The position of a second assistant movie editor isn’t usually the main target of many interviews, because the limelight usually falls totally on the Editor and even First Assistant Editor. However in actuality the position is the one which many individuals attempting to interrupt into the business will first discover themselves in. However how will you study what the position actually entails should you don’t get to listen to a lot about it?
On this interview with Second Assistant Movie Editor Rob Sealey, you may hear what it’s prefer to work on the most important movie’s in a era – i.e. Star Wars: The Pressure Awakens, in addition to tent-pole Hollywood franchises like Mission Not possible: Rogue Nation and the nitty gritty technical and artistic particulars of what a Second Assistant Movie editor does every single day.
I interviewed Rob a few years in the past, on how he obtained his begin within the business on this earlier submit “How To Turn out to be an Assistant Movie Editor“, which is definitely certainly one of my all time favorite posts on the weblog. Principally as a result of it comprises an actual gem of knowledge that I’d not heard anybody articulate earlier than, however I feel is de facto essential that much more folks hear and tackle board…
Don’t be intimidated by the movie business.
If you happen to take a look at that earlier interview you may uncover his technique that took him from realizing no-one within the business to touchdown his first gig on World Conflict Z inside a month!
Interview with 2nd Assistant Movie Editor Rob Sealey
On Star Wars: The Pressure Awakens
What did it really feel like to listen to you’d be engaged on the most important movie on this planet and the way did that come about? (Had been you even capable of inform folks?)
It was nice information after I heard I’d be engaged on Episode VII. A dream come true. It was a stage accomplished in my life targets. To be engaged on a franchise that performed such a giant a part of my childhood and inspiration to start out making movies myself.
I bear in mind getting the decision asking if I needed to do it and afterwords how excited I used to be. I had been anticipating it occurring although as I met up with producers an entire 12 months earlier than, so it had been an ongoing factor!!
I solely actually advised my preliminary household at first. It was solely as soon as I used to be in full swing and it was public on IMDB that I may inform different folks. As quickly as you say you’re engaged on a movie like that, it opens you as much as an entire can of worms and a load of recent questions (most of which I couldn’t speak about).
How lengthy had been you on the movie for and for what parts of the manufacturing/edit?
I used to be part of the shoot. The movie shot over right here after which went again to LA for submit. To be part of the shoot nonetheless required me realizing the entire story and seeing all the footage.
What was your day-to-day expertise of engaged on the movie like? Had been there particular ramifications of engaged on ‘Star Wars’ vs a ‘regular’ movie?
It was very very like engaged on another movie largely so far as everyday duties go. There was a very good vibe all through the crew. Everybody knew this was such a giant deal and that the anticipation was big however I feel that simply made everybody extra decided to do the most effective job they probably may.
I made a aware effort to go to the set nearly every single day. I used to be wowed each time. It was like strolling into an entire completely different universe. There can be extras in all places, BB-8 rolling round, C3PO, Chewie and Han Solo standing on set. It was actually thrilling to see these characters in actual life stood just some ft away.
I feel the obvious variations was the extent of safety on SW. Most movies I’ve labored on have had fairly excessive safety however this was subsequent stage. Additionally I wasn’t capable of speak about something associated to the movie to ANYONE else in any respect, apart from my colleagues I used to be working with as a result of all the fabric was so delicate and any minor element was a giant information story. The hype that surrounded it, justified this safety. Additionally in gentle of the Sony Hacking, this made it much more applicable to have that stage of safety.
What was the dailies/first tough lower like on such a VFX heavy movie?
The cuts are positively watchable at that early stage. Large quantities of pre-vis is completed earlier than the movie even begins capturing which is mostly what’s put into these VFX heavy sequences to make it circulate. There’s normally somebody creating photographs on the request of the editors.
Typically only a title card explaining what would go rather than it’s what’s put into the lower to cowl holes. I assume when watching them you must use your creativeness a bit and really feel what will likely be there. As long as what’s there helps inform the story (inevitably crucial factor) then it is going to be all good.
On Mission Not possible: Rogue Nation
What was it like engaged on one other big franchise? How a lot of the mission was lower within the UK vs US? (Did you simply do bits right here or journey?)
It was nice to be part of one other big franchise with a lot stigma surrounding it however nonetheless ran equally to another movie. I have to admit the Mission Not possible theme tune does have very completely different reminiscences for me now, as I’ve heard it so many occasions.
Your complete mission was really lower within the UK. So there was no travelling in any respect for myself and I obtained to assist see the mission by from the very starting proper as much as the tip.
What was it like working beneath Editor Eddie Hamilton?
Working with Eddie was an awesome expertise. He’s a really technical editor who has a completely unbelievable data of the Avid. He’s like an Avid Encyclopedia.
He is a superb storyteller and I definitely learnt an enormous quantity from working with him, from explicit methods he cuts motion sequences to the best way he likes his footage organised and strategies he used to construct up pressure.
He would all the time tackle board his assistants opinions and was very eager for us to chop scenes ourselves for him to take a look at. He additionally launched me to a mouse known as Razer Naga, which has 12 buttons on the facet permitting you to program explicit capabilities to them making some jobs MUCH simpler and sooner.
Purchase on Amazon.com | Purchase on Amazon.co.uk
Ed. Be aware – You’ll be able to take a look at Mission Not possible: Rogue Nation editor, Eddie Hamilton’s Razer Naga settings on this submit over on Premiumbeat.com. One other fan of the Razer Naga is VFX Editor Ben Mills who I interviewed on this earlier submit, on his position within the submit manufacturing staff.
2016 UPDATE – Obtain Razer Naga Profiles – As a part of this detailed gear assessment submit now you can obtain Eddie, Ben and Rob’s actual Razer Naga shortcut profiles.
Are there ideas and strategies that you just’ve picked up alongside the best way that different second assistants would profit from?
All the time double test EVERYTHING you do. And make sure that the whole lot that you just ship out of the reducing room to different departments is ideal as you’re representing your complete division. Pace is just not the whole lot, however getting it exact is.
I’d all the time advise folks to take a break from their laptop screens and take a ten/15 minute stroll across the block a few times all through the day. We work such intense hours that you need to all the time enable your self a good time away from the glare of your display screen. I like doing this because it’s an effective way to freshen my thoughts enabling me to be extra environment friendly and proactive after I return.
Attempt to ahead assume so that you’re doing what you may to assist the 1st assistant and editor earlier than they even ask you.
Business Insights
How have you ever moved from movie to movie in your credit score listing?
I’d say phrase of mouth and suggestions is what has obtained me transferring from movie to movie. Typically I’ve labored with the identical first assistants and second assistants who I labored with beforehand. Different occasions I’ve been really helpful individuals who have then obtained involved with me.
With working a lot on such huge movies, have you ever had time to edit something of your personal?
It may be fairly exhausting to work on initiatives on the facet and edit. I feel if I did it an excessive amount of I’d by no means see my girlfriend (however fortunately she understands the scenario). I do lower initiatives on the facet when one thing comes up that I really feel is price investing my time into.
I lately lower a brief movie known as “Billy Boys” that was chosen for “Workers Picks” on Vimeo and I’m at the moment in pre manufacturing of one other movie with the identical director.
What have you ever realized alongside the best way from the primary assistants and different submit crew you’ve labored with, that you just assume is invaluable going ahead?
From first and second assistants I’ve labored with, I’ve leant the whole lot that I do know. Oh and Lynda.com, she taught me the fundamentals of Avid!
Seeing editors at work and doing their factor might be one thing that’s the most invaluable. Seeing cuts change over time and the selections which can be made.
The best way editors juggle the politics that encompass each film, the opinions of producers together with the administrators and their very own agenda. That is one thing that folks typically don’t get to see and I really feel very privileged to have the ability to be part of the entire course of on such huge movies.
Which of your interactions with a number of the world’s high filmmakers stayed with you and why?
I’ve all the time handled them the identical as I’d deal with anybody else and simply been myself. It has been nice to have the ability to work together with such gifted filmmaker’s a few of whom I had idolized.
I feel a memorable second was after I walked right into a darkish screening room and sat on the again. The piece completed after which Tom Cruise began talking. His voice was so recognizable and iconic to me. I had watched so many movies he had been him, even labored on Fringe of Tomorrow and never met him. The remaining was historical past, as he spent an enormous period of time within the reducing room so we obtained to see quite a lot of Tom.
I constructed an excellent relationship with Morgan Spurlock. He was an awesome man to work with and simply typically a high bloke. We additionally did quite a lot of socializing which is able to all the time stick in my thoughts.
How do you recoup after a serious movie? And what’s subsequent?
I went from Star Wars to MI5 to Rogue One so I typically attempt to go on a vacation after a job. Someplace scorching and sunny the place I can chill out. As for the longer term, there are a number of irons within the hearth, nothing confirmed but so that’s all I can say!
The Position of a Second Assistant Movie Editor
Speak us by every stage of manufacturing, what are the second assistant’s obligations and customary every day duties throughout…
Pre-Manufacturing
Often there should not many assistants (if any) employed for pre manufacturing. I personally have by no means been concerned in pre-vis however there’s very often a pre-vis editor on board who may have normally been on the movie for a short while.
From a 2nd Assistant standpoint I’ve all the time began round per week or two earlier than the shoot, together with a 1st assistant, to begin to assist get the reducing room on its ft and create a dailies workflow and check footage so in relation to doing correct dailies the whole lot runs comparatively easily and we will turnaround the footage shortly.
There are all the time normally little points you come throughout with {hardware} and software program that you could overcome firstly of the shoot / pre-shoot, particularly in case you are engaged on the most recent model of Avid and with model new programs.
Manufacturing/Dailies
As quickly as manufacturing begins, editorial begins with dailies. It’s fairly humorous as a result of quite a lot of younger folks coming into the business assume editorial don’t begin till after the shoot however actually we’re there from day 1 of the shoot and normally a bit earlier than to prep! Dailies can go on for between 3 and 6 months normally relying on the movie and each movie is completely different.
It’s very often a really structured day particularly in comparison with submit manufacturing and the ultimate phases of the movie.
- Are available, within the morning earlier than the editor arrives (ideally)
- Obtain dailies from a lab (straight or by a web based consumer)
- Sync dailies – The time this takes varies relying on how a lot is shot, which on a giant finances movie with plenty of cameras will be quite a bit. 5 hours a day generally.
- Set up scene bins and dailies rolls for the editor so the footage is able to lower with.
- Within the afternoon we might then choose up issues to do like monitor laying sequences and scenes with sound, doing line strings of scenes (something actually to help the editor to get them what they want).
Whereas all that is going down the editor is difficult at work assembling the film and reducing the scenes as quickly as they’re out there. Often the editor is chomping on the bit to get new footage coming in, so the turnaround of dailies is usually as fast as potential. The movie is then break up into reels as you go to create 6/7 reels relying on timings of every scene and the movie as an entire.
Submit Manufacturing
Director’s Minimize
Often by post-production you’re prepared to maneuver on from the dailies course of and the shoot as it might probably take it out of you a bit after turning into fairly a repetitive course of.
From my expertise that is when the director is available in and has his head knuckled down with the editor to deal with delivering a primary lower of the movie, taken from the Editor’s meeting. Often the director is given about 10-12 weeks.
Typically you get administrators;
- who are available in and are completely within the reducing room, door closed and head down.
- You get some administrators who are available in and provides the editor notes after which depart and are available again to see the notes having been labored on.
- You then additionally get some administrators who’re completely happy to let the editor do what they assume is true and simply pop in occasionally and provides notes.
Most administrators I’ve been involved with are normally those who’re completely within the reducing room and completely obsessive about the edit…. and rightly so.
All through this entire interval, we’re passing scenes and reels to the sound division in order that they will work on the sound. Because it adjustments we do turnovers for them to replace the reels as they’re reducing.
After the 10-12 weeks of reducing there’s normally a deadline for a studio screening or some form of essential screening for the massive wigs!
Studio Screenings
Studio screenings are normally an enormous deal as these are one the primary occasions that the studio and producers have seen the movie in a type that’s (sure nonetheless incomplete) however assembled and telling a narrative.
Usually it is a pretty tight lower with temp VFX (very often simply Avid or After Results temps) and temp sound and temp music. After this screening and seeing the movie as an entire, it’s usually identified then whether or not there must be some reshoots for pickups and many others.
Clearly if there are choose ups it’s a bit like going into dailies mode once more with the added further of turnovers and the whole lot that’s occurring in submit. Making ready for screenings normally means lengthy days and very often getting near very tight deadlines!
So after a number of screenings of the movie, generally to public audiences who give their opinion, the movie slowly comes collectively and can finally attain “Image Lock”.
Please let it’s identified that image lock is pressured within the loosest time period potential. It’s extra a milestone reasonably than precise “You’ll be able to by no means contact the movie after this second”. Lets deal with it like “Image Lock… however we nonetheless have entry with the keys”
Grade & Sound Combine
It’s then onto the grade. Now previous to it beginning we might have already turned it over to the DI division a number of occasions so they are going to have the hottest image.
Relying on what adjustments the editor has made turnovers can take some time, particularly if adjustments span over 7 reels. Additionally, to not neglect that VFX turnovers and extra VFX are being completed and put into the reducing copy of the film. Not solely will the adjustments have an effect on the DI but in addition the sound division and the sound combine which is very often occurring concurrently to at least one one other.
It’s a fairly busy time for editorial as the primary assistant is juggling so many various facets of submit after which passing jobs onto the twond assistant. Very often the trainee can be concerned and serving to each the twond and first assistant wherever potential. It’s all the time nice to get the apprentice concerned to allow them to progress and study.
Typically you get to go and watch a number of the combine or grade being carried out so that you get an perception into the method and what’s occurring. It’s fairly attention-grabbing to attempt to go to see all of the completely different facets of the movie occurring and coming collectively.
One other great point to set eyes on is seeing the music being composed and watching the orchestra work their magic. That’s fairly superior and would advise anybody to go to in the event that they ever get a suggestion or alternative.
Turnovers to Sound
We offer the sound division with a mute QuickTime video together with dialogue, music and impact monitor stems separated to allow them to isolate explicit sounds, in addition to varied EDLs (Edit Choice Lists) and AAF recordsdata. That is all in order that they will conform the whole lot to the present lower so it’s updated.
On the movies I’ve labored on, we additionally watermark the whole lot we ship to them with all of the metadata and timecodes of the reels. That is each for safety and effectivity.
Conforming for DI
Editorial are despatched by the reels from the DI as they’re coming in. The reels normally trip whereas we conform test every reel. It’s normally all arms on deck at this stage so going by the reel ensuring each lower is the place it needs to be. It will probably’t be a single body out!!!
Ensuring the optical FX are good and that every one VFX photographs are the present VFX photographs. This may be very laborious and take an enormous quantity of focus. It will probably particularly be tough at midnight when it’s usually occurring due to all the tight deadlines.
It needs to be carried out completely completely. There isn’t a room for error. Not even 1 body as in the long run that is what the world will see.
What frequent duties are you doing in Avid (or different app) and what do these contain?
On all of the movies I’ve labored on we have now ALWAYS used Avid Media Composer. I’ve been on completely different variations of the software program all through, normally the most recent on the time. I’ll listing a number of the duties that I’ve been given to do or am given to do continuously.
- Syncing Dailies and creating scene bins
- Create line strings of characters’ dialogue strains.
- Observe laying scenes and sequences with spot fx, atmos and music.
- Doing temp VFX photographs and utilizing the Avid to do away with inexperienced screens or add parts to a shot (Typically parts are taking from pre-vis or an in home VFX staff.)
- Doing turnovers to Sound & DI
- Chopping collectively choose reels for the studio to see.
- Typically requested to create reference for a splinter unit, costume and make-up. Displaying them components of the lower, or particular person photographs for choose ups so explicit moments will be recreated.
- Checking VFX numbers within the present reducing copy in opposition to what VFX coordinators have of their database.
- Overcut trailers for advertising materials
- Typically helping the editors with any points they is likely to be having or duties they set (discovering explicit sounds, explicit dialogue strains, explicit photographs).
- Outputting cuts for the director or producers to see.
I may go on itemizing the quantity of duties a second has to carry out. The duties range from movie to movie barely and are divided between editorial crew as is seen match by the primary assistant editor.
How are visible results, 3D, grades, sound mixes, editorial adjustments and many others dealt with – what’s the workflow by the reducing room?
Visible results
The VFX course of is sort of a posh one as there will be many distributors and plenty of completely different folks concerned however to attempt to simplify it somewhat:
The VFX homes liaise with a gaggle of VFX coordinators who then additionally liaise with the VFX Editor who then places the VFX photographs into the movie.
Utilizing databases and present reducing copies of the movie to watch the proper variations are within the lower and to replace variations as and once they have been accepted by the director.
Edit Assistants don’t normally have an enormous quantity of involvement within the VFX workflow apart from speaking to the VFX editor about explicit variations that needs to be within the lower or serving to out the VFX editor. I feel it might probably range relying on the finances of the movie and if the VFX editor has any help themselves.
3D
In my expertise 3D works in the same method to VFX and primarily each shot within the film is handled like a VFX shot. There’s a 3D editor to cope with the variations of the 3D photographs and ensuring that the proper variations are within the lower.
You could have a 3D Vendor, 3D coordinator and a 3D editor who all liaise to verify appropriate variations of the 3D photographs are within the lower.
Grades & Sound Mixes
Film turned over to the grade and sound mixes concurrently because the movie is getting locked and coming to a climax (defined above).
Modifications to the movie
Any adjustments made to the movie can have an effect on editorial dramatically. Even when the editor simply removes one body from or adjustments a lower level, this may have a knock on impact for all departments. It will probably imply VFX photographs should be up to date, sound turnovers redone or DI turnovers redone. Clearly this impacts the whole lot, on a reel by reel foundation.
What jobs are normally dealt with by the primary assistant reasonably than the 2nd Assistant?
The 1st Assistant offers with the supervising sound editor and sound division intently and passes the roles all the way down to the twond. Once more that is more likely to be turnovers to the sound division or another sound division requests.
The 1st additionally has the duty of creating positive the editor has the whole lot they want and double checking the twond has carried out their job correctly. You probably have a superb relationship with the 1st assistant, then normally they belief that the whole lot is ideal and will be handed over. The 1st will usually conform checks as effectively.
They do quite a lot of comparable issues a 2nd does however has extra of an thought of the larger image and ensuring all of it comes collectively in the long run. General, a 1st has extra duty than the twond assistant and way more stress.
Do you get time/alternative to work with the footage and lower apply scenes? Does the 1st or Editor suggestions on them?
It’s all the time finest to test with the editor to see if they’re completely happy so that you can lower footage in your spare (effectively, not so spare) time. Typically there are alternatives to chop and present it to the editor.
Some editors encourage you to try this, which is smart, as the tip purpose for many assistants is to finally be of their sneakers. Some editors prefer to see your concepts and completely different strategies that you just use to chop the footage another way. I really feel like everyone seems to be all the time going to chop footage otherwise so why not get some inspiration out of your friends no matter their place.
I’ve additionally beforehand proven editor’s private brief movies or facet initiatives and requested opinions on what they assume. This may be invaluable.
When time permits, how a lot alternative is there to study straight from the editor, or is it form of by osmosis?
It’s exhausting to study straight from the editor as you don’t get to take a seat in with them as they’re normally tied up with the director or franticly reducing the dailies. You’ll be able to view cuts (once more with permission) and see them change over time, which is basically studying from the editor straight.
I assume studying by osmosis as effectively. You turn into conversant in strategies and study completely different editors methods of breaking down plenty of footage and organizing it in several methods to get what they’re on the lookout for to supply a superb first lower proper as much as the best way the lower adjustments and also you see how concepts evolve.
Typically editors ask to your opinion on explicit cuts and offer you some inventive enter, taking your concepts on board. I’ve beforehand been requested by the editor and director, what I consider explicit moments and even my opinion of the movie as an entire and what I really feel is working and what I really feel is just not working. I feel tactful honesty is the most effective coverage. That is actually rewarding and does make you are feeling as if you’re having inventive enter into the movie and part of the larger image.
Last Ideas?
It’s satisfying seeing the whole lot coming collectively on the remaining phases (though normally demanding), to supply what’s put in entrance of the viewers, within the cinema.
As an assistant editor you get see the film develop from begin to end. You see each body of footage in its uncooked type proper up till it’s lower into reels with music, sfx, vfx and graded to turn into the singing and dancing characteristic movies which can be ship out for the hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of individuals to see within the cinema…
Oh and seeing your title on the finish of the movie on the credit is fairly cool as effectively!
