Should I Edit My Film Myself?

When I taught editing at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, all our graduate students were taught how to edit: first AVID, then Final Cut Pro, and these days Premiere. It’s a great skill to have, and if you like to edit, this could be a good option to save money producing your own doc.

But we also taught our students that ideally directors should not edit their own documentary. Why? There are a few drawbacks:

• Technical editing (stitching together video) is not the same as storytelling, and being able to find the film’s structure.
• Seasoned editors bring a vital outside perspective.
• Especially if a director is an extrovert, when the edit cave gets too lonely, “editor’s  block” sets in.

If you can’t afford an outside editor, we offer two solutions that speak to the above drawbacks.

First, check out our Accelerated Post option which may reduce the cost of hiring an editor enough for your budget. Our career editors specialize in editing documentaries and work fast. They rank in the top 5%.

Alternately, hire a story consultant to guide your editing. You’ll get a seasoned storyteller, an outside perspective, and a lovely editorial companion!

Thank you to director LeeAnn Dance for this beautiful testimonial regarding the story consulting we did on her PBS film My Dear Children:

“Karen’s input on our film made the difference between an interesting niche film and one that is broadcast quality. We received a remarkable 80% “yes” votes from American Public Television member stations. There is no question Karen was worth every penny…and more.”