During the editing process, we all realised that the programme needed to be trimmed as it was too long and quite slow. All the shots were there, they just needed trimming, and some less important scenes needed deleting. This was quite difficult as a director as I had worked so hard to film everything to a high standard, and now it's being deleted. On the other hand, I understood every point that different people said and I now know that cutting out scenes actually makes a massive impact on the rhythm of the entire programme.
I thought I'd wider my understanding of the editing process as a director by researching into an article that was written by an editor who also directs:
- Let Go of Your Ideas
"I guess that you are directing your own
script. Even if not, chances are you will be scared when your editor starts
cutting out things you thought were important for the story. Don’t think the
editor is disrespecting your script, or your direction, when they cut a line of
dialogue. The beautiful thing about film, is that images speak louder than
words. You might have needed that line on the page, but now that your actors
are fleshing it out, you can trust that their performance will convey the
emotion and the idea that previously needed dialogue. In saying that, it
doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have written that line in the first place."
This is advice that I have taken on board as "images speak louder than words" is one thing that shines throughout this programme, especially as it's heavily dialogue based. This has meant that most scenes have been trimmed without losing the story, as the performances of the actors are strong enough to not need as much dialogue (mainly through their actions and facial expressions).
- But Also – Fight for Your Vision
"In the same way that your actors are going
to interpret a scene differently from what you had envisioned, your editor will
also cut it with a different meaning to what you had intended. The actors and
the editor will sometimes come up with an idea that makes the scene better, and
sometimes they’ll take it somewhere you don’t want it to go. Just direct them."
I have always used this approach when working with Chris in the editing stage of productions. We work well as a team as he finds things that I don't see, while I direct him different ideas with how I want the scene. If he ever takes it to somewhere I don't want it to go, then I make sure I speak up and steer him into the right direction.
- Throw Away the Script
"Your editor will look through absolutely
everything and make an “assembly edit” containing the best takes of all that
was shot (even if they already know that will be cut). This will be as close to
the paper script as it can be, and it will be unwatchable. So forget about it,
and look at what you now have in front of you, which pieces are necessary to
tell your story."
Both Chris and I throw away the script once editing is in place as we know the story inside out by then. Again this is something we've done on previous projects, therefore this research has shown that we're heading in the right direction as a team.
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