Surviving the Edit

I'm going to assume for a moment, dear actor, that you got the training, found the agent, got the audition, called for the call-backs, landed the role, showed up on set, performed beautifully and got that check in the mail.

Here's something that isn't discussed much-- Surviving the Edit.

So the movie comes out and your role is cut way down or even left totally on the cutting room floor. Why? Well, first, you could simply be the victim of having a role and part that doesn't move the story along and the director, editor and producers finally realized that in the edit room. Or cuts had to be made for timing-- gotta keep that edit down in minutes.

Or maybe, because of some performance and mechanical issues, you drove the editor and director crazy in the edit room and they had to cut some stuff. There are times, especially with day player parts, where continuity problems can become a big headache and the obvious solution is with scissors.

You see, maybe you blocked it one way in the master, then you did it totally different in the coverage. I can't stress enough the importance of walking at the same point, sitting at the same time, lifting the glass in the right hand, on every take. Experiment before shooting.

There are a bunch of other reasons why you might get cut down in the edit room and we'll talk about them in the Dallas area on Saturday Oct 24 at the Seminar. Also have a few slots left for the Audition Workshop on Sunday, Oct 25. You can register at www.s-films.com/acting .