Filming log: Senses of Place

50% of editing is pure creation: the sculpting of raw footage into a story, finding the hidden shape within the block of marble. The other 50% is converting file types into other, slightly different file types. Then there's the underwater iceberg of rendering time (which explains why I blogged so much last week).

My latest editing project was something a little bit unusual, an architectural film about urban development in Dumfries. It came about through my sister and we worked together, each providing our different skills.

I'm still getting to grips with this new-fangled and rather different editing work-flow from the 550 and then add on top of that the most effects heavy, filter heavy and image rich project I've ever cut and my poor mac was quite dizzy. Rendering is so tedious, and sometimes I would have to wait ten minutes just to preview some titles I'd done.

Because of the look we wanted for one part of the image, it had to be filtered as monochrome, contrast adjusted (very slightly, just enough to give it a somewhat hyper real feeling) and something to reduce the shake. Composited with that was an image which was inverted and enough motion mapping and fades to make you cry. Madness.

Now, this probably sounds like some Frankensteinien mess, using everything in the bag except a star wipe. It's really not though, it's very crisp and elegant. Very architectural. And I'm still not over how pretty the 550's image is, guh. The music is also perfect, 150bpm to give a walking pace feel and very delicate. I'm very proud of it, especially since it's going to get a proper audience: it's going to be shown in the Lighthouse this Friday as part of an exhibition for urban redevelopment (I'm less clear on the architectural language actually, I just make films).