Scriptwriting for documentary films ends in the editing room. At this point, the filmed material or compiled archive has become unique, and it must be revealed as new material in order for the film to be completed. Thus, viewing and listening to the material, step-by-step rewriting in editing, and the dialogue between images and sounds allow us to create various versions of the film that evolve over time. The process that leads to the final cut is undoubtedly laborious and complicated.
ProfilesAddress Assembly Script
Images and sounds revealed: watching and listening to the material
- How do you prepare the editing?
- Do you watch the material and take notes, or are the selected shots already being shot?
- Do you revise or write after the viewings?
- How do you modify your vision of the film?
- Can you explain some experiences of your filmmaking practice at this stage of the process?
Rewriting in the editing room: structure, rhythm and cutting.
- How do you approach the rewriting process in the editing room?
- Do you start from a script on paper, do you edit sequence by sequence, do you first approach specific sequences that are clear to you, or do you start from a general structure?
- How do you relate to the editor-scriptwriter?
- How do you work with the cut shot by shot?
- How do you approach the rhythm of specific sequences?
- How have your films changed in the editing?
- Can you give us some examples?
Dialogues between image and sound
- How is the relationship between sound and image in your films?
- Do you work first with image and then with sound, both at the same time, or first with sound and then with image?
- In the case of the archive image, what specific sound treatment does it receive?
- How do you work with the color or graphics of your film?
- How do you write the voiceover in relation to the rest of the elements?
- How do you approach sound design or ambience?
- What role does music play in your filmmaking practice?
- How do you articulate silences or pauses?
The final cut: sharing the film
- How do you get to know what the final cut is?
- Do you share it with a few people you trust or with part of the crew?
- How do you establish a dialogue with the producers at this stage?
- Any examples or experiences in your films?
