Microbudget Movies:
Editing

Most microbudget movies today are shot on video so you will likely be editing your finished product on a computer using “non linear” editing software. Most of these programs are incredibly similar and use some kind of “time line” layout where you drag and drop your elements, such as picture and sound. You’re certainly going to want one that allows for multiple tracks of audio so that you can build up your soundtrack with dialogue, music and audio effects.

Whether you use the audio tools built into the editing software or some other “.wav editor” to “tweak” your audio don’t neglect the powerful tools that are available to you in even a fairly basic program. Tools like “EQ”, “Noise Gate” and “Noise Reduction” can help to “clean up” your production audio, which may be marred by traffic noise, wind or some other aural distraction.

Likewise, there are many video tools that may come in handy for things like color correction or exposure adjustment. And of course you can also get as “far out” as your software and imagination can take you. Don’t be afraid to experiment; that’s the beauty of non-linear editing. You’re not actually “cutting” pieces of film anymore, you’re just shifting bits of digital information around that can be copied and played with in a non-destructive fashion. (Although many people still refer to editing as cutting a picture.)

You’ll need a lot of hard drive space and you’ll want a pretty fast computer but the job can be done on systems far below what the glossy magazines recommend. If you want to throw some money at your existing system try increasing the RAM or upgrading the video card.

Eventually you’ll need to “render” the project in order to combine all of the elements into a final file. (Usually an .AVI or .MOV file, depending on what platform you’re using.) Since a feature length film is usually too large to fit into a single file you’ll probably need to render it in sections. The best way to do that is to look for obvious “breaks”, like fade outs, and render “from black to black.” That way when you string them back together, such as on a DVD, you won’t risk losing any important information or having a noticeable “jump cut” effect in the middle of a scene.

Editing is where it all comes together and ultimately determines how your movie is going to be seen and heard by the rest of the world so give yourself ample time to do a good job and don’t hesitate to let people see some of your progress. It can be very helpful to have a “test audience” react to your movie before it’s finalized. It’s a good way to see whether your jokes are getting laughs, or on the downside, whether it’s your special effects that are generating the chuckles. Don’t take it too personally; just try to use it as a reference. It’s very easy to become too close to your work to be completely objective, so sometimes it’s a good idea to run it by other people.