Post Production
The Quality of Editing
06/April/10 05:10 PM
It is
such
an exciting time to be
working in post. Even though it's getting harder and
harder to say "post" in isolation. So many of my
fellow artist-geeks are combining their loves into
one big super-colossal package of art::tech
symbiosis! They are becoming shootists by
exploiting the DSLR revolution, and then naturally
editing their own footage. Youtube, Vimeo, FOD,
and other websites are encouraging many to become
writer/directors (not that most didn’t
want to be in the
first place!) During “real” post, the assistant
and editor position merges into one, and VFX and
audio skills are usually a given, at least at a
basic level. Add PR capabilities my mixing and
schmoozing at Sundance, SXSW, Comic-Con...and
suddenly an editor is a film making superbeing!
And yet, to be really good at a particular skill or even inherent talent, most human beings must concentrate on one or two at a time. Many studies have indicated as much; even piano prodigies must practice constantly. And direct observation has confirmed this to a large degree. Multitasking ability does not lead directly to perfection or close to it within any task. For instance, take a look at most of the short comedy videos on FOD. Many are at least mildly funny, in a one | two note kind of way. Some are hilarious! Done.
However, digging down, the editing for the most part is rudimentary. Many of the vids are much, much too long. Cuts are rough and stick out like jagged glass. Sound often takes you out. Production design and lighting are minimal. Of course much of the poor editing can be attributed to the fact that these vids are shot fast, without much thought to the story as a whole, and without much direction. Camera setups and types of shots are not planned out. The shorts that are directed and thought out and lit in some basic way are noticeably better than the rest. For these sort of websites the question is: does it matter? You have a few minutes and want a quick laugh...do you care that what you’re watching looks like crap or that the editing jars you every other cut? Probably you laugh and move on.
So, at what point do you begin to care about production and post production values? Youtube level vids? FOD? Hulu? A few dollars for iTunes content? Straight to vid Netflix DVDs? Gas money to the local vid store? Cheapo afternoon theater showings? 3D Friday night premium price movies? Recently, CLASH OF THE TITANS helped raise the fake 3D debate to another level. Not worth it was the vote of many moviegoers. And yet more cash was made by adding a 3D option at theaters. So even at a top moviemaking level, compromises are made with regard to quality. Taking shortcuts at both ends of the budget spectrum: when do you care?
Please comment.
And yet, to be really good at a particular skill or even inherent talent, most human beings must concentrate on one or two at a time. Many studies have indicated as much; even piano prodigies must practice constantly. And direct observation has confirmed this to a large degree. Multitasking ability does not lead directly to perfection or close to it within any task. For instance, take a look at most of the short comedy videos on FOD. Many are at least mildly funny, in a one | two note kind of way. Some are hilarious! Done.
However, digging down, the editing for the most part is rudimentary. Many of the vids are much, much too long. Cuts are rough and stick out like jagged glass. Sound often takes you out. Production design and lighting are minimal. Of course much of the poor editing can be attributed to the fact that these vids are shot fast, without much thought to the story as a whole, and without much direction. Camera setups and types of shots are not planned out. The shorts that are directed and thought out and lit in some basic way are noticeably better than the rest. For these sort of websites the question is: does it matter? You have a few minutes and want a quick laugh...do you care that what you’re watching looks like crap or that the editing jars you every other cut? Probably you laugh and move on.
So, at what point do you begin to care about production and post production values? Youtube level vids? FOD? Hulu? A few dollars for iTunes content? Straight to vid Netflix DVDs? Gas money to the local vid store? Cheapo afternoon theater showings? 3D Friday night premium price movies? Recently, CLASH OF THE TITANS helped raise the fake 3D debate to another level. Not worth it was the vote of many moviegoers. And yet more cash was made by adding a 3D option at theaters. So even at a top moviemaking level, compromises are made with regard to quality. Taking shortcuts at both ends of the budget spectrum: when do you care?
Please comment.
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