ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 9 months ago - Ned Hussain

Dan, i'm interested in why you think directors should not cut their own work?

10 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

If you've got access to a HDCAM deck, I can give you some!

10 years, 9 months ago - Dan Selakovich

See, this is why I love shooting people. It's incredibly generous of you guys to offer up your footage like that. Good on you!

10 years, 8 months ago - Simon Coppen-Gardner

@Paddy Robinson-Griffin
I can borrow something from my club that will do the trick, thanks for the offer.

10 years, 9 months ago - Owyn Stephens

Thanks for all the great responses, will definitely get in touch. O

10 years, 9 months ago - Dan Selakovich

@Ned Hussain Here ya' go, Ned. I wrote a little something because I get asked that a lot:

https://shootingpeople.org/discuss/view/063fed65c6b98257a0aeb2ac

10 years, 9 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Narrative cutting is a different beast, and I commend you for looking. How about this: ask filmmakers here for their rough footage and cut away.

Look, I don't think directors should cut their own stuff, but that's nearly impossible to convince a novice director of that. But we live in a digital world. Why not give Owyn your footage to cut for your short, while you cut away on it yourself. That way you can learn from one another. You'll probably realize some of his scenes are better than yours. Or he'll realize he needs more practice cutting narrative work.

It's digital. What could it hurt?

10 years, 8 months ago - Simon Coppen-Gardner

Fully agree with Owyn, I would love some narrative footage to cut. I am not yet at the stage of working for money, having come to this at the tender age of 45 I already have a day job that pays the bills, but feel that some decent narrative practice would really benefit me if anyone has some footage I could play with!

10 years, 9 months ago - Rhys Edwards

I've just started cutting my latest short, The Last Little Show at the End of the World. Owyn, you're welcome to use my footage for practise. As Dan said, if I see you've done a better job than me in a few scenes, then I'll use it, and you would get full credit. (no money though, sorry!) I know learning to edit takes time, but it's much more pleasurable to have good footage to work with.

I've been following a travelling entertainer called Mr Alexander for the past year. He lives in a lorry with his two dogs, and tows a trailer that turns into a stage. He spends the whole summer going from fair to fair, entertaining, with his juggling, unicycling, balance and illusion act. I have about 800Gb of footage, over about 7 or 8 days, including lovely SLog 3 150fps footage of him performing. Also sit down interviews, on the fly interviews and just nice shots of him travelling the Uk, setting up in different places. I've just paid over £1000 for music rights. Owyn, I'm not looking for an editor, as I enjoy that part myself, but if you're looking for nice footage to use for your showreel, it would be nice to see what fresh eyes can come up with.

10 years, 9 months ago - Andrew Morgan

The problem is that Owyn (who's admitted he lacks experience) is looking to get paid for his on-the-job-training - understandable but one only has to look at the job postings here to realise that 99% of Shooters can't afford to pay a 'working wage' to their cast, crew or even themselves.

10 years, 9 months ago - jane foster

Interesting one this - I takes lots of time just to learn how any editing system works. For that, I agree, it's on a no pay collaboration basis as should be all 'learner' or 'first' projects which are a common part of SP community. However, if he's proficient, and cutting things like show reels or bits and pieces for weddings and commercial use, then it's entirely fair that he asks for some sort of wage. Fact is, people make narrative films for love until they get very good at it, and then someone pays you well - And too right, it takes years in many cases of hard struggle, so, if it's to cut peoples short films and zero budget features, then, well, we are all in the same boat. I also think it's wonderful that narrative editors have not been totally squashed into the whole 'director does it all' category. Sure, some directors will always love to edit, but it should not be assumed... Narrative editing is a story telling art like the screenwriters craft, and should be honoured as such. Personally, I blame our educational system - BTEC level 3/4, and some 'film maker' degrees, where students are taught to be all singing and all dancing one band man film makers. This is why we have a wave of such mediocre creatives' - Not enough respect or training is being given to each creative craft employed to make films. Just because we have cheaper cameras and digitalisation all through the industry, it don't mean we also have to all do everything and sacrifice quality!

10 years, 9 months ago - John Baker

I agree with much of above. Most of my paid shooting and editing is not so interesting corporate stuff.

However, if you want some fun footage to play around with, I just shot a batshit insane shortish (15 mins) 'zero dialogue' film. I shot it as a nice way to practice not relying on dialogue to drive a narrative (I banned myself from even using cards to explain anything). Also, having a sound background I wanted something where I could really go to town on the soundtrack.

I have almost finished the edit but you are welcome to create something else from it. Being silent, it should be possible to construct different shorter stories out of it. Being able to tweak or even change the story in the edit to fix things when something doesn't work out is also a useful skill.

Direct message me if you want. I'll send you a link to a passworded rough edit, so you can see the footage.