Writing, Directing and Producing Documentary Films and Videos

This week I read this book. Specially, I read the postproduction part, because I start to edit my documentary. Rosenthal introduce how to start documentary. 

The editing process has three steps,  assembly cut, the rough cut and the fine cut(Rosenthal, 2007). The assembly cut means try to put them roughly in order according your audio and video script. At this stage, you also need to evaluating shots. Editor should use different shots to make the same point. You can deciding which you prefer.Your interview shots will go in with the corresponding sync sound track, but apart from that, you will not bother with sound at this stage(Rosenthal, 2007). It could be two or three times its final length. The real work begin on the rough cut. Here is talk about proper structure, climaxes, pace, and rhythm.

 You need to check your character whether come over well and the film has punch. In the rough cut, you need to consider your structure of documentary whether smooth. I think climaxes of last term documentary in the wrong place. To some extend, I think climaxes should be put in the fit place. If not in right place, Climaxes will be disappeared.Some contents in the documentary should be removed. Audience cannot absorb too much information. Rosenthal(2007) said:" documentary films tend to use less music, since it can break the illusion of reality. However, when used well, music can lift a film tremendously. During the fine cut, you make the picture more better, adding music and effects and color grading. You need to repeated deliberation effects, music and narration. This becomes a see-saw process. 

In my documentary, I also want to use After effect to make opening title in start and end. So I try to make 3D and 2D track text. 

Reference: Rosenthal, A. (2007) Writing, directing, and producing documentary films and videos. 4th edn. United States: Southern Illinois University Press.