The Editing Journey: Crafting "A War at Home"
Editing can be a rollercoaster of emotions for me (throwback to last year's portfolio project where my computer BROKE). My partner Mateo and I have our unique quirks in the editing process, but we worked together and it went great. While I wouldn’t say I hate editing, some moments make me want to cry. Editing interviews, however, are a different story; they tend to be more manageable,and luckily that's what we were working with for our doc. That said, Mateo made my life a bit more challenging by not taking notes or timestamps during our interview with Yousef. I found myself diving into a 25-minute video completely blind. But hey, I can’t blame him too much—I was the one who ditched filming day. Luckily, Yousef was super articulate and insightful, making my editing life way easier. He seriously was the blueprint interviewee.
Our editing was a collaborative effort, with us passing a laptop back and forth as we took turns finding/organizing the b-roll, which included online graphics from YouTube, photos, and Yousef's personal videos, or editing in the timeline. I realized that I often convince myself I DREAD editing, but end up managing to produce something I’m proud of and being just fine. It helps that both Mateo and I have had experience in TV production since our freshman year, so we approached this project with a familiar workflow: organizing materials, creating a line edit, incorporating b-roll, and adding final touch-ups. This entire process took about three days, all while juggling classes, homework, and other commitments.
Here's what our timeline looked like ^
We structured the documentary thoughtfully, focusing on key themes that would resonate with our audience. Our outline included Yousef’s family background, a news montage transition, and an exploration of the ongoing conflict in Palestine, including personal accounts of Yousef’s experiences. We also delved into the emotional impact on Yousef, his interactions at home, and his hopes for the future. Each segment was designed to maintain engagement and avoid redundancy, which was crucial since we featured only one interviewee.
A standout feature was our montage of news headlines about the war, which we sourced from YouTube and other platforms. This montage was a powerful transition into the heavier themes of the documentary, paired with a dramatic riser that really cranked up the emotional intensity. Music selection was initially a concern for me, but Mateo had access to Epidemic Sound, which helped us to find a dramatic instrumental that complemented Yousef’s words without overshadowing them. We used the music strategically to enhance the emotional flow of the documentary rather than forcing it throughout the entire piece.
Inserting b-roll was a breeze, as it was a straightforward choice based on what Yousef discussed. When he spoke about his family, we showcased his personal photos and videos; when he talked about territory lines, we displayed relevant graphics. We spent a LOOOOOOOOOOT of time on YouTube. The editing process was efficient and enjoyable, even when we addressed the lighting issues. Mateo color-corrected the darker clips to match the brighter ones, resulting in a cohesive visual experience.
One challenge we faced was ensuring that the documentary didn’t become monotonous with just one interviewee. Thankfully, Yousef had great commentary and our careful structuring kept the narrative engaging. We also added graphics, including lower thirds in the colors of the Palestinian flag and a simple title font for the b-roll of Yousef.
Here's the lower thirds and title graphics^
Now, Mateo and I are considering submitting "A War at Home" to film festivals after making a few minor adjustments. We plan to resize the lower thirds, add credits, and include a brief interview with Yousef explaining what International Fest is, as we realized that not everyone would be familiar with it.
Overall, I had a fantastic experience working on this documentary, and I’m genuinely proud of how it turned out. The documentary module was incredibly rewarding, and I’m now inspired to pursue a similar project for my final portfolio. :)
Check out "A War at Home" in the link here
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