etc.
For my work as editor in this unit I plan to take this one step further. I will be attending the shoot days and be making regular concise notes about which takes, shots etc. are most effective. This will save me from spending loads of time file hunting later. Once I have all the footage I will also be able to review each clip and put it in to a sub folder relating to how good it is, which I can then drag in to a bin in premier that arranges the clips by scene.
Colour Grading
Creative Skillset also talks about the more finite parts of the edit process, such as colour correcting/grading.
Towards the end of a film the editor should be looking closely at continuity, this is not simply limited to blocking and positioning of props, cast, lighting etc. But also to the overall look and colour tones of a sequence.
Which is why it is important to familiarise yourself as an editor with the colour grading process. Making sure all the shots look the same and share similar tones even if shooting conditions have changed is important for giving an immersive film with a good flow of continuity.
While colour correcting can be done solo, the editor may be able to enhance the look of a film through grading and filters. In which case they should sit with the DOP and director to create a well tinted sequence that enhances the overall look of the film.
This is something I will be doing towards the end of my edit.