Morris Dancing Documentary Feedback

Whilst undertaking my post-production module, I have also been editing my documentary production for my Documentary module. I completed my final rough cut a few days ago and I took the opportunity to show Chris to gain some feedback on the piece.

There was one major issue that I wasn't aware of until quite recently. This was that when undertaking an edit, it is my job to sync up all the shots with the correct audio from the Marantz, not to leave it for the sound designer to complete. I never thought about this because in the past, during any production the sound designer has synced up all the sound. It appeared that most of the other groups were also doing the same thing. However now knowing this, it's almost common sense for the editor to sync up the sound, as when it comes to the assembly/rough cut, you are aware almost straight away of the quality of the sound, instead of leaving it til the last minute for the sound designer only to possibly discover that some of the sound is almost un-usable.

In future I will be syncing up the sound with the images before I begin an edit. Currently I don't know how to sync up and merge audio with imagery, so I hope to learn this in the final year as I have chosen post-production for one of my final year modules.

Chris also mentioned that in the industry, asking a sound designer to sync up  the sound for you is as if you're throwing money down the drain. It's such an easy, simple job that most people can achieve.

Regarding the feedback on my piece, the following was said -

• Colour correction needs adding in certain shots
• Take out some shots that don't sit well with the overall feel of the piece
• Perhaps add titles/names to the piece to clarify who'm is talking, who the audience is watching... when, where, who, what etc.
• It would have been interesting to know the backstory of one or two people in the piece - follow someone around, from getting ready before the performance, to their 'daily routine'. It would have been interesting if one of the dancers had an interesting lifestyle behind the paint, for example if one of the dancers was a teacher, and one weekends he drives his car into town, puts on this make-up that's almost a disguise of some sort, and performs to the public without anyone knowing who he is.

It would have been that 'gem' that added an extra layer to our documentary. However it is too late now to make or add any changes but I am happy with what we've achieved.

Colour correction was implemented to some of the washed out shots.

On the right, our primary interview we kept going back too due
to its information and the charismatic people involved.

• A good mixture of dancing footage
• Some shots are generally not very good - this leads onto the point that the edit was difficult. I did struggle to find shots that were both visually pleasing and 'stable'. My stable I mean, almost every shot of Boggart's (the main Morris group in the piece) was hand-held, at the camera/shot was constantly moving, jumping, shifting around from person to person, which made it almost impossible to edit. It forced me to make a cut every 2 seconds, furthermore making it difficult to even reach the 5 minute mark. Saying that, I feel our piece doesn't need to be longer than 5 minutes, I managed to create an effective balance between the interviews, dancing and sound.

The interview on the right unfortunately wasn't useable due to the poor quality audio.

Alice, who did the sound design, has done a good job of keeping the interviews/sounds/dancing seamless throughout the piece. The sound never dips or cuts out in the piece, it's rather a flowing piece that gels together nicely.

My learning process through the edit has improved considerably, my general process of editing has been quicker and more efficient. I've managed to achieve this by the use of shortcuts, which saves a considerable amount of time.

I like to approach things differently when it comes to editing. Not to play it safe and go with the norm, I believe in challenging the audience and their expectations... creating something different or adding something that makes them think 'Oh, I didn't really expect that.'... With the footage I had for the documentary, for the opening I put together a mini-montage of dance footage and overlaid the line "Drinkers, dancers, thieves" into the piece, to add a little 'spice' that would get the bowl rolling and set the mood for the piece. The mood being one in which that is not serious, but a fun, energetic and informative piece.

I will be making a few final changes to piece before the presentation on Monday.