Important information about how to edit your first film.

by Mike Kravinsky

Post production for The Nextnik web series is going well. It always starts out the same way. In the morning, I sit down and open Final Cut Pro. While it's loading, I  check my email, check Facebook, check the news, look at some YouTube videos.  After about 15 minutes. I close the browser and sit down to edit my first film.

I take the raw footage and combine it and match it with the quality audio that was recorded seperately. This is done using a neat program called PlualEyes. This program works perfectly. The only downside is it takes some time. While I wait for the program to match the clips, I check my email, check Facebook, check the news, look at some YouTube videos.  After about 15 minutes the processing is complete and sit down to edit my first film.

This is where the creativity really begins. I lay down the best master shot. That's usually a medium wide shot that has all the dialog and all the actors in the scene. From there I can use that to put in all the cutaways, reaction shots, tight shots etc. I look long and hard at the master shot. How should it be cut. Who has the best reactions. Is there something that I may want to get rid of? Before I make that decision, I check my email, check Facebook, check the news, look at some YouTube videos.  After about 15 minutes, I realize it's time for lunch. 

Lunch is great. I'm a vegetarian. Today's menu is vegetarian chili that I made myself. It's pretty simple to make. Pinto, kidney and black beans, combined with onions, green peppers, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, marinara sauce, spices and textured soy product. That stuff really gives it a "meaty texture."

While eating, I read the Washington Post. Can you believe all the stuff that's going on with the Republican Presidential hopefuls? I'm so sorry Herman Cain got out. He really made me laugh. Well, hopefully, when Donald Trump hosts his debate at the end of December, that will provide more laughs. Can you imagine if one of the Republican hopefuls interups The Donald? Do you think there'd be a response like, "Shut up! I'm not through with you yutz!"

Lunch is over. Back to editing. First things first, I have to cut down the scene. If this were a theatrical release, I'd probably let a scene go. But this film is for the internet. That means it's competing against cute babies and puppies. It has to be tight, it has to move. It's amazing with a little thought how a film can move and still keep the flow and emotion. I wonder if any of my friends have posted pictures of what they had for lunch. I check my email, check Facebook, check the news, look at some YouTube videos.  After about 15 minutes, I get a burst of energy. It's time to workout.

I gave up my health club membership about three years ago. I got a set of free weights, an elliptical machine and my dad bought me an inversion table. Today is elliptical day. (45 minutes later) I take a shower.

I'm back at the computer. I think this reaction shot will work well. Sometimes not seeing the main character speak is better. You know, less is more. The trick is getting a feel of how long that reaction shot should be up. Should I break the narration and add room tone?  Charlie is scratching my arm. I guess it's time for a walk. "It's time for a walk? Is it time for a walk? A walk? Good girl."  Charlie is so full of energy.

An hour later we get back. It's dinner time. Liza tells me about her day. She's working on a GoGo Symphony. For those not in the DC area, go-go is a DC sound, similar to Motown in Detroit, Cajun in New Orleans or country in Nashville. It's a neat sound. Unfortunately, it never caught on nationally. Liza is combining it with a classical orchestra. What I've heard, I think she's on to something.

It's 8PM. Dinner is over. I sit down to edit my first film. But first I get a glass of wine. Now I sit down to edit my first film. I look at the footage. Then look a little more. I start editing. The next thing I know it's 11PM. I've edited the entire sequence I had hoped to finish today.

What is it about the nighttime. Nothing has changed, except that it went from daylight to dark. The same dogs are bugging me, the same parrot is making squawking noises, the same Facebook, email, news, YouTube videos are all there. The only difference is instead of sunlight there's lamplight.  So my tip for editing? Edit at night. The later the better.

Here's the cheap plug. The Nextnik premieres January 1st. You can watch it during the day.