Project Greenlight : The Editing Process (2002)

Sub-Genres - Candid Reality Show [TV], Media Studies  |   Run Time - 30 min.  |   Countries - United States  |  
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Synopsis by Josh Ralske

Pete Jones is still on the beach, attempting to shoot a pivotal swimming scene with Mike Weinstein, one of the child actors in Stolen Summer. Jones and DP Pete Biagi want to film a dramatic overhead shot. Unfortunately, the crew needs to build scaffolding and a jib for the camera, Lake Michigan is extremely cold, and Weinstein can't swim. There are more complaints from the production team about the lack of a shot list, but it doesn't bother Biagi. "Low-budget films, you can make it up as you go along...shot lists are for wimps," he opines. Biagi refuses to shoot any of the scene before "magic hour," even though Jones understands that they're going to run out of light, and wants to get something "in the can." After a couple of awkward takes in the freezing water, Weinstein says he can't shoot anymore. They bring in his stunt double, Jodi Smith, to get some more swimming footage. Eventually, Jones coaxes Weinstein into the water for one more shot of him swimming, with safety people on either side of him holding his legs up. As the sun sets, co-producer Jeff Balis comes up with another shot, from behind Weinstein as he walks into the water. Jones initially objects, but they get the shot. A few days later, the shoot wraps. First assistant director Bruce Terris points out that Jones had an excellent crew, and the novice director may not have realized how good they were. Later, editor Gregg Featherman shows Jones two different cuts of the swimming scene, and Jones reluctantly decides to cut all the problematic overhead footage. The shot Balis thought up at the last minute is the only one from that beach scene that makes it into the final cut.

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