When Is Your Documentary’s Rough Cut Done?
One of my students recently asked a question about documentary structure that made me laugh, and I wanted to share it with you.
“I am spending a large amount of time making lists of feedback and potential ideas, and endlessly reorganizing the lists,” she said. “I get a cut done, and then I take it apart, re-do it a little, and get a thousand new ideas. Isn’t there always a better idea, a more exciting scene, a new possibility for structuring things?”
Yes, it can certainly feel that way! I’ve spent too much time on my early films spinning my wheels, continuing to shuffle and add new scenes for months. It seemed there was always a better way of beginning the film, or a new interview we needed to shoot.
Frankly, the process was fun, a bit addictive and, looking back, a waste of time.
At some point, you need to settle on the structure (rough cut), polish the scenes (fine cut), finalize the narration (locked picture) and prepare to send this creation through the online birth tunnel out into the world.
The question my student had was about that fuzzy line between rough cut and fine cut. “When do you stop working on adding content and manipulating structure, and begin refining your film?” she asked.
I gave her three pointers to know when your film is ready to move from rough cut to fine cut:
- You have a second or third rough cut screening and while some people may still have “issues” with the film (they always will), the critical comments on each of the film’s problems is limited to one or maybe two people, rather than 5 people all noting the same problem.
- You’ve gotten at least one round of advice from film professionals (story consultant, acquisition executive, outside editor, etc), you’ve incorporated their suggestions and, assuming they’re willing to re-watch the cut, they’re fairly satisfied that their original issues were addressed.
- You feel in your gut that it’s time to move this well-formed house into the fine cut stage of sanding, painting and polishing!
Having said that, there are many other possible criteria for knowing when your rough cut is done, including limited resources, outside deadlines and narrative requirements.
For example, if you have a character-driven film, check to see if you have:
- An inciting incident
- A clearly defined goal/quest
- Significant obstacles
- A climax at the end that calls forth a great effort from your protagonist
In the screenwriting world, these are non-negotiable plot points. For us documentary filmmakers, they are handy checklists to keep in mind as we attempt to approximate and harness the narrative drive of the ideal three-act structure….and finish our film on time!
I hope this has been helpful! I’d love to hear from others about how they know when the film’s structure is in place, and it’s time to move on to polishing the fine cut.
On another note, I have two openings for my new documentary coaching circle, which begins in mid-August. We’ll focus on storytelling and structure. Find out if this exclusive community of filmmakers and expert story consulting is right for you at: