Can you give us a brief overview of your background in editing?
I began my career 15 years ago in Hobart cutting local commercials, then later moved to Sydney working full time at a production company where I really sunk my teeth into learning the craft. Since then, I have lived in London where I began my freelance career, working for Warner Music. 4Music, Leo Burnett and a range of production houses. I then moved back to Sydney in 2018 where I have had the chance to work with some amazing directors on great campaigns.
Could you summarise the plot of the series?
'Hunt For Truth - Tasmanian Tiger' follows Tim Noonan as he investigates the ultimate wildlife mystery to determine if the Tasmanian tiger, the world's rarest, most elusive animal, is gone for good or just very good at hiding.
What editing software did you use and why?
I used DaVinci Resolve, not only because it was something Tim the director had experience with but also because it made things a lot easier in the online process with grading.
How long did the editing process take? Did you feel you had sufficient time?
We had a tight turnaround beginning the edit in February and having things ready to go online at the start of May so the post-producer and I had about 5-6 weeks per episode.
The final week of each episode I would meet with the director, Tim Noonan in person to tweak and finesse. This was the only time we spent together as we were working remotely.
What made this a great experience was how both episodes are quite different narratively but also in relation to the editing. I feel like I had to use a few more tricks in episode 1, whereas episode 2 unfolded naturally in the editing process.
Can you describe your workflow?
Due to the tight turnaround, I would lay out a cut from what was scripted first. Once we had that narrative down, I would then break down each scene, looking through interviews and b-roll, adding, moving and removing shots and dialogue that I thought made best sense.
How was editing this factual series different to what you usually edit?
This is my first factual series. I am usually in commercial and branded content land.
How would you describe your working relationship with the director? How frequently did you collaborate during the edit?
Tim and I have a great working relationship, we are good mates. This project was such a breeze. We had a tiny core team of 5 where we all backed each other, which made a great working environment.
Where can we see this series?
The show has premiered on SBS you can now find it on SBS on demand.
Thank you to Nic Venettacci for sharing your experience.
Article by Muy Lang Linda Ung
28th June 2024