I
Editing is an interesting, eye opening experience. You take the raw material and create something worth watching. I don’t mind the repetition, and I can’t say I’ve ever been bored. I like to make the vision flow. The challenge is to get the rhythm right.
I’m editing the pilot of a dating game show in which eight contestants compete for love. It’s a self contained show that has a beginning middle and end in a journey of 42 minutes. An hour if you include ads. Some of it is scripted. The producer prompts the contestants with questions or gives them lines if the contestants can’t think of anything to clever enough to say. In television, there is nothing more unforgiveable than dead air.
I turn on the computer, wait for the sound and vision to load.
My heart bubbles with joy when I see Kip, one of the contestants. I can't help myself, I say, “I love you.” out loud.
"Morning!" says a voice behind me. Oops! The director stands in the editing suite doorway.
“Sheesh! Ruben. You scared me.”
“Who were you talking to?” Ruben says, as he pulls up a chair beside me.
I say lightly, “Oh, just the computer. It’s so fast, powerful and reliable.”
He shakes his head at me like I’m hopeless, “What have you got for me today?”
I press play.
Before us are eight reality stars that I have listened to and watched intently, and through studying their words and actions, feel that I know them intimately. I have become besotted with one of them. I have analysed the footage, assembled what I believed was a good first cut which Ruben watches with me. He picks the edit apart and, tells me to, “Take this bit out here, move that there.” I make notes as we go.
Through the edit, I’ve attempted to make sure that each personality shines in their own way. Though they are uniquely ’them,’ hints of the real personality have ended up in the virtual trash can of my computer and their stories are morphing into very different versions of the truth.
Valentine’s such a bitch, but I have to lessen the poison she spits. My magic is used to distort the truth of who she is and how she operates and show that she’s a victim of misunderstanding. Yet, I understand her better than the others. She is pretty, but..anyway.
Ben’s a cutie. Short, effete and funny. He could be a standup comedian. He has such biting wit and yet he’s not as bitchy as Valentine.
Gina is whiny and tries too hard.
Kevin is going to be seen as a bully. Sorry, Kevin. The producers want a bad guy and you fit the bill. You’ll end up alone.
Tara is sweet but dumb, the perfect counterpart to Guy. He’s a solid, working class man.
Ellen is pouty and moody, dark like a goth. I’m sure she’ll draw plenty of gaming fans.
I have fallen head over heels for Kip- he’s dreamy.
The director likes what I've done, but the producers make me cut more to accentuate the drama.
II
Well, there you have it. I’ve done my part. My only responsibility has been to cut the action. Another editor will colour grade. Someone else will do the sound and sound effects. Thank God, I don't have to handle the finishing touches or special effects. There’ll be captions, music, titles, words and a sarcastic voiceover in the final post. Out of Valentine, Ben, Gina, Kevin, Tara, Ellen, Guy and Kip, only two are a couple, the rest might be back in future seasons.
III
I meet Kip at the premiere, he looks at me blankly. I can’t blame him, he has no idea who I am. My sense of attachment is so strong my heart beats faster to see him. To me, all of the contestants have become family. I watch Kip walk away with Valentine. It’s amazing how real holograms can appear to be.
