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An Editor’s Blind Spot
July 11, 2023
News flash: we have a highly credentialed editor available shortly. And we’ve dropped our editing rates significantly due to the writer’s strike. If you’re interested in editing with us, take the following anecdote into account! Recently New Doc Editing was in the running to edit an independent documentary. The first-time director ended up choosing another editor over ours. Why? The other editor was less expensive and a huge fan of the film’s topic. But then I got to thinking about a significant drawback that first-time filmmakers often don’t see when choosing to collaborate with fans. Editors who are devotees of…
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Why I Hired a Story Consultant
June 29, 2023
When I was editing my fifth documentary, I spent 18 months logging 200 hours of footage. Then I edited a 4-hour string out. But as I contemplated editing the Assembly Cut, I stared at the computer screen. It dawned on me that I’d already lost perspective. I no longer trusted myself to know what to keep and what to cut. Of course, the right thing to do was to turn the project over to a seasoned documentary editor. Ego-wise, I was ready to do that. The problem was that at the time, in 2007, I didn’t have the $45,000 a…
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Telltale Signs of an Amateur Editor vs. Professional Editor
June 22, 2023
Recently I taught a class on story structure. I asked 27 students to send me editorial questions in advance. Here is one of the most interesting: “What are the telltale signs of an edit from a professional compared to that of an amateur editor?” I told her that if we’re talking about “Story” with a capital S, the main difference is that most amateur editors are not fluent in story structure–and thus don’t deliver on dramatic impact. If they truly are fluent, they’ll be able to answer these questions. If they’re not, you’re apt to be watching a boring and…
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Summer Special – Editing Discount
June 15, 2023
We’re offering a temporary discount on our editing services! Summer tends to be the slow season before the fall festival stretch. Yes, I will consider offering this discount to filmmakers who pre-pay for the fall. Check out current rates here. Also, yesterday was my birthday! I’m 62. Why am I telling you this? Mainly because I want more women (and men) to feel comfortable revealing their age as they get older. And, it doesn’t hurt to let readers know I’ve been happily working in the documentary world for 35 years. Here’s to wisdom and experience!
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NETA picks New Doc Films
June 6, 2023
I’m happy to announce that two documentaries we helped structure will be screening on PBS. When Wire Was King and Alien (we cut the film and trailer) are recent NETA picks. Congratulations, directors! NETA is a terrific way for independent filmmakers to receive distribution and promotion through America’s PBS and member stations. They broadcast about 1200 films per year, seen by millions! Compare that to the 99 features picked by Sundance curators this year, and you can see how your odds for a NETA broadcast are at least ten times better! Alas, you’ll have to kick in some funds for…
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Memorial Day FILMMAKING Sale
May 27, 2023
Happy Memorial Day to my American readers! This holiday I’m selling two of my popular online seminars. Buy The Ultimate Guide to Structuring Your Documentary and get Editing the Character-Driven Documentary here for free (valued at $77.97). Click here to purchase. This sale ends on May 31st. It’s now available to international filmmakers as well. Here’s what one Emmy-Award-winning director had to say about Editing the Character-Driven Documentary: “This class was invaluable for bringing into crystal clear focus how to bring a 3-act structure to a documentary film. Karen is inspiring and the documentary clips she screens are extremely useful.”…
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Thirty Percent Off Story Consulting Service
May 22, 2023
Yikes! My summer travel plans to Japan have unexpectedly changed. So, I’m offering 30% off my Story Consulting fees to fill three slots quickly in June! Want your rough cut reviewed by a professional? Check out current Story Consulting rates here and take 30% off. This offer only applies to films in post-production. And it ends as soon as these three slots are filled. Please email today if you’re interested to reserve your discounted story consultation. Thank you to director Jessica Moore for this testimonial about Story Consulting: “Nearing the end of my project, I still had some unanswered questions…
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Announcing New Staff Story Consultants
April 18, 2023
Last fall our business tripled after a series of webinars. I couldn’t handle all the work so I delegated some requests for story consultations to my senior staff editors. I trained these already deeply experienced editors in New Doc’s methods. Why should you care? This is a big benefit to directors who want to work with us but who may not be able afford my personal rates. Thank you to director Aymee Cruzalegui for this recent testimonial about one of our staff story consultants: “As a documentary filmmaker trying to make sense of a giant puzzle, it’s crucial to have…
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Follow up on Navalny Oscar Controversy
April 6, 2023
I received several thoughtful responses to my blog: Why Did Navalny Win the Oscar? Here are a few editors and filmmakers who gave permission to weigh in on the controversy. I loved what editor Ken Schneider said, “I have a different take. Navalny was structured as a classic thriller, a la Jason Bourne et al…Wonderful cinematic experiments like Time or Fire of Love rarely win. BTW, I think it is a mischaracterization to say that FoL is about documenting the volcano. I’d say it is a love story against the canvas of volcanos erupting. A truly innovative piece, which guarantees that it wouldn’t be selected.” Next up is Julie A.…
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Why Did Navalny Win The Oscar?
March 21, 2023
This year I kept my Oscar predictions to myself, still smarting from my incorrect 2019 guess, RGB. This season, it turns out, my top pick was right! So why did Navalny, a film about a poisoned Russian presidential candidate, win Best Documentary Feature in 2023? I’d love to hear your opinions. Here’s mine. First, let’s look at the other four candidates. Judging from their loglines, all of these nominees embody the predominant structural form to emerge from the golden age of documentaries. They are character-driven documentaries–stories that follow a protagonist on a quest–rather than essay-style films that are structured around…
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