Since we finished shooting, the journey of post-production has gone through various stages. This process is a lengthy one. The blog has lain dormant while we have been immersed in that undertaking - partly because there was no breaking news, and partly because my focus was on the work and keeping up blogs takes more time than one thinks.
I went back to Kathmandu this past spring, joined by the newest member of the Shakti team, Emily. She came over from California to help with editing the rough cut. So along with Hindu, our translator (who has now been working on the project for nearly two years), and Nisha, we transformed my flat in Kathmandu into a little post-production house/flat. Our dear production manager, Soraj was also on hand to come and help with translating Jumli and generally bring smiles to our faces throughout that period.
It was a wonderful productive and creative time and I am, as always, so grateful that I have these dedicated people around me. Some days, I would be translating with Hindu while Emily was editing a sequence, or Em and Hindu would be subtitling a sequence while I worked on some other clips, or Nisha and Hindu would be revising the Jumli while Em worked on her machine and (as there were no other computers to work on) I would go shopping! Nothing like learning how to delegate!
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| my Shakti gals |
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| Em working in the other editing suite (aka the kitchen) |
During this period, we have been assembling the pieces of the puzzle, carving the edges so they fit together and flow as we develop the story we are presenting. There is so much amazing footage and so many directions to go in or ways to share these stories, it has been a big task simmering it down. Some days it felt so overwhelming and others so inspiring. As with the whole project, post-production is quite a journey.
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| interrupting the work flow |
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| Hindu, Nisha & Soraj - love these guys so much |
After six weeks of the post-production bubble we've been in, it was time for Em to go back to California and me to return to London. And so now on to the next phase.
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| Saying goodbye - |
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Understandingly, people keep asking me when the film will be finished. I would love to know myself! There is still much to be done and it could take as long as it takes, if not longer... Hope that clears it all up!
