Little Frog in High Def

Things that look good on paper…the script…often do not work out when shot and edited. It is an interesting thing. You think it works, and then you see it, and for some reason it doesn’t. SMART producers/directors recognize this, and allow for the scenes to be recut, or cut down…or cut out entirely. But I have run across those who INSIST that the scenes be edited as it appears in the script, even though it doesn’t work. And that can drag down or kill a movie. I have seen that happen.

Editors are known to have the final re-write. If you have someone who just goes by exactly how the script is written, then they might not be a good editor. A good editor recognizes what needs to be changes to make things work. You should read the book “The Cutting Room Floor : Movie Scenes Which Never Made it to the Screen.” It really shows how editors can save films. Annie Hall, for example, was a COMPLETELY different movie than was originally scripted and shot. Diane Keaton had a very minor part…it was all about Woody Allen’s character and scenes from his life. But it was shot, and edited…and everyone looked at it and knew it was a disaster. Allen sat with the editor, explored other avenues, shot additional scenes…took a LONG time working things out. And then it goes and wins an Oscar for best picture.

Editing is where the story is made.