Tales From Tales From The Dead
A big thanks to Lance for creating a place for us to compile our adventures in post and beyond.
We completed post production on Tales From The Dead a week and a half ago. Whew. It was a tight 5-week schedule which entailed wrangling visual effects, sound design, ADR, soundtrack, subtitles and color-correction. We spent the first week having another editor take a pass at the rough cut. He made some great contributions to the story’s structure and a fresh set of eyes really helped to gain some needed perspective (especially since I edited the rough cut myself). The next three weeks were spent working with a composer (from 3000 miles away), a visual effects artist and a sound designer while the second editor continued to tighten the cut and prepare it for onlining. Our last week was spent in the online editing suite putting together all the pieces, conform the HD footage and layback to HDCam masters…and all of it was more difficult than it sounds. We needed a grueling schedule because frankly we couldn’t afford to go any longer than that. We raised just enough to get through the process without hiccups. Naturally, there were plenty. We knew it would possibly bury us to start the post process without a contingency plan, but we wanted to get started and threw caution to the wind. It was risky, but necessary. We knew the film wouldn’t be perfect in the end, but it would be better than what we had. Seeing that timecode was starting to make me buggy.
Of course, “completed” is a subjective term. We were incredibly lucky to have a good amount of very generous people lending their talents to the film for very little money, but that created time limitations. Due to the hectic schedule, there are still elements of the finished film I would like to tweak before showing it to an audience. Little things really. Some sound issues and minor shot fixes. Nothing that couldn’t be completely corrected in three days. What we have now is more than perfect for DVD screeners to festivals and distribution companies, so I’m grateful for that. We’ll be making the most of the festival circuit between now and spring before sending screeners to companies and some of the horror webzines for coverage.
So we’ve got a film that looks and sounds great, thanks to everyone who put so much work into it (and forgave my whip-cracking). The minor adjustments will be done in the next few months after a nice, relaxing breather. This was my first experience taking a film through post production, and I can honestly say after five weeks on Hell’s stretch of highway, I learned volumes. I’m assuming the process is much more enjoyable with money to burn, but for us, the Devil rode shotgun and never once kicked in for gas.
For those of you about to take the post plunge, it’s an incredible feeling to take a film to completion. It’s difficult at this stage of the game, but hopefully you’ll love your film when it’s done, making every day you pulled it behind you worthwhile. Heck, you’d do it all over again. Through quicksand. One word of caution, however. There are three kinds of people you’ll meet on the Yellow Brick Road through post:
- Those who get paid a lot to work hard on your project because they believe in it.
- Those who get paid a little to work hard on your project because they really believe in it.
- Those who get paid nothing to work hard on your project because they really believe in you.
Your film may have been created by people who sacrificed time and money (and who knows what else) because they like you and believe in your dream, but then there are the vendors. Visual effects artists and online editors, for example, are wonderfully talented, good people who will make your film look and sound professional - but at a professional price. They have no stake in your project and will not lose an ounce of sleep if you can’t afford to finish it; they’ll simply hand you your film on an external hard drive and wish you the best of luck. They don’t love your film like you do and certainly haven’t carried it like a baby in the womb for years. They provide a service, and you pay for that service until it’s done or until you can’t pay anymore. Period. No hard feelings, nothing personal. I was embarrassed by how many times I would be taken aback by this blunt behavior. Like most independent productions, I got so used to people giving to TALES out of the kindness of their hearts that I forgot how this business works. It is a business after all, and people should be paid what they ask for if they deserve it. If only we could all be paid what we’re worth to do what we do! Chances are if you can take a step back to gain some perspective and shop around, you’re probably still getting a deal. Yet, I still found myself getting frustrated. It can be hard to maintain that kind of perspective when you’re broke and your project is on the brink, but it’s the reality of post.
For the record, I never asked for a freebie, I never low-balled anyone, I didn’t haggle. Not once. Why? Because it’s only fair, damn it. Maybe you know a ton of awesome people who’ll take you through the process for little to no money. If so, you are blessed. If not, try to benefit from my experience and be ready to pay what its worth when dealing with professional vendors. You’ll both appreciate it and trust me, it’ll get you through post with a smile. Just a little something to prepare for.
Thankfully, as with all great experiences, now I’m better prepared for the future. The Devil will just have to hitchhike on the next film.
Good luck to everyone and I look forward to reading your updates!
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This rings so close to home, I can’t even tell you. The three categories are great ways to break it down. And while everyone you meet on your journey to get your baby finished may view it with the most of passion, there are limits to people’s charity. Passion from people will get you far, but, unfortunately, it’s money that will take you to the finish line.
Thanks for your post.