GOING DISSOLVE HAPPY

[FTOJRLST]

:mad: :mad: :mad:

In all of our Non-Linear edit bays there is a list of guidelines for editing with the non linear. The last thing on the list says 'Don't get dissolve happy!'

Now, I like to use a dissolve where it looks visually appealing or where it takes the story to the next scene or where it jumps time or whatever other reason you can think of to use a dissolve and that is the reason I can't take credit for my first series piece of November, even though I put many days and hundreds of miles into shooting it and many hours and a speeding ticket (another story) getting it edited.

For the last two days I have been piecing together this 4 minute epilouge about how teens spend their money. It already had quite a few dissolves by the time I was done because the story travels from the campus of UNC, to office near the college, to two local malls, to a High School classroom, twice, and to another office here in town.

I finished the piece late this afternoon with the blessing of the Assistant News Director after my 6 o'clock live shot on another story. I fed it to the server and went home for the day at 8 o'clock.

I called the Anchor Diva with whom I had worked on this story to tell her that it was done.

Then I made a mistake. I told her she could look at it in the edit bay where I had edited it.

I just finished watching the aired version from home and I just about blew a gasket.

I called our head edit chick to find out what she might know about the plethora of new dissolves added to the story.

Her apologetic tone quickly assured me that divine intervention from the Anchor Diva had turned a great piece of Photojournalistic architecture into a dissolve rollercoaster, full of unnatural dissolves between otherwise beautifully sequenced video.

Ms Edit Chick told me that Diva approached her about adding a couple of dissolves. Upon rendering the timeline for re-sending to the server the computer informed said users that there were 30 new dissolves.

I could not believe what I had just seen. Dissolves in 30 new places in a 4 minute piece.

I haven't counted yet but I bet there are now more dissolves than cuts in this story.

I don't suppose I could re-edit it (back to the way it was) for the NPPA contests huh? :P

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[ewink]

I'd feel your pain but we are stuck with tape to tape. Bleah.

[FTOJRLST]

Makes me long for the days of it being on tape.

BTW-- For those of you who would say it for me....I know, I know, I still got paid to do it. :0

[Terry E. Toller]

In the future, you could protect yourself by disposing of the capture and edit line project. Or, just move your project to another 'secret' folder... Just leave them the end result.

[Sportsguy]

Originally posted by ewink:
I'd feel your pain but we are stuck with tape to tape. Bleah. So are we, man. Isn't A/B rolling a pack tons of fun this way?

[Baltimore Shooter]

Originally posted by FTOJRLST:
I don't suppose I could re-edit it (back to the way it was) for the NPPA contests huh?Not being an NPPA member, I couldn't say for sure, but I'd say bring it back to the way it was when you cut it. After you cut it and send it on, it's out of your control. What happen if, as the story aired, someone accientally pushed the stop tape button hafway through, then pushed play again. Or what if the TD accidentally punched up the anchor's shot in the middle of the story as it aired. Are you supposed to send NPPA the story where it stopped and re-started halfway through or where the TD screwed up? I don't think so, it was out of your control. Then why not re-cut it the way is was supposed to be and send it off to them?

Warren

[ November 10, 2004, 03:53 PM: Message edited by: Baltimore Shooter ]

[<Star Wipes 4 Ever>]

I don't get it? What's wrong with a few dissolves. I think it really makes the story look a lot more professional.

[A Step Above Productions]

Have you spoken to the anchor yet? Asked her what the hell she was thinking?

Tell her she has to rite doing what she did... it would be like you retracking her pack cuz' you didn't like the way she voiced the story.

I myself would not stand for it!!!

[A Step Above Productions]

Have you spoken to the anchor yet? Asked her what the hell she was thinking?

Tell her she has to rite doing what she did... it would be like you retracking her pack cuz' you didn't like the way she voiced the story.

I myself would not stand for it!!!

[photogguy]

I think that's the problem when a newsroom gets NLE. The people who don't understand the correct usage of a dissolve just think they look pretty and throw them willy-nilly into the pack, which makes the story look cheesy.

The rules I try to follow (understanding that there are no rules in this business) is that a dissolve should transition between two places/times/story elements. Also, a dissolve can help when you have to butt sound bites together from one person.

Judicious use of dissolves in a pack CAN enahnce the look, but the over use can kill the look of a good story.

IMHO

[newshawk]

Weaver,

Who did she get to make the edits? This makes me mad to even to hear about this knowing who it is.
She should have seen you first before she suckerd an edit hound to do it. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Lenslinger]

From our brief conversation we had today, I have no doubt FTOJRLST will bring the matter up with management. Not that I'm too confident anything will be done. I've found when Photogs go up against Anchors, the Anchors almost always win - even the criminally incompetent ones.

It does bring up a good question. Who has final say over the look and nature of the piece? A best case scenario involves the reporter and photographer working in accord to best tell the story. But when sweeps come along and dealing with the very worst of the hair-do crowd, all bets are off - especially when mass alterations are just a drag and click away.

What's next? More cowbell?

[<my2cents>]

look this is just a matter of taste if you dont like it dont do it if you do like it then do it...it's that simple...sorry if you think your pak looked messed up but in the future youmight want to discuss with your "anchor diva" and let her know why you didnt get "disolve happy". :D

[Motog]

I feel your pain, Today(my day off). I get a call from MY clueless Reporter Diva. She starts by telling me she watched "our" sweeps story today and talked to the news director about more shots of her in it. So long story short. I have to go to work on my day off and fix this ****.

So i guess I am saying not just you. DIVA Reporters are useless F**KS

[BluesCam]

You have been victimized by someone who likes to "soften" the look. I used to work with someone like that and it drove me crazy. Dissolves are great when appropriate. Just thank your lucky stars she didn't use wipes! In corporate video they hate straight cuts. Got to have a gimick. How many dissolves do you see in a feature film? It's a TV/video thing.

[Buck]

Originally posted by Motog:


So i guess I am saying not just you. DIVA Reporters are useless F**KS I've found it ain't just the reporters. New Director s and GM's usually want to see more of them, too. Especially the anchors when they get out of the building to do their once a sweeps piece.

[soonershooter]

Originally posted by FTOJRLST:
:mad: :mad: :mad:


Then I made a mistake. I told her she could look at it in the edit bay where I had edited it.
:P

:mad: :mad: :mad: Bingo!
Take this lesson and use it in the future!

[Imachief]

Frankly, I like Mr. Toller's idea of moning all the original clips to another project. But as a Chief, I'm sure Anchor-diva would call me screaming for your head when the "changes" couldn't get made to suit her holiness.

Sorry man- you got hosed. Next time just don't call her. Make her watch it on the air like everyone else.

As far as re-editing for the NPPA contest; Sorry there too. Contest rules strictly state the piece must be entered as it aired. No re-editing is allowed.

[<Lensboy>]

Sounds like a job for fisheye at three inches standupperman!
Or you could white balance on her shoes. Or bring your photo skills to bear and give her the basic "two axe handle wide tushy shot" cutaway.
Remember how they lit Boris Karloff for the last scene of "The Mummy"?
Do I have to draw you a picture?
Seriously pal, you will get over it. Remember that this is already past Neptune.
As for photo contests? Does the NPPA sign your check?
Also consider that if this is basically a contest type of thing for you we might be looking at a case of "anchor Diva" meets "NPPA Diva".
Hope that is wrong but take a minute to consider the possibility.

[lenscracker]

In film, there is a phrase “the edit is locked”. It simply means no changes, the edit is complete. Feature segments need to use the Edit Locked approach.

FTOJRLST, your house has an underlying problem. Anchor Diva is taking control of a predetermined management/production process. The chief editor needs to wise up. The more power Anchor Diva pulls over editing decisions, the more disgruntled the staff will become, altimetry leading to a crappy on air look. Guess who gets fired first? In a union house, anchors and reporters on a power trip are restrained quickly. Non-union shops require the intervention of staff banding together if management does not see the inevitable train wreak. Write this situation off as a new learning experience but discuss the underlying problem starting with the Assistant ND.

[FTOJRLST]

The NPPA crack was really tounge in cheek. This story seriously lacked focus...and although I built a great begining for it, the ending was rather bland.

But wouldn't it be funny if I sent in the the story, as I did it, and it won all kinds of awards, as I did it, and then I admitted to sending in the non-aired, technically re-edited version? Look out NPPA and Emmy Judges.....


Originally posted by &lt;Lensboy&gt;:
Sounds like a job for fisheye at three inches standupperman!
Or you could white balance on her shoes. Or bring your photo skills to bear and give her the basic "two axe handle wide tushy shot" cutaway.
Remember how they lit Boris Karloff for the last scene of "The Mummy"?
Do I have to draw you a picture?
Seriously pal, you will get over it. Remember that this is already past Neptune.
As for photo contests? Does the NPPA sign your check?
Also consider that if this is basically a contest type of thing for you we might be looking at a case of "anchor Diva" meets "NPPA Diva".
Hope that is wrong but take a minute to consider the possibility.

[FTOJRLST]

Oh Yeah, before I forget, I am over it, but I won't drop it as to make sure it doesn't happen again. My chief concurs.

Originally posted by &lt;Lensboy&gt;:
Sounds like a job for fisheye at three inches standupperman!
Or you could white balance on her shoes. Or bring your photo skills to bear and give her the basic "two axe handle wide tushy shot" cutaway.
Remember how they lit Boris Karloff for the last scene of "The Mummy"?
Do I have to draw you a picture?
Seriously pal, you will get over it. Remember that this is already past Neptune.
As for photo contests? Does the NPPA sign your check?
Also consider that if this is basically a contest type of thing for you we might be looking at a case of "anchor Diva" meets "NPPA Diva".
Hope that is wrong but take a minute to consider the possibility.

[FTOJRLST]

The Asst ND was my first contact.

He said "30!!! No Way!"

He told me that he would have a word with her.

Exact quote... "if she doesn't stop doing this nobody will ever want to edit her stuff again."


Originally posted by lenscracker:
In film, there is a phrase “the edit is locked”. It simply means no changes, the edit is complete. Feature segments need to use the Edit Locked approach.

FTOJRLST, your house has an underlying problem. Anchor Diva is taking control of a predetermined management/production process. The chief editor needs to wise up. The more power Anchor Diva pulls over editing decisions, the more disgruntled the staff will become, altimetry leading to a crappy on air look. Guess who gets fired first? In a union house, anchors and reporters on a power trip are restrained quickly. Non-union shops require the intervention of staff banding together if management does not see the inevitable train wreak. Write this situation off as a new learning experience but discuss the underlying problem starting with the Assistant ND.

[FTOJRLST]

The funny thing about this whole situation is how candid I have always been with her about how I don't mind working with her even though a lot of the other photogs don't because she is high maintanance.

I jump right in and help her give usually boring and nonvisual stories life.

I give suggestions about how she could structure the story and I even throw out lines that she could use that could better flow with the video.

I always give her the last word on the script however and she has always seemed to legitimately enjoy my creative input.

And for my part, I don't mind her coming into the edit bay and suggesting things. Of those 30 dissolves, I left about 4 of them when I took the rest out. Those dissolve decisions could go either way.

When we have to discuss changes in the visual architecture, I would point out my position and let her have hers. I often, as with any reporter, would let her see the change on the NLE, and then make a final decision.

I went the extra mile for this story and now I need help pulling the knife from my back.

[texshooter]

The knife in the back analogy is appropriate, letting a reporter look at a piece pre-air without being there to discuss any possible changes is like walking into the state pen and going up to the first skinhead you see and handing him a shiv and saying "I was going to get 20 years, but after ratting out all those Aryan Nation a-holes, I only got 5".

You won't get far before you get shanked.

[Beef]

Stop whining on B-Roll and solve it in the newsroom...Sorry to sound like a hardass. You have a legitimate argument. If said anchor is such a "Diva", let her and everyone know it. Let management know how much time (o.t. to them), and effort you put into the piece, *and* how your work was wasted after you turned it in...Who really knows why the "talent" thought she could change the editing? If management sees: 1. Your "reporter" was splitting hairs after you left 2. She, who without your knowledge, made change...you may have a case. You are the phojo/editor here, you have say. DON'T give up!
Cheers!

[Tippster]

Originally posted by Imachief:
...As far as re-editing for the NPPA contest; Sorry there too. Contest rules strictly state the piece must be entered as it aired. No re-editing is allowed. BWAAAAHHHHHAAAAAAHHHHHHAAAAAAA!!!!!! :D :D :D

*wiping tears* I can't breathe... I can't breathe...

[ November 11, 2004, 09:08 AM: Message edited by: Tippster ]

[FTOJRLST]

Originally posted by Beef:
Stop whining on B-Roll and solve it in the newsroom...Sorry to sound like a hardass. You have a legitimate argument. If said anchor is such a "Diva", let her and everyone know it. Let management know how much time (o.t. to them), and effort you put into the piece, *and* how your work was wasted after you turned it in...Who really knows why the "talent" thought she could change the editing? If management sees: 1. Your "reporter" was splitting hairs after you left 2. She, who without your knowledge, made change...you may have a case. You are the phojo/editor here, you have say. DON'T give up!
Cheers! If no one ever whined on B-Roll we'd all be really bored. Rest assured I have taken care of it with management. But venting to peers is sometimes the best medicine!

[steede]

Got to have a gimick. How many dissolves do you see in a feature film? That's my philosophy 99% of the time. If you shoot it right, and put some thought into the edit there's no reason for dissolves. A bunch of unmotivated dissolves over a series of jumpcuts isn't good editing IMHO.

[ November 11, 2004, 02:29 PM: Message edited by: steede ]

[<WarBird>]

I know what you mean by dissolve-happy people. I cringe when our guys put dissolves in where they're not supposed to.

Nice to see guys who know when to use them and when not too.

I just finished up a huge series project a week early. Thank God I put the thing on tape. Some dumb fecker deleted my folders -- I could've lost the whole damn project.

WarBird

[<Lensboy>]

Back in college thiry years ago one of my profs said "a dissolve is just a way to cover a bad cut".
It has always stayed with me. Unfortunately I have just about worn the print off the dissolve key on my Avid because so many of my cuts are, well, bad, sigh...
Thank god I'm not a rocket scientist or I'd have dropped more missiles onto cities than Werner Von Braun by now.

[Baltimore Shooter]

FTOJRLST,
Type up the quote from Lensboy's professor "A dissolve is just a way to cover a bad cut". Use a 30pt or some other large enough font, and post it in all the edit booths. Maybe add a few more quotes like that. It'll atleast get people thinking...or not.

Warren

[pinecone]

I'm going to chime in late, but I don't think this point has been hit hard enough.

Why
Why
Why did you leave the keys in a running car and walk away?

Because that is what you did. You left a novice driver the keys to a very high end sports car. And this rookie thought they could drive better than you.

I think you got exactly what you deserved. Don't blame the anchor. Blame yourself. You gave away all control when you left the station and went home and the rookie was driving the car.

I will always preview an important NFT sweeps piece with the anchor/reporter/xproducer/ND. Whoever wants to see the final cut watches all at once. If they want final control that is fine. But, I will always be there when they watch and we discuss changes.

Usually the only changes are done to cut a fat script for the sake of time. I will put up quite a fight on changes made for creativity sake if I don't like them. That is my responsibility.

But, the whole point is that I am involved in the process up to the end. There should be no major changes made after that final meeting.

[Anton Saur]

Originally posted by FTOJRLST:
The Asst ND was my first contact.
Exact quote... "if she doesn't stop doing this nobody will ever want to edit her stuff again."
hehehehehe

So who's doing the school pieces now? When I worked with the diva........I'll shut-up. Time does not heal all wounds.
:D

[LGW]

do we know which station this happened at?

[FTOJRLST]

I know, I know...

She hadn't seen it yet...I finished it after she left for supper...I left for supper between 7:30 and 8:00...It got changed about quarter to 10. It should be pointed out that I was in at 9am and have been working late every night this week. I wasn't going to sit around and wait for her just to come in and see it since the Asst ND had already. I just wanted her to be able to see it. Courtesy. It will never happen again.

Originally posted by pinecone:
I'm going to chime in late, but I don't think this point has been hit hard enough.

Why
Why
Why did you leave the keys in a running car and walk away?

Because that is what you did. You left a novice driver the keys to a very high end sports car. And this rookie thought they could drive better than you.

I think you got exactly what you deserved. Don't blame the anchor. Blame yourself. You gave away all control when you left the station and went home and the rookie was driving the car.

I will always preview an important NFT sweeps piece with the anchor/reporter/xproducer/ND. Whoever wants to see the final cut watches all at once. If they want final control that is fine. But, I will always be there when they watch and we discuss changes.

Usually the only changes are done to cut a fat script for the sake of time. I will put up quite a fight on changes made for creativity sake if I don't like them. That is my responsibility.

But, the whole point is that I am involved in the process up to the end. There should be no major changes made after that final meeting.

[<falcone>]

A dissolve does not "cover up a bad cut" or a jump cut. We all should still be shooting our daily items as if we still had machine to machine editing. Don't think you can let some fancy machine with bells and whistles do the work for you.

[<Lensboy>]

I hate dissolves, give me a nice clean 3D page peel anytime.

[pinecone]

Originally posted by Lenslinger:
I've found when Photogs go up against Anchors, the Anchors almost always win - even the criminally incompetent ones.Maybe at some shops. The anchors I work with value my opinion and wouldn't make major changes to our piece without talking with me. But, it isn't an overnight process.

When I am in the booth and see that I could add a nat break or something minor, I do it. The reporter almost always agrees with the changes.

Occasionally I spot something that could make the piece better, but it is a major change. I talk about the proposed change with the reporter/anchor and we decide together. My partner knows I will always ask them before I do something radical and they expect the same from me. That is an understanding I have with everyone.

To get to that point sometimes requires you to diplomatically "get in the face" of someone who doesn't understand "the understanding" or feels they are above it. You have to cash in some political capital in the short term or you will be screwed in the long term. Just make sure you are diplomatic and have a good case.

For example, in FTOJRLST's case I would have had a talk with the anchor the very next day.

Ask this person to sit down and look at the piece and go through it shot by shot. Yes. Do a post mortum. Tell her when you agree with a decision and when you don't and why.

The point isn't to make them a better editor, but to impress upon them it isn't a matter of just throwing shots and effects in willy nilly. There is a rhyme and reason why you do things a certain way. Just like there is a reason why she arranges track and soundbites in a particular fashion.

You might also ask them if they would be bothered if you changed around soundbites to make the story look better visually, but made the content worse. And didn't tell them. Of course they wouldn't like it. Well why do you think it is okay to make a major overhaul of this story without talking with me about it. It is a similar situation.

It is our story. Not my story. Not your story. It is ours and big changes by either party should be talked about.

Talk to you partners ahead of time, during the story and after and you won't have problems like this.

And avoiding conflict with the offending anchor only serves to keep you in a subservient role instead of where you belong - as an equal partner in the story.

That's my rant and I'm sticking to it.

[ November 12, 2004, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: pinecone ]

[Lenslinger]

I agree with most of what you say, pinecone.

I too, enjoy great autonomy in the edit bay. As pacing and continuity demands, I'll shuffle images, add sound, and trim soundbites. These changes are usually met with understanding nods by reporters who value and demand my storytelling skills. FTOJRLST can say the same, as can 99% of our photojournalism staff. We consider ourselves equal partners with the reporting staff only when we're feeling charitable.

So let me clarify my earlier assertion:

I've found when Photogs go up against Anchors, the Anchors almost always win - even the criminally incompetent ones.

Alot of anchors are experienced reporters and working journalists - the kind of journeyman storytellers that photogs fight to work with. Others are self-absorbed glass readers who couldn't document their way out of a paper bag. The dissolve-happy Anchor Queen so embroiled in our little drama is firmly in the latter. She is, in short, an abomination.

Thus my pessimism has more to do with office ranking than storytelling partnership. FTOJRLST is investigating this matter with great zeal, and I applaud him. Personally, I'd cut my losses and wash my hands of this human cartoon and her latest broadcast fiasco.

But that's just me - Mr. Positivity. :)

[ November 13, 2004, 06:41 AM: Message edited by: Lenslinger ]

[Beef]

Originally posted by FTOJRLST:
quote: Originally posted by Beef:
Stop whining on B-Roll and solve it in the newsroom...Sorry to sound like a hardass. You have a legitimate argument. If said anchor is such a "Diva", let her and everyone know it. Let management know how much time (o.t. to them), and effort you put into the piece, *and* how your work was wasted after you turned it in...Who really knows why the "talent" thought she could change the editing? If management sees: 1. Your "reporter" was splitting hairs after you left 2. She, who without your knowledge, made change...you may have a case. You are the phojo/editor here, you have say. DON'T give up!
Cheers! If no one ever whined on B-Roll we'd all be really bored. Rest assured I have taken care of it with management. But venting to peers is sometimes the best medicine! So true...Pour the Zin n' pass the violin! My turn will come, I'm sure..

[<Nematode>]

All kidding aside, I have never been upset with a reporter who actually wanted to see the final cut.
I respect their opinions and value their input. We have a couple that are nice enought to add TC hits for SUGGESTED nat pops. I know some of you don't care for that practice but it tells me that the reporter is aware of the importance of nats, writes to the nats and actually screened the video before writing. How can that be bad?
I also have found that sometimes when you sit in a darkened edit room for a few hours polishing your story you can also lose some perspective.
Having another set of eyeballs on your story can see things you may have missed. The reporter I worked with yesterday always looks at her finished package before air time. I really respect what she has to say about OUR story.
If she suggests a change it is not done lightly and 90% of the time it ends up making the story better.
If you want to develop a big talent then you should also try for a small ego. Good ideas come from everywhere but you only benefit from the ones you listen to.
If you want to have a real eye opening experience try this. Swap editing chores with another photographer you respect.
Pick a couple of sweeps pieces you both really busted your chops on and each re-edit the others work.
Then compare the re-edits to your originals. It might mean losing a Saturday to the edit room but it could also be a valuable an experience as a day at a workshop.
Now quit wasting your time on the internet and go play catch with your kid.

[pinecone]

Originally posted by Lenslinger:
Personally, I'd cut my losses and wash my hands of this human cartoon and her latest broadcast fiasco.

But that's just me - Mr. Positivity. :) I understand. Pick your battles. Some are not winnable. Ever.