Just cut out the fat!!!

Over the past few months, Oliver (the director) and I have been working on a director's cut of the film. It has been difficult for me to let anything go because I am so attached to all that shows our blood, sweat and tears. Sometimes being immersed in something does not allow for the clearest point of view, but it is certainly a valid and interesting one...

Meanwhile, a friend of mine who is an editor was working on his own cut of the film. I didn't want to pressure him because he was generous enough to do it for me out of the kindness of his heart. So, when he agreed to help me out, I left it at that and promised myself I wouldn't nag or check up on him. If he decided to do it, he would do it and if he didn't, then at least Oliver and I would have our cut...

Sunday night, the phone rang and it was my friend Richard. He had finished his cut! I got over there as fast as I could on Monday to see it. He sat me down and told me as gently as possible that the fat needed to be cut out. Now of course, at first I felt terrified. This is my work! I can't let any of it go!

But then I realized, in the department of storytelling, Richard is the man. And it would probably behoove me to listen to his wisdom rather than defend my own ignorant ground. So, I gave him the go ahead to cut out what he thought needed to go, and wow did it make a difference! All of a sudden all of our hard work had a new shine.

How is it that something that stands alone can turn into something completely different and yet still be true to itself?

When I first began writing this short film, the first draft was something completely independent of the one with which we shot. When we first began rehearsing, the ideas that we had about the characters and their choices couldn't have been further from what we enacted. And finally, out of the three first cuts that I have in my hands today, the one that I think may tell the story in the most effective manner, is the one that is furthest from what I originally had in mind! Somehow though, amongst all the cuts and all the changes, the story is more itself than it ever has been... It's almost as if all this time we have just been cutting away the fat to get to the bones or the truth, if you will.

Now it's on to the sound mixing and music... And then... the ultimate moment of truth: I have to let go and let others be the judge. That is the scariest and hardest part of all, but I can't wait!!