I will be shooting my first feature soon. I am making short films as of right now for experience. I was wondering for my feature, is an editor really necessary? I never really understood the need for an editor. I edited many short films and they all look good and I've never taken an editing class. My impression was that with the right patience, any director can edit a movie to run smoothly. So my question really is, is an editor really necessary for making a feature. Like I said, I always had the impression that any director with patience can edit their own film, right? I mean it's their own vision.
Is an editor really necessary?
- Thread starter Boxing Filmmaker
- Start date
I'm going to brag on this. I never wanted to make movies, I always wanted to edit. But, if you haven't worked as an editor, no one is going to entrust their movie to you.
I did get hired to create a trailer from a direct script. I was given the footage, and it was not good. But, with my eye, I was able to move the frames about, and make it presentable. Editing is not just taking clips and putting them together. He was so impressed, he fired his editor and hired me to edit the movie. It's still not a good movie, but it's more watchable because of the editing.
Bollywood movies have the worst editors. They do make good trailers though. For some reason they cut off the jokes. You know what's coming, and then a frame after the joke, they cut. You don't have time to react, or more often they cut off the all important expression that is the punchline.
EDITORS are important. Get a good one!
I did get hired to create a trailer from a direct script. I was given the footage, and it was not good. But, with my eye, I was able to move the frames about, and make it presentable. Editing is not just taking clips and putting them together. He was so impressed, he fired his editor and hired me to edit the movie. It's still not a good movie, but it's more watchable because of the editing.
Bollywood movies have the worst editors. They do make good trailers though. For some reason they cut off the jokes. You know what's coming, and then a frame after the joke, they cut. You don't have time to react, or more often they cut off the all important expression that is the punchline.
EDITORS are important. Get a good one!
Great directors tend to know how to edit -- this gives them to ability to 'shoot to edit', which does wonders for coverage, choices, and editing. It tends to speed up production and post production.
Do you need an editor? No...if you're good at it...go for it. But if you're not good at it, definitely hire someone who is. Editing isn't just about 'cutting' your movie...there are so many subtleties involved--pacing, choices of shot, performance, matching, etc. It's a craft that takes a lot of time to master. A specialty. Simply knowing the program doesn't mean you're an editor.
And always bring in a fresh set of eyes regardless.
Good luck.
Do you need an editor? No...if you're good at it...go for it. But if you're not good at it, definitely hire someone who is. Editing isn't just about 'cutting' your movie...there are so many subtleties involved--pacing, choices of shot, performance, matching, etc. It's a craft that takes a lot of time to master. A specialty. Simply knowing the program doesn't mean you're an editor.
And always bring in a fresh set of eyes regardless.
Good luck.
Thanks for some interestign feedback everyone. It all clicked yesterday after this conversation. All you need to know is how to communicate your vision. How it gets done is up to the respective experts.
When I say 'basic grounding'- I guess I mean know a bit of the language for each art so you can easier communicate what you mean. At the moment I'm not exactly sure what all the film terminology means, so I reckon I've got to learn at least some of it...
Directorik. I didn't actually mean disinterested, just 'not so proficient'- I was looking for the right word.
When I say 'basic grounding'- I guess I mean know a bit of the language for each art so you can easier communicate what you mean. At the moment I'm not exactly sure what all the film terminology means, so I reckon I've got to learn at least some of it...
Directorik. I didn't actually mean disinterested, just 'not so proficient'- I was looking for the right word.
Man, I'm so jealous of you guys who've had the good fortune to work with competent craftspersons!!! I DREAM of being able to work with other film professionals!
Living where I do, I've had to learn to be a writer, producer, director, cinematographer, gaffer, grip, production designer, special effects coordinator, editor (on film AND video), digital effects creator, colorist, sound recordist/sound editor, the list goes on...because there is no one else here better qualified.
After 30 years I'm pretty good at most of them, fairly good at some and reasonably competent at the rest. But trying to do them all at once is just STUPID! (Yes, I just called myself stupid.) If you can get good people to help you, listen to these guys and DO IT! Your work will be the better for it and so will your health.
Living where I do, I've had to learn to be a writer, producer, director, cinematographer, gaffer, grip, production designer, special effects coordinator, editor (on film AND video), digital effects creator, colorist, sound recordist/sound editor, the list goes on...because there is no one else here better qualified.
After 30 years I'm pretty good at most of them, fairly good at some and reasonably competent at the rest. But trying to do them all at once is just STUPID! (Yes, I just called myself stupid.) If you can get good people to help you, listen to these guys and DO IT! Your work will be the better for it and so will your health.
Amen, brother. I'm an everything-man. But not by choice. Working at the non-professional, ultra-low budget indie level, I've been fortunate to network with some very talented people. However, I often end up wearing many hats for one of two reasons:
1. The job is too big for me to ask anyone to do for free, and I can't afford to pay them.
2. I'm the best person for the job.
So, on my current project, I'm producing, writing, directing, editing. I look forward to the day that I can just direct (I actually really enjoy the process of editing, and I'll always want to be very hands-on, but I think directorik, Sonnyboo, et all, are giving good advice).
I used to edit my own stuff. Now I work with editors, even people with less experience than me. I prefer to get the feedback and the fresh eyes. If I ever worked on a production for a studio or production company, I would never have total autonomy. I'd prefer to work on the skills of communicating with someone else what I want without having to resort to taking over the controls.
Even Stanley Kubrick, one of the most notorious control freak filmmakers that ever lived used an editor...
Even Stanley Kubrick, one of the most notorious control freak filmmakers that ever lived used an editor...
I would nearly argue that it's possibly better that the director not know the hands on tools as well as knowing the limitations would restrict the choices they're making rather than throwing the challenge of working around the limitations on the technicians... which, in my experience, they love. It makes the work more interesting being able to be creative and being trusted to do so.
Size, Shape, Color, Position, Movement mean anything to you?
Rhythm, Pace, Tone mean anything to you?
Can you list the different theories of montage?
Can you troubleshoot hard/software problems?
If you can do these things listed then no, you could manage.
But there is alot more to editing then you may think and that was listed.
Since your directing, your probably shooting with your cut in mind.
Most experienced directors shoot alot of different angles and shots to give editors as many cutting options as possible.
It will always help to have an experienced editors opinion, id think especially if your working on a feature.
But its your movie, you decide.
Rhythm, Pace, Tone mean anything to you?
Can you list the different theories of montage?
Can you troubleshoot hard/software problems?
If you can do these things listed then no, you could manage.
But there is alot more to editing then you may think and that was listed.
Since your directing, your probably shooting with your cut in mind.
Most experienced directors shoot alot of different angles and shots to give editors as many cutting options as possible.
It will always help to have an experienced editors opinion, id think especially if your working on a feature.
But its your movie, you decide.