Key Lessons in Footage Assessment

• Technical quality cannot always be fixed in post-production
  • Focus issues are permanent - assess carefully during review
  • Moving shots often have varying quality throughout - identify usable sections
  • Performance typically improves with repetition - later takes often superior
• Color and exposure matching critical for seamless editing
  • Log footage provides more flexibility for correction
  • Some exposure problems are irreversible
• Continuity rules serve storytelling purposes
  • Screen direction maintains spatial relationships
  • Camera movement between shots must be significant enough to feel intentional
  • Wide shots and coverage must match to maintain believability

The Power of First Impressions in Editing

• Initial emotional reactions are closest to audience experience
• Document immediate responses without judgment or analysis
• Emotional notes often more valuable than technical assessments
• "Mistakes" can become powerful storytelling tools when they serve emotional truth
• Trust instinctive reactions - they guide authentic storytelling choices

Professional Editing Approaches

• Script analysis serves dual purposes: emotional impact and technical preparation
• Systematic organization prevents overwhelm during creative process
• Color-coding and marking systems create efficient workflows
• Different editors work linearly vs. non-linearly - find personal approach
• Footage "temperature" changes as story needs evolve

Effective Review and Selection Strategies

• Reaction shots are highly flexible editing tools
• Authentic moments often occur outside formal performance
• Distinguish between essential story information and subtext