Logging and transcripts
Documentaries are found in the material, so the first weeks go to knowing it. Interviews are transcribed, footage is logged by subject and moment, and the strongest lines are marked. If you have transcripts or logs already, send them; they save time.
String-outs
A string-out is every usable moment about one subject placed end to end. It's long and unwatchable, and it's the most useful tool in a documentary edit: it shows what you have on each thread of the story before you decide which threads to keep.
Finding the structure
The diagram above shows one common shape: a question, an investigation that complicates it, and an answer. Character films often follow a person through a change instead. We'll suggest a structure from the footage, then build a paper edit from the transcripts so you can agree the story before picture is cut.
Being fair to the people on screen
Cutting interviews changes what people appear to say. We keep answers in context, flag any cut that could change a meaning, and keep track of which quotes come from which interview so you can check them.
Questions
Can you work with archival footage?
Yes. Note which material is licensed and any restrictions on use, so the edit only relies on footage you can clear.
Do you do feature-length documentaries?
Yes, scheduled in stages. A feature is quoted in phases, with a review at the end of each.
Shot the film, stuck in the edit? Tell us the runtime you're aiming for, how much footage there is, and where you want it to screen.
Request a quote