Evaluating documentary editing phases

Evaluating documentary editing phases

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Some of the most extremely essential documentary filmmaking decisions are done within the editing room.


Editing is a vital phase of all movies, because it is the stage when raw footage transforms into the final item. This phase is especially very important to documentary films, however. This is because most narrative movies are edited to fit round the pre-defined storyboard and script. In the meantime, documentary filmmakers usually go into their shoots with only a rough pre-planned notion of whatever they will make, with the rest of the story being undiscovered until they actually film it. James Rogan is going to be well aware that this may mean that documentary directors and producers could be sitting on thousands of hours' worth of footage with no established narrative. The first step is always to back-up all of it because any moment could turn out to be used in the final documentary. Following this, all footage has to be watched with accompanying notes being written to pinpoint the greatest moments. This should take place at the same time as going through archive material, photos, and music to choose what is the most useful fit for the documentary.


Editing has grown significantly through the course of movie history. In fact, the complete reason the medium is named film is due to the material that movies had been filmed on. This material would be modified by hand, with editors cutting and pasting camera shots together. In the present day many films are now digital, which means that the majority of the editing is performed by computer. Morgan Matthews will know that most documentary filmmakers are well-acquainted with editing software. As soon as all possible components of the film are added to their selected software, it is time to begin experimenting with laying the very best shots into a timeline. Moments that reveal key information and may be the emotional core of the documentary would be the best to utilise. Seeing what works and doesn't work at this stage can help establish the building blocks of the documentary.


People are interested in watching documentaries simply because they desire to learn something. Nonetheless, this does not always mean that documentaries must be dry lectures. Individuals are also seeking to have fun while learning the knowledge by way of a narrative structure. Tim Parker will be able to tell you that making a choice on the narrative and finding elements that fit the narrative among the most essential stages in the film editing process. Even the most breathtaking shots mixed with the most remarkable archive footage will likely be meaningless if connected together without any clear narrative. Most filmmakers will generate a long first cut version of the documentary once they have established the narrative. They'll then go through the process of refining and re-editing it till it becomes a viewable length while accomplishing the objectives that the filmmaker attempted to attain.