I officially started phase III of post-production today, which means I began the second round of editing. I actually completed the rough cut about a week early so I spent the last seven days working on the trailer, watching the rough cut, and taking notes. So far everything looks great and I seem to be way ahead of schedule. I’d hoped to have the rough cut down to a running time of about 2 1/2 hours but I am closer to one hour and fifty minutes. The final running time will be around 90-100 minutes so I don’t have much more cutting to go. I will spend the next four weeks bringing in sound, watching the film over and over and over again - in search of bad footage, bad cuts, bad acting, anything that has managed to fall through the cracks. I will also hold a couple test screenings in order to obtain honest feedback on the story. Stay tuned!

It dawned on me today that a year ago, almost to the day, I began working on the draft of Cowboy Smoke, which would ultimately be shot this past September. Glued to my Mac now, I am fueled by a confidence that allows me to edit 16-hour days. This was not the case last year. While writing the script (or anything) doubt shadowed every decision I made. It’s hard at that stage to see past the idea, to see a completed film and have confidence that the idea being pecked out will hold up, stand the test of time. It’s easy to get excited about an idea. People do it every day. At least once a week a friend or family member approaches me and confesses their idea for a movie. And most of the ideas are interesting, so I jot them down. Or make a mental note. And I wait, and at a later date I revisit the idea to see if it still makes my heart pound. Because the true challenge is to find a story that’ll keep you charged all four quarters. Writers block is nothing more than a fear that your storysucks. Period. I believed in this story and I sill do and I have never edited anything so quickly.

While writing I’m alone. The idea and me. During the shoot it’s the script, company, and me. The cast and crew bring their ideas and by this time I welcome the creative jolt. Post-production pits me with the footage, alone again. And I welcome the solitude. I have been wilted with so many ideas and thoughts and off-hand comments and professional opinions that I welcome a little me-time to rediscover my passion for the project. The idea imbedded in all that raw footage. It didn’t take me long. In about two weeks I’ll have the rough cut completed. It will be rough, running about 3 hours, but it looks great.