How do you like working on long-form? I cut promo for a living and feel like I live this shit it's so hectic. You show guys get the same feeling? Constantly rushed?
This is totally awesome. I love seeing how much work you guys put into Chuck. What did you go to school for in order to do this kind of stuff? It looks so interesting and I am kind of interested in it.
Wow! Just wow. And you're only one person of all that work on something that to us seems straight forward. Thank you for putting this up! I was watching the director's comments of, "Remember Me" and thought, "we haven't a clue." All the organization behind filming anything is massive. And what if you cast the absolute wrong person who you all are backing? So much of the credit goes to the, "stars" but that's minor isn't it? I always read the credits. You can learn a lot. Thank you. Fun
So the audio team have 5 days to do the dial edit, SFX, ADR and mix on an hour show? Or are they working on a "softlock" before the studio cut? How many people are on the audio team?
@shaggy223 Question: just out of curiosity, does the director sit next to you while you cut the dailies or can you go about your business until he arrives for the dircut? I can imagine that in the US the papers that come from the set are quite detailed. I still have to repeat to the scriptgirls that they should TALK to the director to figure out what is good about a shot or take and what is bad about it. Mostly they just write down something like "Two-shot" or "Boom visible".
@Arbokai I cut the dailies by myself. The director shoots for 7 1/2 days... I have two days after he/she finishes in which to finish my first pass. Then the director will come in and sit with me. The script notes that come from the set are as detailed as the director wants them to be. Sometimes I only get circled takes. Other times I'll get detailed preference notes. But I've worked with most of our directors on a number of episodes and have a good idea of their preferences and styles.
@shaggy223 I see. I work with a couple of regular directors. I know their weaknesses and their strenghts. But now and then a new one comes along and I have to figure everything out again. Sometimes they like fast cutting with lots of close ups. Sometimes you get one who likes the long shots. Mind you, fiction in Belgium is still in its infancy. But we're quick learners and we start to develop our own style.
And to be clear... it was 19 days of actual cutting. As soon as the episode locked, the VFX, music, and sound team took over--and all I did was review the progress with the producers (while beginning work on episode 419.)
Warner Bros music department is very strict about copyrights. They do not want producers falling in love with a cue that they can't afford. Generally they will provide temp cues. On a series I can usually get temp music from the composer.
I would like to know if you have assistant editors helping you? What is there role to make your life easier during the cutting process? That way you're cutting, and not sifthing (as much). Do you edit in the online format like 175 or working in a offline/online workflow with 36 then mixdown to the original higher res media?
@StuartHaight yes... you can see Scott pop in a few times during the video. His job is to digitize, import, organize media; create a temp sound design and mix; output quicktimes/tapes; and track paperwork... amonngst other things. We edit an offline format 14:1 OMF on the Avid.
I'm interning with Fox's America's Most Wanted! Cool place, they're still in SD, working with Adrenaline, working in the online - to - tape I guess it's called.
I'm still dissecting their workflow, very intense to see it in such a collaborative effort amongst 5 editors!
I've been editing a 45 minutes show about cops in the city of Antwerp (Belgium) with loads of dailies and a high cutting rate and I only get 7 days from start to finish. That's the difference between Belgian and US money ;-) you're a lucky man!
@shaggy223 Nah, I wish! A typical week goes like this: monday, editing dailies day 6 - tuesdag, editing dailies of next episode - wednesday, director's cut (one day only, very frustrating) - thursday, color grading previous episode - friday, producer's cut of two previous episodes in one day. But you know, it keeps you sharp ;-) I've been doing this for eleven years now and I got used to it. But that doesn't mean I do not long for a gig with more time.
@ninjajnka O, but they want quality... They just can't pay for it. They want more for less and we try to stretch the bounderies as much as we can. But I feel your hurt, ninjajnka
@ninjajnka I agree. Although, I've witnessed directors cutting a good scene to smithereens, because they had too much time on their hands :-) Nowadays I just try to focus on the story and the story only. If I can make a scene work with two or three well placed cuts, I'm a happy editor!
@ninjajnka That sucks, over here the network's got some power over the program, but not much. Sometimes they think a certain performance or storyline should be improved and then we investigate if we have the footage to cover their wishes. Mostly they respect our artistic choices. One advantage of less time, is less opinions, which means that my editor's cut is very close to the final cut.
@ninjajnka Us TV shows tend to be run by writers. If we are in a pinch its possible to skip the director's cut. I have been on a few shows where I did the director's cut as a courtesy but still delivered my first cut to the write/producers. Most of the directors I work with sign off on their cuts in a few hours anyway.
Once the writers get involved, the editing becomes another script draft.
The Studio and Network people's notes can be helpful because they are usually seeing the show fresh.
One thing that really bothered me about this episode, (and I rarely get bothered by things like this) was how "Sarah's" face was blurred out when she was on the horse, and falling off the horse. I hope they do a slightly more convincing version of that for the Blu-ray release. The parts that were blurred could have even been cut and the effect of the sequence would remain the same. I dunno why they just blurred her face. I would have just cut those two or three shots out.
Great work here, thanks for showing us the behind the scenes process! I'm honored to have my (incredibly similar, but much shorter) editing time-lapse video in the sidebar as the "featured video" too! It was sort of a weird experience to edit with a camera over my shoulder the entire time... haha.
@shaggy223 Interesting. I didn't know Macs had such high end capabilites. haha, not to be stereotypical or a PC fanboy, i just thought macs were for those who liked to cruise through emails, and didn't want to mess with viruses or anything like that.
Thanks for not only giving us a peek into what it takes to edit an episode, but for all your hard work as well. Props to you and the other editors who work on Chuck!
Oh my, many cuts. Do you take each suggestions (ie: director, producer, studio) and then edit a cut on how they want it and eventually there's an agreement on which is best? or is it first what the director wants changed, then from their the producer modifies, and lastly the studio? How does that whole process workout?
@proceedapathy it's the latter. The director gets to change the cut however he/she desires. Then the producers come in and refine what the director did--sometimes changing intentions... other times keeping things the same. By the time the Studio/Network receives the episode, it's usually playing very smoothly and they'll give clarifying notes or enhancement notes.
@themurph2000 i can only scream at that possibility. recently we had tape to tape in giant edit bays with machines in another room. it was time consuming. especially if a producer had to make changes
Wow, never knew it would take this many days to edit a single episode. I imagine you work with many editors on a season?! And what editing program are you using if I may ask?
@jornjokker The program normally used for editing Television programs is Avid. It's also one of the popular used programs for Film and Television, as well as Final Cut Pro if you're a Mac user, but Avid is avaliable on both.
Nice job. I miss Chuck. :(
theone1991 3 weeks ago
This was amazing! I respect editors so much more after watching this! Awesome job!
SusanXG 8 months ago
what software do you use?
SimonKornowski 10 months ago
You're using Avid Media Composer, am I right?
Can I be so bold to ask which version? ;-)
Nyah86Production 10 months ago
@Nyah86Production 4.0.5
LagganMC 10 months ago
How do you like working on long-form? I cut promo for a living and feel like I live this shit it's so hectic. You show guys get the same feeling? Constantly rushed?
theconservativelib 11 months ago
This is totally awesome. I love seeing how much work you guys put into Chuck. What did you go to school for in order to do this kind of stuff? It looks so interesting and I am kind of interested in it.
BubblyJoliee 11 months ago
Wow! Just wow. And you're only one person of all that work on something that to us seems straight forward. Thank you for putting this up! I was watching the director's comments of, "Remember Me" and thought, "we haven't a clue." All the organization behind filming anything is massive. And what if you cast the absolute wrong person who you all are backing? So much of the credit goes to the, "stars" but that's minor isn't it? I always read the credits. You can learn a lot. Thank you. Fun
Songsmirth 11 months ago
What kind of roll does the assistant editor(s) play in this show? At what point does the assistant finish and hand the project to you?
drummerdaneds 11 months ago
Wow!
In what video format do you get the footages? What codec do you use when you export the whole timeline and give it to the TV station?
adamsys 11 months ago
Hmm ,Rendering time ? ? 2 days xd
Roobin22 11 months ago
19 days worth of editing. OUCH. Take me 1 to 3 hours just for a 10 min youTube vid, and I think that is hard work.
ooftaZone 11 months ago
Nice timelapse!
Two questions though:
Did you work on this for 23 days straight or did you have days off?
How many hours per day approximately?
Adding a third:
What software are you using? :)
Baerra92 11 months ago
@Baerra92 as far as I can see, It's an Avid Media Composer on a Mac OSX.
adamsys 11 months ago
thanks for posting the video, very cool! please tell me you weren't responsible for the stunt double blur....
obamarosa 11 months ago
You know it's the editing room for Chuck when there's a Tron poster on the wall.
andyoubrute 11 months ago
A few observations from a fellow TV cutter:
1. Newbies lesson: See how much time is spent w/his hand on chin? That's 'cuz he's thinking - the most important part of editing.
2. NBC & WB notes can be helpful? Puhleeze. I've gotten those notes. You're too diplomatic. Even in T/L I know your producer is grimacing off screen.
3. Editing=another script draft. You have good producers.
4. Good video, but don't let Petulla see it. He'll think all cutting can go this fast and trim your schedule ;-)
FaikNaim 1 year ago
Great video! And great episode of Chuck :)
Can you tell us more about the gear, like monitors, ref monitor, if you use a control surface?
Do you do the grading as well? I saw you did some CC @2:26 or was it REDCode settings?
Jenus85 1 year ago
Cool insightful video!
So the audio team have 5 days to do the dial edit, SFX, ADR and mix on an hour show? Or are they working on a "softlock" before the studio cut? How many people are on the audio team?
pinkj 1 year ago
@shaggy223 Question: just out of curiosity, does the director sit next to you while you cut the dailies or can you go about your business until he arrives for the dircut? I can imagine that in the US the papers that come from the set are quite detailed. I still have to repeat to the scriptgirls that they should TALK to the director to figure out what is good about a shot or take and what is bad about it. Mostly they just write down something like "Two-shot" or "Boom visible".
Arbokai 1 year ago
@Arbokai I cut the dailies by myself. The director shoots for 7 1/2 days... I have two days after he/she finishes in which to finish my first pass. Then the director will come in and sit with me. The script notes that come from the set are as detailed as the director wants them to be. Sometimes I only get circled takes. Other times I'll get detailed preference notes. But I've worked with most of our directors on a number of episodes and have a good idea of their preferences and styles.
shaggy223 1 year ago
@shaggy223 I see. I work with a couple of regular directors. I know their weaknesses and their strenghts. But now and then a new one comes along and I have to figure everything out again. Sometimes they like fast cutting with lots of close ups. Sometimes you get one who likes the long shots. Mind you, fiction in Belgium is still in its infancy. But we're quick learners and we start to develop our own style.
Arbokai 1 year ago
And to be clear... it was 19 days of actual cutting. As soon as the episode locked, the VFX, music, and sound team took over--and all I did was review the progress with the producers (while beginning work on episode 419.)
shaggy223 1 year ago
'Course it's a Mac!
stassig 1 year ago
just curious, how do you guys handle music copyrights? does WB have a stash you can pull from? awesome vid keep on rollin w/ s4
canman14 1 year ago
Warner Bros music department is very strict about copyrights. They do not want producers falling in love with a cue that they can't afford. Generally they will provide temp cues. On a series I can usually get temp music from the composer.
stunet 1 year ago
Day 26: SHAVING!
mendozacheers 1 year ago 11
@mendozacheers I need a haircut....
shaggy223 1 year ago 3
@shaggy223 sadly, I need both =(
mendozacheers 1 year ago
I would like to know if you have assistant editors helping you? What is there role to make your life easier during the cutting process? That way you're cutting, and not sifthing (as much). Do you edit in the online format like 175 or working in a offline/online workflow with 36 then mixdown to the original higher res media?
StuartHaight 1 year ago
@StuartHaight yes... you can see Scott pop in a few times during the video. His job is to digitize, import, organize media; create a temp sound design and mix; output quicktimes/tapes; and track paperwork... amonngst other things. We edit an offline format 14:1 OMF on the Avid.
shaggy223 1 year ago
@shaggy223 Many thanks for the fast reply.
I'm interning with Fox's America's Most Wanted! Cool place, they're still in SD, working with Adrenaline, working in the online - to - tape I guess it's called.
I'm still dissecting their workflow, very intense to see it in such a collaborative effort amongst 5 editors!
StuartHaight 1 year ago
Do you use Avid's Script Sync for these episodes?
drummerdaneds 1 year ago
@drummerdaneds yes... it has become an inavluable tool.
shaggy223 1 year ago
I've been editing a 45 minutes show about cops in the city of Antwerp (Belgium) with loads of dailies and a high cutting rate and I only get 7 days from start to finish. That's the difference between Belgian and US money ;-) you're a lucky man!
Arbokai 1 year ago
@Arbokai Man, that's fast! Do you have any down time in between episodes?
shaggy223 1 year ago
@shaggy223 Nah, I wish! A typical week goes like this: monday, editing dailies day 6 - tuesdag, editing dailies of next episode - wednesday, director's cut (one day only, very frustrating) - thursday, color grading previous episode - friday, producer's cut of two previous episodes in one day. But you know, it keeps you sharp ;-) I've been doing this for eleven years now and I got used to it. But that doesn't mean I do not long for a gig with more time.
Arbokai 1 year ago
@Arbokai It happens not only in Begium but also in Italy, where most of the tv-production companies have lost interest in quality.
ninjajnka 1 year ago
@ninjajnka O, but they want quality... They just can't pay for it. They want more for less and we try to stretch the bounderies as much as we can. But I feel your hurt, ninjajnka
Arbokai 1 year ago
@Arbokai I think that Fast doesn't equal Good... :-(
ninjajnka 1 year ago
@ninjajnka I agree. Although, I've witnessed directors cutting a good scene to smithereens, because they had too much time on their hands :-) Nowadays I just try to focus on the story and the story only. If I can make a scene work with two or three well placed cuts, I'm a happy editor!
Arbokai 1 year ago
@Arbokai the problem in Italy is that many times you jump the Director's and Producer's Cut directly to the Network Cut. ...Cut & Go ...O_o
ninjajnka 1 year ago
@ninjajnka That sucks, over here the network's got some power over the program, but not much. Sometimes they think a certain performance or storyline should be improved and then we investigate if we have the footage to cover their wishes. Mostly they respect our artistic choices. One advantage of less time, is less opinions, which means that my editor's cut is very close to the final cut.
Arbokai 1 year ago
@ninjajnka Us TV shows tend to be run by writers. If we are in a pinch its possible to skip the director's cut. I have been on a few shows where I did the director's cut as a courtesy but still delivered my first cut to the write/producers. Most of the directors I work with sign off on their cuts in a few hours anyway.
Once the writers get involved, the editing becomes another script draft.
The Studio and Network people's notes can be helpful because they are usually seeing the show fresh.
stunet 1 year ago
TRON!! just like in chuck room!
assassinboss 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@shaggy223, your video is making the facebook rounds here in nyc between editors and producers ;)
marblehillpjs 1 year ago
Comment removed
marblehillpjs 1 year ago
One thing that really bothered me about this episode, (and I rarely get bothered by things like this) was how "Sarah's" face was blurred out when she was on the horse, and falling off the horse. I hope they do a slightly more convincing version of that for the Blu-ray release. The parts that were blurred could have even been cut and the effect of the sequence would remain the same. I dunno why they just blurred her face. I would have just cut those two or three shots out.
WarriorPersia 1 year ago
CHUCK
091696g 1 year ago
Great video, I didn't notice a single computer crash, must be nice.
poprocz 1 year ago 16
@poprocz
I crashed Final Cut several times on a Mac Pro (dual 2.26ghz Xeons, 8gb RAM). It's quite easy to do, really.
gorillasocks 1 year ago
This is so cool! This is what I want to be doing someday :)
deannahong 1 year ago
Great work here, thanks for showing us the behind the scenes process! I'm honored to have my (incredibly similar, but much shorter) editing time-lapse video in the sidebar as the "featured video" too! It was sort of a weird experience to edit with a camera over my shoulder the entire time... haha.
Jon 1 year ago
its a mac?
SacredAfro 1 year ago
@SacredAfro yep. 2 x3 Ghz Quad Core with 6gb of ram.
shaggy223 1 year ago
@shaggy223 Interesting. I didn't know Macs had such high end capabilites. haha, not to be stereotypical or a PC fanboy, i just thought macs were for those who liked to cruise through emails, and didn't want to mess with viruses or anything like that.
SacredAfro 1 year ago
nice to see how the timeline grows :)
filmester 1 year ago
Go Chuck!
Yeungster23 1 year ago
Thanks for not only giving us a peek into what it takes to edit an episode, but for all your hard work as well. Props to you and the other editors who work on Chuck!
deedee8409 1 year ago
On the bright side, it appears that you bathe and change your clothes regularly.
What kind of hardware are you running in your primary computer (ie processor, graphics cards)?
JohnsHouseofFun 1 year ago
Dear whyaname2, and, pray tell us...which network (or non-network weekly television program do you edit?
karinagw 1 year ago
Wow! Respect! And thanks for giving us Chuck! :D
993ti 1 year ago 2
Oh my, many cuts. Do you take each suggestions (ie: director, producer, studio) and then edit a cut on how they want it and eventually there's an agreement on which is best? or is it first what the director wants changed, then from their the producer modifies, and lastly the studio? How does that whole process workout?
proceedapathy 1 year ago
@proceedapathy it's the latter. The director gets to change the cut however he/she desires. Then the producers come in and refine what the director did--sometimes changing intentions... other times keeping things the same. By the time the Studio/Network receives the episode, it's usually playing very smoothly and they'll give clarifying notes or enhancement notes.
shaggy223 1 year ago
zzzzz. paint drying. and how come so slow ? I'd get my head handed to me if it took me that long to cut something like that
whyaname2 1 year ago
Do you get to choose what songs go into the episode, too? Or was that looking for songs for yourself.
starstruck4jeffhardy 1 year ago
this is so cool,
however I wonder if u are able to enjoy the final material after looking the used footage so much!!???
and will be honest didn't know it take that long!!!, but very cool and it was an excellent epi btw!!!
onlyakb 1 year ago
What is on the right hand screen at 2:14 ??
Darkrune495 1 year ago
@Darkrune495 part of a scene that was cut out due to time constraints. Sarah and Morgan were playing a video game.
shaggy223 1 year ago
@shaggy223 Deleted scenes DVD extra?
starstruck4jeffhardy 1 year ago
@shaggy223 Deleted scenes DVD extra? Hahaha looks like Sarah kicks Morgan's ass.
starstruck4jeffhardy 1 year ago
@shaggy223 Will the scene be part of the deleted scenes on dvd/bluray? :)
It was kinda interesting watching ^_^.And thanks for sharing, of course!! :D
hubasddsa 1 year ago
@shaggy223 they should have kept that that would be So Funny
vaporized1000 1 year ago
I was thinking to devote professionally to this because I love Cinema and TV stuff, and now I realize that is a hard, hard, hard, hard work
44sergi 1 year ago
@44sergi it's hard at 1st but if you love it and the product is cool then it's rewarding.
marblehillpjs 1 year ago
Your lucky you get a month to do a 30 minute show. we only get 2 weeks for cable shows ;(
marblehillpjs 1 year ago
thanks for showing what it's like in the life of an editor. But cut out when you were on facebook. we can't let the producers know about that ;)
marblehillpjs 1 year ago
AWESOME!
angryy0ungman 1 year ago
WOW!! Awesome!! Thanks!! Now let's watch it live guys!
Rozita84 1 year ago
Fascinating! Loved it!
swgrantimus 1 year ago
God, imagine not having computers to do it, either. Editing back in the day when it was reels of film, a scissors, and tape must have been pure hell.
themurph2000 1 year ago
@themurph2000 i can only scream at that possibility. recently we had tape to tape in giant edit bays with machines in another room. it was time consuming. especially if a producer had to make changes
marblehillpjs 1 year ago
@themurph2000 TV shows were also much slower paced back then too,
shaggy223 1 year ago
And this is this is what I want to do with my life, really cool to get a behind the scenes look.
fergmaster 1 year ago
Nice, Wow I never realised there were so many cuts (Producer, Director, Network, Lock)
andremp03 1 year ago
@jornjokker - usually we have more time to edit. We were pushed by an accelerated NBC schedule. We use Avid exclusively.
@Luthien0snowtail - I actually thought of making a behind the behind the scenes video. Meta!!
shaggy223 1 year ago
@shaggy223 Yeah what you said lol.
damianryanfilms 1 year ago
And that is all for one episode of chuck... :|
faxe112 1 year ago
Wow, never knew it would take this many days to edit a single episode. I imagine you work with many editors on a season?! And what editing program are you using if I may ask?
jornjokker 1 year ago
@jornjokker The program normally used for editing Television programs is Avid. It's also one of the popular used programs for Film and Television, as well as Final Cut Pro if you're a Mac user, but Avid is avaliable on both.
damianryanfilms 1 year ago
WOW!
meowed 1 year ago
how long did it take you to edit this video? haha!
this is really neat, thanks for showing us! Super cool behind the scenes. Yay for Chuck!
Luthien0Snowtail 1 year ago
Comment removed
Luthien0Snowtail 1 year ago
My sides were splitting 60 seconds into this episode. Great job! I can see it was lotsa work...
hearkencreative 1 year ago
this is awesome! I kinda envy your job now!
stefi1806 1 year ago