EVALUATING DOCUMENTARY EDITING STAGES

Evaluating documentary editing stages

Evaluating documentary editing stages

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Some of the very most crucial documentary filmmaking decisions are done within the editing room.


Editing is a vital stage of all movies, because it is the stage when raw footage transforms in to the final item. This stage is especially very important to documentary films, however. The reason being many narrative films are edited to fit round the pre-defined storyboard and script. In the meantime, documentary filmmakers frequently go into their shoots with only a rough pre-planned notion of what they will make, with the remainder of the tale being unknown until they really film it. James Rogan will likely be well aware that this may mean that documentary directors and producers could possibly be sitting on hundreds of hours' worth of footage without any established narrative. Step one would be to back-up all of it because any shot could end up being used in the ultimate documentary. After this, all footage has to be watched with accompanying records being made to identify the very best moments. This should take place at exactly the same time as going through archive material, photos, and music to choose what is the most useful fit for the documentary.


Editing has improved quite a bit through the length of film history. In fact, the entire reason the medium is known as film is because of the material that movies were filmed on. This material is edited by hand, with editors chopping and pasting camera shots together. These days many films are now actually digital, which means that the majority of the editing is done by computer. Morgan Matthews will know that most documentary filmmakers are well-acquainted with editing software. When all potential aspects of the movie were put into their chosen software, it's time to start tinkering with laying the best shots into a timeline. Moments that show key information and can be the emotional core of the documentary would be the best to utilise. Seeing what works and doesn't work at this stage can help establish the foundation of the documentary.


People are interested in watching documentaries simply because they wish to learn something. But, this does not mean that documentaries must certainly be dry lectures. People are additionally trying to be entertained while learning the details by way of a narrative structure. Tim Parker will be able to tell you that making a choice on the narrative and finding elements that fit the narrative among the most essential stages in the film editing process. Even the most breathtaking shots mixed with the most remarkable archive footage will likely be meaningless if connected together without a clear narrative. Most filmmakers will create a long first cut version of the documentary after they have established the narrative. They will then go through the entire process of refining and re-editing it till it turns into a viewable length while accomplishing the goals that the filmmaker set out to attain.

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