I really liked last night's story–a follow-up to one of the first stories I did with Jeni, the grass cutting program. But watching it last night there were two things I would change if I had the chance to do it again today:
1) The primary interview was a guy who cuts grass for the city. The first broll section shows him coming toward camera. I tried to use a couple longer takes around one cutaway of the mower trailing the tractor. Watching it last night I wished I had added a shot or even two to pick the pace up a bit.
2) the NATS were not quite tight enough. If you're not in tv the NATS are "natural sounds" of whatever you're shooting. Basically, if you're shooting someone digging then it's the sound of the shovel going into the ground; if you're shooting basketball it's the crowd and sneaker squeaks; if you're shooting a mowing company it's the mower and weed wacker sounds. Anyway, the NATS could have been tighter. When nice and quick the NATS help the story move along; conversely. when the NATS are not tight enough they can make a story drag. I am finding and using more NATS but I need to keep them tighter.
Both of these comments have to do with pace. I find that when I'm really locked into editing I often respond positively to a story that isn't cut snappily enough. When I step back I can see it, so I need to figure out the best way to monitor pace while I'm in the editing "zone."
