MDX Avid Suit photo. Marzena Maliszewska

Postproduction process – hierarchies and workflow


We started the year discussing the workflow of the postproduction process. The good practice of thinking about shape and structure was introduced. It is common that when starting with a new project, it is easy to get distracted and disorientated. However, there is a certain order, which put in place, keeps the postproduction process organised.

To start with, it is important to view all the rushes and log them. There was the emphasis on using the script, or the idea, as guidance and as originally intended. I am beginning to understand that the editor has an equal input in the shape of the movie as much as the director does. I learnt from the lectures that it is very important to focus on two questions: which shoots do I want to use and where the in/out point is. Furthermore I started to think about the amount of information I want to use. As a result of taking those two points into consideration it takes me less time to assemble the footage to the time line.


At this stage of the learning process I am beginning to feel more confident using Avid Media composer. I do finally understand how to link media. I am assembling the footage efficiently and with good practice using a keyboard. I still struggle with exporting the project to the move file. To overcome this, I frequently export same files for practice purposes. I still struggle with logging the footage. For that reason I’ve booked an individual tutorial in Avid Suite. I do also feel much more confident assembling the video to the time line and then assembling the sound. For this reason I have watched a couple of YouTube tutorials and improved a bit. I still need to practice more.


I have also started editing titles, and for the first time have used the fade in and fade out option for the titles. I have always found this effect subtle and elegant at the beginning of the movie but used it for the first time this year. I have started to feel braver using acid and I’ve started to experiment much more. Last year I would only go from in to out point and add title and credits.

This year I have started to ask myself ‘what if I do this …” more often. I have also begun to deliberately experiment with the shots length. On a couple of occasions I have added a shot with no action on it and showed this experiment of mine to a couple of friends and asked for feedback. The majority said it was boring and I should cut it out but I’ve found three people who actually liked the idea.

I have also noticed that I did honestly enjoy this slow space in my fast paced movie. In fact, I now find that I actually like long, slow shots more then fast pace cuts. I have even found fast pace cuts irritating at some point. And it is not only me who thinks that. An editor, sound designer and director Walter Murch, in his book, "in the blink of an eye" compares and overactive editor, who changes shots to frequently, to a tour guide who can't stop pointing things out. "If the guide - that is to say, the editor - doesn't have the confidence to let people themselves occasionally choose what they want to look at, or to leave things to their imagination, then he is pursuing a goal (complete control) that in the end is self - defeating".

source: http://www.wikihow.com/Test-a-Used-Film-Camera

Introduction

When choosing postproduction module I really wanted to challenge myself. From the beginning I was pleased with he module however, I didn’t expect this to be so hard. I came to the module with no knowledge or much of experience. And in spite of being interested in the module, I’ve found it very challenging to feel completely inexperienced. That feeling, with working under the pressure of tight deadline, still affects my confidence. To overcome it I do talk to people and exchange my own experience. However, I feel stressed and moody. I hope that using postproduction software as much as I can on every occasion will help me to gain confidence. I will try to use Avid media composer on weekly basis. Challenging myself with different problems. I hope that by the end of second semester my experience will come together.

I’ve always been interested in history of film. In the collage I’ve enjoyed history of documentary. It was my favourite subject. But I always focused more on its theory rather then editing practice. Those first lectures of postproduction module helped me to understand how the powerful effect of a montage was achieved.

I’ve found everything interesting in postproduction module. I didn’t have much experience with theory of editing. For that, I’ve found all aspects of the module interesting. I really enjoyed history part. I was particularly interested in silent cinema part of the module. This part thought me that good film will play well without any audio. And this practice I started to apply to my editing practises. I also enjoyed workshops a lot. Those thought me there is a certain order, which put in place, keeps postproduction process organised. From this I gained the knowledge of right order in postproduction process – from viewing the rushes to audio dub.

I’ve also learnt that there is nothing wrong with being ruthless when editing. That helped me with editing decisions. I follow the quote introduced by module leader: “To edit successfully, the editor must imagine being in the position of the audience”. (by Gerald Millerson, Television Production).

However, in spite of enjoying module a lot I still struggle with the technologies in terms of editing. Technologies sounds to complicated to me and doesn’t really interests me. At this stage I struggle with jargon, codecs and right terminology.  To overcome this struggle I will read more postproduction blogs and magazines. I will explore my interests and overcome struggle taking part in tutorials and talking to people, asking questions. That form of learning works for me. Once I am told what to do I remember those information. I will watch more  experimental films. That form of learning helps me a lot as well. I use to study photography and gained a lot of good practice observing work and progress of masters of photography. Ive also gained an ability of switching from critical and analytical viewing art to this one in which  can easily enjoy it. When I am at art gallery or museum I am often looking for an inspiration. I carry small notebook and like to take notes from time to time. I do so watching inspiring movies. I often take notes of what is new for me or what I would like to learn. For example watching recently film "Dior and I" I was impressed by the effect of archive footage, of Christian Dior, being projected on the walls and objects in the company's modern studio. I noted down this in my notebook and will try to learn how to achieve this effect. 

My Profile

My name is Marzena and I study Postproduction Technologies on a TV Production course at Middlesex University. It is my second year of studying. At this stage of learning I have the opportunity to decide which subjects I will be studying this year. I could choose from: documentary, drama, client led video, entertainment, postproduction, or camera, light and sound. I chose: drama, client led video and postproduction. I chose those three modules because I think they complement each other. They are also related to my interests and what I hope to be doing in my future career.

 I think I can learn a lot from those modules. The drama module interests me particularly as I wanted to develop my screenwriting. I have found those lectures informative. Those lectures raised my confidence in my script writing abilities. My self-belief was raised and I began to trust myself. It was important because I suffer from a lack of confidence.  During my practical exercises I’ve been told that I am an empathic person. This I feel enables me to imagine the complexity of emotions of my characters. It allows me to build a multi-layered story around characters in my scripts.

I am good and patient observer and I like to experience new situations. I enjoy meeting new people, I engage in conversation quickly and I am good at communicating. I also like to work with actors (in a scripted environment). That's the reason why I chose the drama module.

I Chose Middlesex University as it offered the course that would provide the training to become a production assistant. I like to work according to plan and to be in control. At the same time I am creative, and I do like to try different routes and I like to work independently. I’ve chose the client led module because I feel I still need to progress in working with clients whose vision might be more practical than my artistic approach.

To complete those two modules I chose postproduction. This I felt was the biggest challenge as I didn’t know much about editing software. I only knew the basics, such as how to assemble footage to the timeline. Not knowing much about colour grading and volume levels.

Not even enjoying it that much, I’ve decided it will be good for me to overcome my dislikes and spend more time in the editing suite.  When I researched the module I was told it is empowering editing your own projects. And I’ve also been told that the lectures are very interesting and inspiring.

                                                                                                 

After the first lecture I was pleasantly surprised. The Postproduction module turned out to be something more than only editing footage. It was the whole experience of creating a picture, moving emotions, “magic of discovering of something new, something that wasn’t intended, that works for the movie” as Michael Tronick, the editor, says in the movie ”The cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing”. This lecture inspired me to think not only about what does it mean to be an editor but also what does it mean to be the best editor.

Following the lectures I research some books. I’ve found a book by Bobbie O’Steen – who is a writer married to a Hollywood editor, Sam O’Steen. She explains what does it mean to be an editor from her point of view and her own experience. In this book I’ve found the quote:"What does a film editor really do? He decides what you see on the screen and for how long you see it... He will create an impact on the scene and even the entire movie. " Bobbie O'steen “The invisible cut”. This quote change my way of seeing the editor’s role.