Strategy #2 to Accelerate Editing

Happy Friday! Today I’m revealing a second strategy to safely speed up the conventional 3-6 month editing timeline. This will save you money in post as you work efficiently through Assembly Cut, Rough Cut, Fine Cut and Locked Pic.

(If you missed Part 1 on strategies to sift through the chaff and save on your post-production budget, read here.)

Editing is so fun that it’s easy to get seduced into rabbit holes that are later abandoned. As a young editor, I wasted weeks this way.

So consider using a “Prioritized List of Editorial Tasks”. Before entering each new cut, prioritize the 7-15 specific, editorial tasks needed to complete that cut.

For example, to complete Rough Cut A in two weeks, top priorities might include: outlining the protagonist’s arc, editing an inciting incident scene, cutting repetition from the Assembly cut, and adding text cards to create a word-driven “radio cut”.

With the structure coming together, Rough Cut B might edit cutaways to flesh out scenes, add temp narration, and use music to pace emotionality (snorts, tears, and other “lean forward” moments).

Check out this sample 10-week timeline to finish editing (see middle of page).

To stick to the above tight delivery deadlines, here’s an example of a Prioritized List of Editorial Tasks for a recent “Rough Cut A”:

1. Experiment with spooky montage for Intro
2. Identify characters to keep or cut
   • Who tells stories best?
   • Stick w/ only primary characters in first 15 min
3. Craft 2^nd & 3^rd act climaxes
   • Repatriation 2^nd act climax
   • Struggle in America 3^rd act climax
4. Include more discussion of PTSD
   • Melinda (didn’t speak)
   • Dr. Caine
5. Cut repetition in 30-50 minute range
6. Find places to build in lighter moments – mitigate viewer fatigue
7. Add Text Cards for temp narration
8. Add placeholders for animation to come

While it may seem anal, using this protocol streamlines an editor’s workflow without excess experimentation–saving film producers both time and money!