Prepping the Edit

Since the shoot in October, I have been researching and setting up the best deals for us for post production. Some people mentioned during the prep that this was something I should have sorted beforehand, however with the nature of low-no budget film-making, I tend to take each step as it comes as otherwise you can end up with someone who agrees to it and then either backs out or goes through with it but without the same enthusiasm as their priorities may have changed.

I really wanted to work with one post production facility for the whole of post as it would make it easier to manage, enable us to showcase any problems we came across and to build up a relationship for future projects. Unfortunately, even though we went back and forth with numerable post production facilities, we couldn't reach an agreement that fitted us and them, although we did come very close! At the same time, I posted adverts out to find an editor who could do the offline process. From the 50 or so applications I got back, I met up with 7 of them so I could ascertain their availability, preferences and how enthusiastic they were about the film.

Both these processes (finding a post house and editor) took me through November, December and early January. Although in that time we could have made headway with the edit rather than meeting people, I really wanted to not only make sure I had got the absolute best for the film, but also find out what I was looking for in an editor and a facility. Like every other part of the film, this was valuable experience as with each interview I went into it a bit more prepared.

From an editor perspective, what I most impressed with were those who challenged me, and concentrated on asking me questions on the narrative, the tone and where the film would end up being screened, in addition to having experience cutting short-form material and believing the project would be as important for them as it would be for us. In the end I went for editor Ian Davies, who has worked at White House since 2005 (http://www.whitehousepost.com/editors/representation/ian-davies/reel/). It was not an easy decision, as I had narrowed it down to three editors from those I had met, but Ian's easy going nature, emphasis on the heart of the story and commitment to it timewise, swung it for me. He has now completed a rough cut and will be doing a second pass on Monday, so we can complete the offline by the 10th February. As I edit on Avid myself, should we need to make additional tweaks past that point, I can do those myself, however I felt it key to get an objective eye to put together and pace the story.

We are still on the lookout for people to help with the sound and online, so we can complete by May, but I am happy that once the picture is cut together, we will be able to get people on board for this by showing them the work so far.