written documentation of edit?

We are working on a doc where the producer/director has gone through & notated all the potential clips to be used & I have pulled all of them into FCPX and labeled them with tags.

We are now in the process of cutting down the content & the producer seems to think it is necessary to log every edit in his excel spreadsheet, what clip we're using & the in/out as spoken on camera. This is adding a considerable amount of time to our edit & we have a deadline.

My question to you all, is this written record necessary? And if so is there a quicker way to accomplish this goal?

One thing I was thinking about was export XML's each night & using assistedediting.intelligentassistance.com/ProducersBestFriend/ to export a spreadsheet of where we ended each day.

Any other thoughts on this? Thanks in advance!

I haven't used ProducersBest Friend myself, but I have heard very good things about it and it does seem to offer exactly what you need.

Philip Hoddgets from Intelligent Assistance is a great guy. So I would suggest you contact him to submit your specific question and he will be able to tell you exactly how to proceed: info@AssistedEditing.com

- Ronny

Producer's Best Friend does look excellent and should give you what you need very quickly: bit.ly/1e3l3Vw

These type of detailed reports are very useful if you're using archive clips, stock footage and music that require royalty payments. However, if it's footage that you've shot, is it actually necessary?

Ian-B wrote: Producer's Best Friend does look excellent and should give you what you need very quickly: bit.ly/1e3l3Vw

These type of detailed reports are very useful if you're using archive clips, stock footage and music that require royalty payments. However, if it's footage that you've shot, is it actually necessary?

able2know.org/topic/4965-1

This is a version of a story Robert Rodriguez told on one of his commentary tracks that relates nicely. It's like when sound was recorded on Nagra reel to reel machines and you would have to wait for it to get up to speed, so the sound person would say "speed!" Now the digital recorders just go on instantly. Why do people need to say speed anymore? They don't. Tradition!

You still want confirmation that the hardware is actually recording before shouting Action.

BenB wrote: You still want confirmation that the hardware is actually recording before shouting Action.

Ha, yes yes, but it's just funny to think of all the holdover words from back in the day. Shooting digital, many directors I work with that shot film for decades still do a safety take. I asked one of them why waste the time when there is no lab to accidentally scratch or burn the film? He supposed it was just habit and stopped doing it. Being able to check the take right then and there, there really is no need to do a safety take if you know you got it in the can. (or the hard drive? ssd?)

I also like Clint Eastwood's style of saying action. The camera op and the sound recorder both calmly say 'rolling and speed' and then Clint just calmly and quietly says "ok" and the actors start, seems much more civilized to me than the norm.

On set etiquette is sooo overrated: bit.ly/1kiadU1

Oh man, that is amazing.

I lead an annual Teen Filmmaking Bootcamp for Louisiana State University. I explain the process to the kids, and how the terms are hold overs, and encourage them to come up with their own "modernized" terminology to use. It can get pretty funny. But they do take very seriously coming up with modern, and technically accurate alternatives to rolling, speed, and action. This summer I may start writing down what they come up with and post it.

BenB wrote: This summer I may start writing down what they come up with and post it.

That is so cool! I bet what they come up with is much better than what we have now, and will likely be easier type as a text message. LOL! (ahhem)

When I was a teen, filmmaking was VHS camcorders and no hope of ever doing it as a living. I would have been ecstatic to attend something like that at that age. You are doing the good work.

When I was a teen, I was using my dad's windup, spring driven, silent Brownie 8mm camera, scissors and tape, and a mechanical projector that was way louder than a 747 on takeoff. When VHS came along, man, that was super easy to deal with!

BTW, I remember from last year, one set of crew, instead of saying Speed and Rolling, would say, "I hope it's recording!" and "Hope the batteries don't die!" And then "Don't screw up!" instead of Action. They thought it was funny, and technically honest. HHHmmm...

Back to the OP - no I've never come across needing this level of info on an edit. Of course when using archive and paying for it it's essential to log usage accurately - but I would normally track it and maybe do a pull before online/grade to give to my assistant to log. That might happen throughout the edit if budget is a consideration (for instance using material from multiple sources that have different costs - sometimes you can substitute cheaper archive or UGC with little detriment to the film) but not on a per-edit basis. That would drive me nuts in the cutting room - I don't know I could work like that. Have you been given a reason? And your suggestion of using Producers Best Friend would be my compromise of choice.

IMHO, your director/producer is nuts. I don't think that spreadsheet will work the way he wants it to. Just saying...

I've enjoyed these responses, it is funny how we can hold on to things of the past - and did I mention the producer is 62 years old? So it is challenging at times to get him to adapt to new workflows - although he is remarkable technical considering.

I'm happy to report that we have abandoned the spreadsheet & our editing pace has picked up considerably!

Thanks again for the responses.

I would suggest making a gesture of good faith. Export a working copy with TC overlay, so the guy can refer to it. Maybe even duplicate the Project, add markers at each clip, give those marker names a short quote from the clip or section. When you export, you can publish the markers. He can watch it in QT player and have access to the marker list, which are key quotes or words. Again, just a gesture of good faith to maintain the peace, and he gets his "modern" reference spreadsheet. Just a thought.

I have worked in China where older OP says "speed" in English!