tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10778204.post113295253474121563..comments2024-02-14T02:54:50.486-06:00Comments on The Atom Smashers: QuenchersClaytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08042966745016716685noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10778204.post-1134084815053574942005-12-08T17:33:00.000-06:002005-12-08T17:33:00.000-06:00Editing a piece of writing is probably more simila...Editing a piece of writing is probably more similar to editing a fiction film --- something that you've written and that you can determine. With non-fiction it's very different --- almost as if you've commissioned a bunch of strangers to write stream-of-conscious stories or essays more or less on a theme you've announced and each one is dozens of pages long. Now you've got to turn that stack of hundreds of pages into a haiku.<BR/><BR/>OK, not quite that bad, but close.<BR/><BR/>We just passed our 100 tape mark, which means we've probably got about 80 hours of actual footage. By the time we're done it will be over a hundred. That means that we'll use less than a minute from each tape when all is said and done --- the ratio would be more like taking 100,000 words and getting it down to 1000.<BR/><BR/>So, how is it done?<BR/><BR/>Sigh --- it can be beautiful and agonizing.<BR/><BR/>I think I'll go ahead and make a post out of this answer.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for writing and I'd love to come to the party.Claytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08042966745016716685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10778204.post-1133992895937954292005-12-07T16:01:00.000-06:002005-12-07T16:01:00.000-06:00Hi, Clayton--It's been a while since I checked in ...Hi, Clayton--<BR/><BR/>It's been a while since I checked in on the progress of The Atom Smashers. I'm actually quite interested in the similarities and differences between editing a piece of writing and editing the scads of hours of footage you all are dealing with.<BR/><BR/>It seems hard enough to me to take 9000 words and get them down to 1000--a task I have done. But reading the words has to be a faster and more finite process than going through all that footage. I can't imaging getting what you've got down to a one or two hour documentary. Inquiring minds want to know how it's done.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I'm having a holiday party to show off what the interior design student did to my house. I think you are the only regular reader/poster I don't know personally, but I'm convinced you're not an axe murderer. If you'd like to see the place, email me at mekelleher67@hotmail.com and I will send you an invitation.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/>MaritzaMaritzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10729429896105375815noreply@blogger.com