grading the rushes

The video editor's first job is to grade the rushes, which means look at all the footage shot and decide which is useful, and which is not.

This takes longer than people might think, as grading is the process by which the editor becomes familiar with the footage and becomes absorbed into the project.

Usually a editor will grade footage as Excellent, Acceptable and Unacceptable, mark it as such, and save it in "bins", ready for editing proper.

If the shoot has captured a lot of unscripted material, such as interviews or conference debates, it may save time and money if you grade the rushes to see which bits you want to use.

The editor can then put these together in the most effective and interesting way.

The production company may give you a DVD or webstream with shot IDs, which show tape numbers and timings on screen, so that you can identify which shots you want, without the necessity of coming to the studio.

Next: The video soundtrack >>