My project uses majority found-footage, shifting the primary technical focus from cinematography to post-production. The workflow relies on gathering, organizing, and synthesizing disparate media into a cohesive documentary, requiring high precision in editing rather than extensive original filming.
Software: Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro will be my primary Editor. Its dual monitor setup allows for quick skimming of found footage to identify key moments. And, its traditional track based timeline provides the rigid control needed to accurately arrange and layer multiple video and audio clips.
Software Alternatives
While DaVinci Resolve is the industry leader for color grading, since it is more complex, it ends up being less efficient for this specific project. Premiere Pro’s Lumetri Color panel provides professional-grade grading that is more than sufficient for matching various found clips, without sacrificing editing speed.
Final Cut Pro is also known for its fast performance, but its magnetic timeline is a limitation here. Premiere Pro offers the precise vertical layering required for this documentary.
Avid Media Composer could also be considered as an alternative, as it is widely used in professional documentary editing. However, its workflow is more suited to larger scale productions, whereas Premiere Pro is more accessible and efficient for a solo editor working within a student production timeframe.
Audio Post-Production & Sound Design
Because the film relies on natural sound rather than a traditional narrator, Premiere Pro’s Audio Track Mixer alongside Adobe Audition will be used to layer ambient sounds, apply constant power transitions to prevent audio pops, and keyframe volume levels to build a compelling sonic environment.
Software Alternatives
GarageBand could have been used as a simpler audio editing option, but it lacks the precision and detailed control needed for layered documentary sound design.
Logic Pro is another possible alternative, particularly because of its strong audio mixing tools. However, it is more music production focused, whereas Audition is better suited to dialogue cleanup, ambient layering, and post-production sound editing for film.
Hardware: DJI Osmo Pocket 3
I will be filming the first couple seconds of the documentary to establish a professional visual hook. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is utilized for sensor and mechanical 3-axis gimbal. This ensures perfectly stabilised, high-fidelity footage in low light without the need for a camera crew.
Camera Equipment Comparison
I chose the Osmo over others for specific technical reasons. Unlike smartphones that rely on electronic stabilization (which crops and distorts the image), the Pocket 3 uses physical stabilization. Compared to a high end DSLR, the Pocket 3 offers ActiveTrack auto-focus and rapid setup, achieving a cinematic look while keeping the solo workflow incredibly efficient.
A GoPro could also have been used as an alternative because of its compact size and strong stabilisation. However, its ultra-wide look is less cinematic for this project, and it has less control over depth and image quality in low-light conditions compared to the Osmo Pocket 3.
Editing Hardware: MacBook Pro
The project will be edited on a MacBook Pro, utilizing its advanced processor and memory. This specific hardware provides the necessary computational power and media engines to handle real-time rendering, complex color correction, and smooth timeline playback without the need for low-resolution proxy files.
Editing Hardware alternatives
A Windows desktop PC could also have been used for editing, especially because desktop systems can offer strong performance and upgradeability. But, the MacBook Pro is more practical for this project because it combines portability with high performance, allowing me to edit flexibly in different locations.
An iPad Pro could also be a possible alternative because of its portability and ability to run editing software such as Premiere Rush. However, it would be less suitable for this project because the documentary requires detailed multi layered editing, colour work, and more advanced timeline control than a tablet-based workflow comfortably allows.