Any movie fan will be aware of the Apocalypse Now debacle. You know, lead actor has a heart attack halfway through, Philippine army helicopters hired to film war scenes called away mid-project to fight an actual war, months over schedule, millions over budget – that old chestnut.
Then the many film edit versions – cinema cut, director’s cut, redux cut, bootleg edition – and so on. Perhaps after investing so much of his life into the project (and probably coming close to losing his life during it), director Ford-Coppola found it hard to just put it down and walk away, breathing out ‘it is finished‘. It was certainly a cross he seemed keen to hang on.
I am often tempted to fiddle a bit more with my own work and recently noticed upon returning to some old projects that there were things I quite wanted to change. So, is a film edit ever really finished?
Deciding when to finalise a film edit
Unlike a ‘simple’ photograph, video editing is a different beast. It is more complicated and nuanced, a 1959 Chateau Lafite compared to a Sainsbury’s grape juice. A photo can change its colour, contrast, saturation and shading. With video editing, those parameters can be adjusted as well – but on every one of perhaps 100 scenes.
What’s more, each scene also contains content, audio, camera movement, focus and lighting changes. It can sit in one order on the timeline, or it can be swapped for another. It’s in and out points can be adjusted, it can be slowed down or sped up. Sometimes throwing it out entirely can make the video edit better.
Combine that amount of flexibility with a creative editor with decent software, and the possibilities are literally endless. Thankfully, time and budget are finite and as a result us film makers must cut our cloth – and our film – to fit.
Video production storytelling on time, in budget
The real skill comes from planning the project so the required outcome is known from the start. It then becomes obvious when that end – in terms of story, content, image quality and style – has been reached. The film edit is engaging and technically excellent, the information is conveyed clearly, and the call to action is obvious. Achieving that on time and within budget is what I believe to be my company’s main skill.
Of course, some shots could be cut a little differently or a colour tweaked until the cows return. Yes, we could do a director’s cut, or a redux (whatever that means) and it might make us a little happier. But in the corporate world, the client is not well served by expensive creative indulgence. Videos need to be beautifully created, powerful storytellers, delivered on time and within budget. That’s what we do.
About Boreham Media
Boreham Media is a destination for highly creative, beautifully crafted digital content. Based in London, but shooting globally, we produce first-class video, working collaboratively with clients to provide a great experience, to land great results that deliver exactly what they need.
Through imaginatively crafted long-form videos and dynamic short-form reels, we bring ideas to life in ways that inspire, inform, and engage. Whether it’s a brand messaging piece that showcases your identity, a behind-the-scenes outtake that captures your team’s personality, or a simple but effective smartphone video production for your social channels, we will work with you to create compelling digital content.
Find out more about our services here.