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Average Post-Pro Time on Historic Doc?
Hey, just out of curiosity, what is the average amount of time put into a historic doc edit? Say one of the better non-reenacted pieces (some History Channel). And to give an idea of the production quality, since docs run across the map, like everything else… it’s in HD (DVCPRO HD), contains many interviews, voice over, animated photographs, and maps, and dramatic editing/storytelling/scoring, with what will be well over 20 hours of footage. Target length of around 40-60 minutes.
What I’m curious about is this: Does the editor generally take 2 months, 3 months, or 6 months? Again, I realize this probably runs all over the map, but if anyone has a number to share, it’d be much appreciated for satisfying curiosity!
Thanks!
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14 Replies
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[JT] “Does the editor generally take 2 months, 3 months, or 6 months?”
JT,
There are innumerable variables that have an affect on the realistic timeframe of a doco. However, I have found over the years that three main variables override all others.
1) If the commissioning entity requires accountability and a delivery date, that provides your answer. The doco will be finished come Hell or high water.
2) If you are lucky enough to be working with a producer and a writer who know what they want and know what they are doing, most docos will have a finite timetable.
3) If you have neither of the above, the doco will go on for an indefinite period of time.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles -
Thanks, David. Yes, post is funny that way. It’s finished when there’s a deadline, not, “finished when it’s finished.”
I do have a deadline, etc. It’s just that since this is my first *historic* documentary, I was curious what an average big-ish his-doc took. Non pre-scripted for the most part, apart from the facts of history.
Any random numbers?
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JT,
Gosh, I wish could say two months or three months, but so much of historical doco creation is based on researching visuals, ordering and receiving those additional elements, etc. That aspect alone can take months.
On the other hand, if everything in “in the can” and you have all the elements and transcripts for all the interviews, then assembling a one-hour project can be done in weeks, not months.
I’m sure Shane Ross will give you some input too, as he works on docos with airdates.
DRW
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles -
When I cut THC “Barbarians” series a few years back, the time to cut two, one-hour, scripted shows was 6 months- that was from logging through soundmix to mastering. Of course, we didn’t work weekends, and it was pretty-much all reenactments.
Now, I work on ski-racing docs, unscripted, without producer (just the editor baby!) – we I can lock picture in 3 weeks. Go figure.
HTH
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Okay, here’s a weird one for ya…
I came onboard a doco that had been in the making for nearly 2.5 years. It was at 83-mins run time when I started. I recut the project down to one tight hour in a week’s time. That cut stood as the final cut for a year.
Fast forward to last year, the producer decided to extend the project to feature length, from 60-mins to 86-mins. How long did that take??? How about one year.
DRW
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles -
Yeah, that’s why they pay us the big bucks… 😉 Don’t imagine whoever’s taking a year+ is making much per-hour.
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Yes, this question seems aimed squarely at my chest. I cut History Channel, National Geographic and Discovery Channel shows. Both one hour and two hour program lengths.
Typically you’ll have 5-6 weeks to cut a one hour show. That is to offline and lock picture. A day for music spotting for the composer. Then another 1-2 days to online/color correct. The sound mixer has 3 days to mix audio, with a 4th day for playback and layback….this might happen a bit later in the process…like a week after the color correction as the composer needs time to compose music. But it will take about 8 weeks…2 months.
For a two hour show, double the times. 10 weeks to offline, about 3-4 days to online and color correct (IF you have to capture the footage again…cut that time in half on the shows I cut at full resolution DVCPRO HD, as there is no need to recapture), a week to mix audio, again, delayed so the composer has time to compose music. So about 12 – 13 weeks…3 months or so.
BUT…more often than not shows take longer…about 2 weeks in the average. But we did have a 2 hour show (BLOOD DIAMONDS) that we finished in 6 weeks…EVERYTHING included. But we had a VERY hard deadline to meet (to coincide with the film) so there were two of us editing that, day and night. And I did have one show that I worked on for 9 months. Yes, 9 months. Two hour show. The network kept changing one act. I spent 4 months on Act 1. It was insane.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
To edit our fishing show, which consisted almost entirely of non-scripted material, would take about two to three hours of work to finish a minute of program.
Two guys, working 60-hour weeks each, would get the hour-long show done in time for each week’s airing, 26 times a year.
Dean Sensui — Imagination Media Hawaii
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Cool, great to hear. That’s around what this is turning out to be. It’s online with the HD, like you do, and I’ll be doing pretty much everything but map graphics, composing (though certainly music selection for them to use as guides), and final narration writing.
I know what it’s like to edit day and night for a tight deadline. Did that once for an entire doc. Never again (oh, jinx).
Thanks guys!
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[JT] “Don’t imagine whoever’s taking a year+ is making much per-hour.”
Its not how much you make in an hour that counts… its how many hours you get paid for over a year.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
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