We all know the story: there isn't enough of a budget so the main people on the unit- you and your family do more than one job.
The result- a few sloppy things remain on-screen, a few mistakes here and there. In a bigger unit, with more assistants who tend to not get very emotional with those dreams playing out on-screen, there are typically lesser 'tiny' mistakes. Why, because those assistants who aren't passionate about the project catch minor errors better than you and me, the ones who are emotionally involved with the project.
I went back to work on a documentary recently and ran it through once, to just bring myself up to speeed so to say. Hey, it was embarassing to watch the screen- mistakes had crept in of a totally starter kind.
Why? I am a reasonably experienced filmmaker, usually pretty meticulous in my work.
But then I realised what I stated above- its the too many job syndrome.
The problem is that what do you do? You don't have money enough to pay an assistant, in any case then you may be relying on someone who may not be trained for the job you are giving them. So you opt to do things yourself. And make mistakes.
OK, the point is to not make mistakes, to do everything yourself perfectly. Rid yourself of all emotions and do the job.
As we all know easier said than done.
Why am I stating all this? This project that was recently revived had a roaring reception, but a few tiny errors had crept in, and I wondered why.
Life being what it is, I got a chance to correct all the errors on this project.
And what the hell when you get to see the project I won't tell you where the problems were, so it will look like a perfect project to you.
The result- a few sloppy things remain on-screen, a few mistakes here and there. In a bigger unit, with more assistants who tend to not get very emotional with those dreams playing out on-screen, there are typically lesser 'tiny' mistakes. Why, because those assistants who aren't passionate about the project catch minor errors better than you and me, the ones who are emotionally involved with the project.
I went back to work on a documentary recently and ran it through once, to just bring myself up to speeed so to say. Hey, it was embarassing to watch the screen- mistakes had crept in of a totally starter kind.
Why? I am a reasonably experienced filmmaker, usually pretty meticulous in my work.
But then I realised what I stated above- its the too many job syndrome.
The problem is that what do you do? You don't have money enough to pay an assistant, in any case then you may be relying on someone who may not be trained for the job you are giving them. So you opt to do things yourself. And make mistakes.
OK, the point is to not make mistakes, to do everything yourself perfectly. Rid yourself of all emotions and do the job.
As we all know easier said than done.
Why am I stating all this? This project that was recently revived had a roaring reception, but a few tiny errors had crept in, and I wondered why.
Life being what it is, I got a chance to correct all the errors on this project.
And what the hell when you get to see the project I won't tell you where the problems were, so it will look like a perfect project to you.
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