The old adage that time is money has never been more important than it is on set. Movie making is all about efficiency, so the more you can get done in a day the better for your budget. Post production can correct some of your on-set errors, but you need a good set of masters to work with. Here are some tips to help you plan an efficient workflow that accounts for every task you’ll need to do until the movie is premiered.
Beginning to End
It’s important to approach your film with a knowledge of how it will look in the final cut. Try to plan your shots so that the editor can splice together the kind of film you want to make. Therefore, focus on action and use creative cuts to emphasize drama. A well-cut film has a greater emotional impact, and you can save yourself a lot of time re-shooting scenes if you know the kind of look you’re going for.
Organization is also key when you’re making a film. If everyone has knowledge of what the post-production process looks like, your sound and camera people will already have everything labeled for you when it’s time to get to work editing. Make the hand off as painless as possible and you’ll benefit from shorter post process.
Timing is everything. You have obligations to meet certain deadlines, and your budget is under constant pressure. In order to accomplish everything you need to do by the timeline you’ve set, you need to do your production work with the editing process firmly in mind.
Bio: Charlie Matthau is a director best known for his adaptation of Truman Capote’s work, “The Grass Harp.” Other Matthau Company productions include “Freaky Deaky” and the upcoming “Mexican High.” More information is available at the Charlie Matthau Company website.