From Rough Cut to Final Cut

After all is said and done...after the focus groups, family and friends weigh in with their opinions on the rough cut...after the co-producers, editor and select cast members share their no-holds-barred takes about what the Beautiful Noise Team has created...it all boils done to one voice, one vote, one decision. Mine. That's the beauty of creating something from nothing - and it's also the burden. If the movie works, I - as the writer/producer/director - will receive far more credit than I deserve, given the tremendous contributions of cast and crew. If it fails to live up to expectations and all the positive buzz building up to the premiere, than I get all the blame. But you know what? Bring it on! That's the nature of the beast and I'm charging ahead with eyes wide open. In the final analysis, it's the only thing I can do.

The rough cut showed me and everyone who has seen it one critically important thing - that we have a truly great little movie on our hands...if we can just keep tweaking the film in ways that propels the Story without desaturating the emotional pull. I can clearly see that the movie I wrote and the themes I want to explore are right there in front of me and my editor...but to get to the point where we lock the script there are still subtle but critical decisions to make. It's a bit daunting to know that if I make just one bad decision the entire pacing and thrust of the film could be irreparably harmed. On the other hand, if I make the right calls the movie will play out strong and serve its purpose - to entertain and stir emotions.

There's two and a half more months of post-production ahead of us before the final product plays on the big screen. Once Marc & I finish tweaking the film and I lock the picture, we'll ship it off to have the color correction process completed. Meanwhile, my co-producers on the Soundtrack and I will put the finishing touches on all the songs and send them off to be mastered. I plan to release the Soundtrack album ahead of the films' premiere in the spring, so Mo & Roger and I are going to be busy this month recording and mixing final versions of the songs as they'll be heard in the movie and on the album. Then I'll be working with our Sound Design wizard to mix in the Foley sound effects, ADR dialogue looping and the incidental music that will enhance and/or bridge certain sequences.

The writing process continues on the prequel and sequel and the development of three other films I've scripted and outlined shifts into high gear this month. 2011 is the year I've been waiting on all my life. I just didn't realize that fact until I took time off for the holiday break, reflected on everything that's happened, personally and professionally, and gazed into the future to ponder the potential impact of the opportunities I've created for my entire Team.

Either way it goes, it's gonna be fun...and life-changing.

And it all depends on how well I traverse the terrain between the rough cut and the Final Cut.

Steve