Where do I belong?

[bazinoz]

When I first started editing I was chipping away on a cave wall.. now 35 years later I am still editing (just love it!) but there just doesn't seem to be a niche for me in this very closed shop of talent.

So where does a doco editor go (amoungst many other traits) to chat amoungst his own peers? I have already been to hell and back so no one suggest that please. Maybe I have had my head well and truely buried inside the edit room and need to get a bit of sun......

So what is missing from my lifes story..

Born, educated, edited, procreated, edited some more and died with my hand on the 'roll closing credits' button... :>(

[Neil Ryan]

Originally posted by bazinoz
.. now 35 years later I am still editing (just love it!) but there just doesn't seem to be a niche for me in this very closed shop of talent...

Begs the question, which collectively, we sometimes re-ask ourselves: What Is An Editor?

I found this quote recently which I thought might come close to being today's perfect answer:
"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungreatful.
We have done so much for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing."



Please consider.

[bazinoz]

Thanks for that Neil... allow me to put the quote closer to the editors perspective...

"We the willing"... editors
"led by the unknowing"... producers
"are doing the impossible" ... creating something informative and entertaining
"for the ungreatful" ... the end user (the viewer)
"We have done so much" ... 1st cut = 3 hrs, final product less than 50 mins
"for so long" ... what year is it again?
"with so little" ... damn I wish I had another 500 gig of disk space!
"we are now qualified to do anything" ... like 'having a life!'
"with nothing." ... can somebody lend me a beer?

[Matthew]

Sounds like you belong here, Bazinoz!

Whaddya mean there's "no niche in this closed shop of talent" for you???

[bazinoz]

Thank you for the heads up Mathew.... you mean I have finally found a home.... :>}

The "no niche in this closed shop of talent" was based on the premise that the only people that get the 'ase' at the end of their names are 'long term feature film editors; every other type of editing work is 2nd rate......(IMO)

Some of the things I have done include - TV drama "Silent Number", Music "McQuen's Gold", TV Drama's "Class of '75" "Young Doctors", TV Series "You Gotta Be Joking" "It's A Knockout" "I Do, I Do" "RA" "Salt" "Australia's Most Wanted", Feature Film "Cracking On",
Specials "Australian Idol; The Phenomenom" "Perfect Match; Was There Any Romance" "Prisoner; On The Inside", Doco's, "Baby Kristen" "A Joey Called Jack" "Orangutan Red Alert" "Flying Fox Fairytale", Arts Doco Positive Art (Emmy), Animal Planet Doco's "Elephant Alert" "World's Busiest Wildlife Hospital" "Flight To Freedom" "Battle For The Bears"....

sorry i am ranting... but I have got to say by far the hardest thing in my opinion are documentaries.... sure I just love cutting 'controlled shoot' programs such as drama/features because the continuity is looked after and can make for some really nice editing but making something from nothing is a real challenge and I love a challenge.

I have seen some feature films where the editor should have the 'ase' taken back from them but I won't go into that.... I am trying to be nice...

[PhilippaR]

Originally posted by bazinoz

The "no niche in this closed shop of talent" was based on the premise that the only people that get the 'ase' at the end of their names are 'long term feature film editors; every other type of editing work is 2nd rate......(IMO)


Hi Baz,

Actually the current list of 35 members who "get the ASE at the end of their name" healthily represent a wide range of disciplines from (yes, it's true) film & tv drama, to documentary, to current affairs to commercials. So yep, sounds like you may have found a home here to me... :-)

Philippa

[bazinoz]

Thanks Philippa

Glad to see I wasn't flamed about my last post ... the 'yes, it's true' in your post infers that it may be hard to believe... so its not jusy me eh!... well I have been using some US forums for my home but seems they have been taken over by wedding video editors which seems to be where the money is nowdays ... but not for me thanks, too many cheesy effects, i'll stick with tight delivery deadlines and removing the 'im' out of 'impossible' ... might even try having the occasional weekend off

[ofirg]

Hey there Baz!

As a recent student filmmaker I had the pleasure of making a short documentary with 3 other people. I would have to say that out of all the editing and planning that we did over the years at university, Documentary was the most challenging. We were constantly refining our works even until the last hour that it was due in. The deicision one has to make with shots and what to put it, is far more challenging than 'constructed' pieces (i.e. tv, feature film). It is these challenges that was brought before us that made me appreciate and admire documentary editors. Documentaries are the bomb to edit :)

cheers,

ofir!

[Daz]

Docos are the Cats Arse, it's true.

[shilby]

http://tinyurl.com/3tfbv

stupendous

WaZ.

[bazinoz]

Originally posted by Daz
Docos are the Cats Arse, it's true.

Well there you go.... comments like that is what keeps me away from forums like these.... if you can't contribe to the theme in a sensible way then don't comment at all. Its the difference between a professional and a kid with a new toy.

I like to have fun on forums sometimes but I do back it up with the intended humour... even a 'IMO' would have given it purpose; but finishing it with 'it's true' causes me to severly question Daz's experience in the film and television industry.

And besides... I hate cats.....

(ps to shilby... I never knew the meaning of 'Cats Arse' until now.... and gee, I have been getting them all my life; where have I been!)

[PhilippaR]

Steady on there, Baz - believe it or not, I think you'll find that Daz actually meant it as a compliment and was in fact agreeing with you and Orfirg. And perhaps it's best not to make such sweeping statements about a person's expertise unless you know a bit about them. Play nice...

[Jude]

lol nice one.

I reckon that I'll never get an ASE. The chances of anything ASE worthy happening over here seem miniscule. Guess I'll just have to be content with enjoying what I do. :)

[Jude]

BTW My 'nice one' was for Shilby's link.

[Matthew]

Originally posted by Daz
Docos are the Cats Arse, it's true.

Pigs Arse they are, Daz ;-)

[Daz]

Yes, sorry for the confusion - and making an arse of myself (nothing new there). In my world, 'Cat's Arse' is a very good thing. Docos are great and I was expressing (poorly) agreement with Baz's observations. Great link, Shilby - it produced a classic of the genre from my producer (female).

BTW, I've amended the Urban Dictionary to include the positive connotations!

[bazinoz]

Originally posted by PhilippaR
Steady on there, Baz - believe it or not, I think you'll find that Daz actually meant it as a compliment and was in fact agreeing with you and Orfirg. And perhaps it's best not to make such sweeping statements about a person's expertise unless you know a bit about them. Play nice...

Good call Philippa .... not knowing there was a 'complimental' side of the expression I assumed it was a challenge to a debate (I prefer debates like this to be while having a beer)... so consider me 'steadied' ...

But as for the 'sweeping statements'..... I did qualify it as a 'questionable thought' which was an opening for someone to tell me differently... as Daz has now done and I appologise to him if I have caused him any grief.

As a gesture I am inviting anyone who was offended to watch, free of charge, 2 of my doco's on the TEN NETWORK this Saturday 22nd Jan at 3PM (Orangutan Red Alert) and 4PM (Battle For The Bears) and criticise away.

[Jude]

We won't be seeing Orangutang Red Alert over here in WA at that time, because I just cut two shows for that timeslot this week. Battle for the Bears is on over here at 4.00 though.

[Daz]

Originally posted by bazinoz
... Its the difference between a professional and a kid with a new toy... causes me to severly question Daz's experience in the film and television industry

Check it out, Baz

http://www.3wisemen.tv

But to be honest, it would be great to think I DO have the enthusiasm of a kid with a new toy!

BTW, that's spelled: s-e-v-e-r-e-l-y

[shilby]

mmm.... am I the only one who is thinking - "custom sift"......... Daz, been reading the '- L' lately ?
;-)
Certainly Mal V. should dive in here !
WaZ

[Daz]

You're not wrong, Shilby! Custom Sift, Mr Mojo, whatever his name is...the AvidL has become a much longer read because of his contributions.