Finishing progress update August, 2023

One of the goals of re-releasing this feature was to teach me what I don't know about finishing a feature length project. I've made many shorts and they're intense for a few weeks or months, then complete. On the two features I helped produce, I was only part of the production phase. Going through Vengeance Trail with a fine tooth comb is teaching me about the post-production phase through the distribution and marketing phase. And along the way, I'm learning some new tools, especially ai tools.

For example, yesterday I exported the closed captioning subtitles from the latest cut posted privately to YouTube, converted the file into a version my edit software recognizes, and synced it up. YouTube creates subtitles automatically, but based on what it thinks it hears and without any punctuation. I proofed the text, added music descriptions, and made sure each phrase was on screen long enough to read it clearly. But if I changed the length of the feature anywhere, I'd have to adjust all the timings after that point. Now the subtitles are synced properly in my edit software.

I am now listening to the movie with my eyes closed and fixing ambient levels and dropouts and airplane noises. There's an ai tool that removes background noise, which is super handy. Of course, then I must add in the appropriate background noise to match what needs to be there.

One day, I wont have to do all this by myself, but I'm alway game to learn it once. And then I'll have a greater understanding of another department, with a new clarity on communicating with them. It all makes me a better producer.

Ian