The ever-evolving world of film and entertainment stands as a testament to humanity’s insatiable appetite for compelling stories. With technological advancements driving the industry to new heights and the relentless pace of content consumption in today’s digital age, the realm of cinema has never been more significant. At the heart of this vibrant industry is a legion of passionate professionals, each bringing their unique vision and skill to the cinematic tapestry. Among these luminaries stands Michele Bordon, a masterful artist whose profound impact in the world of filmmaking has left an indelible mark.
Michele Bordon’s illustrious career in film stands as a beacon for aspiring filmmakers. With a robust foundation in the technical and creative nuances of editing, Bordon’s work resonates with both critics and audiences alike. As the editor of the acclaimed short film “Moon,” Michele’s impeccable storytelling prowess came to the forefront, garnering accolades and establishing her as a formidable presence in the film industry.
In 2019, “Moon” was awarded the title of Best Short Movie at the AVM Accademia Video Making contest in Italy, subsequently being selected and distributed by Forme Web TV, an initiative backed by the European Union and the Italian government. Further cementing her prowess, “Moon” secured a finalist spot at the prestigious CineFutura Fest and was an official selection at Fabrique du Cinéma Party n°25, both in 2019.
By 2022, Michele’s film achievements reached a new zenith with multiple awards at the FuoriCampo FilmFest, including the coveted Best Short Film and Best Cinematography titles. This festival, funded by the Italian cultural ministry, boasted a jury helmed by cinematic legends like Lino Banfi, a prolific actor with over a hundred films to his name, and Neri Parenti, the director and screenwriter who pioneered the cinepanettone genre.
In addition to his film accolades, Michele Bordon has made significant strides in the commercial sphere. As the editor, author, and cinematographer of the commercial “Terminal Amerigo Vespucci,” he demonstrated a multifaceted skill set that few can match. This piece, commissioned by La Pegna Srl, was broadcasted to millions, airing on national television via RAI’s premier three channels.
In a recent conversation with Michele Bordon, it became apparent that his success is not merely a product of raw talent but also a deep-seated understanding of the filmmaking process. Michele’s practical experience spans the breadth of filmmaking. His proficiency in editing is complemented by a comprehensive grasp of multiple departments, from camera work to post-production. This holistic view of the filmmaking process has been a game-changer for Michele, enabling him to navigate the intricacies of a project with unparalleled foresight. By anticipating challenges and employing proactive solutions, Michele streamlines workflows, ensuring that the final product meets the highest standards of cinematic excellence.
It’s great to have you here, Michele. Could you share how your hands-on experience in various aspects of filmmaking has shaped your approach to editing?
My experience in various aspects of filmmaking has been instrumental in shaping my approach to editing. I believe that a comprehensive understanding of filmmaking’s different stages is essential for an editor to effectively convey the intended story and emotions. Having served roles such as Data Manager and Senior Dailies Operator, I’ve acquired valuable insights into shot capture, lighting setup, and scene choreography. This firsthand experience has deepened my appreciation for the nuances of capturing the perfect shot, subsequently influencing my editing decisions.
Furthermore, working closely with directors and cinematographers during pre-production and filming has enhanced my grasp of a project’s original vision and objectives. This understanding helps me align my editing choices with the desired narrative and visual style, ensuring a cohesive and compelling final product. Essentially, my varied roles in filmmaking have equipped me with a comprehensive perspective. This allows me to view editing not just as a technical procedure but as an artistic storytelling endeavor. By recognizing and blending various cinematic elements, I can elevate the end product, capturing the essence of each project I undertake.
These experiences have reinforced my belief that a successful editor is not merely a technician but a collaborator who harmonizes the diverse facets of filmmaking to craft a cinematic masterpiece.
Can you give an example of a time when your understanding of other filmmaking departments allowed you to anticipate a problem in editing and address it proactively?
During the production of “Moon,” I had the privilege of working closely with the director and several other departments during the pre-production phase. Our discussions about the film’s visual and emotional tone revealed that one pivotal scene needed a particular lighting setup to evoke the desired atmosphere. The setting: a dimly lit room with a singular, potent light source, creating profound shadows. From my prior experience with the short movie genre, and having seen comparable lighting configurations, I was keenly aware of the potential challenges this could pose during editing. While the ambiance was undeniably compelling, the shadows could obscure certain facial expressions, potentially diminishing the clarity of the characters’ emotional journey.
To preemptively address this concern, I suggested an additional camera angle to capture the actors’ expressions more vividly. Positioned to catch the well-lit nuances of their features, this angle would provide a safety net during the editing phase. In collaboration with the Director, we smoothly incorporated this solution into the shooting plan. During editing, this foresight proved crucial. The dramatic lighting was visually captivating, and the extra angle ensured that we could amplify the scene’s emotional resonance by seamlessly integrating shots highlighting the actors’ subtle expressions.
This endeavor underscored the value of comprehensive filmmaking knowledge. By recognizing potential editing challenges and leveraging insights from other departments, I contributed a creative solution that bolstered the film’s overall impact.
Moon’s accolades include the following:
- Best Short Movie award at the AVM Accademia Video Making contest in Italy (2019).
- Distribution by Forme Web TV, sponsored by the European Union and the Italian government.
- Finalist at CineFutura Fest in Italy (2019).
- Official selection at Fabrique du Cinéma Party n°25 in Italy (2019).
- Multiple awards at FuoriCampo FilmFest in Italy (2022), including Best Short Film and Best Cinematography. The festival was supported by the Italian cultural ministry, with a jury presided over by Lino Banfi, an actor with a portfolio of over a hundred films, and Neri Parenti, the acclaimed director and screenwriter who pioneered the “cinepanettone” genre.
How do you think your holistic understanding of filmmaking sets you apart from other professionals in the field who specialize in one area?
My comprehensive understanding of filmmaking, enriched by a Master of Arts in Filmmaking, three years of academic study, and immersive internships at esteemed cinema societies like Panalight and Kiwii, sets me apart in an industry often characterized by specialization. While specialists thrive in their niche areas, my extensive background allows me to integrate these specialized domains seamlessly.
In editing, my broad perspective is invaluable. I’m well-versed in camera work, lighting, sound design, and more, and recognize their collective role in crafting a compelling narrative. Such awareness enables me to foresee and address editing challenges stemming from decisions in other departments, ensuring the final product harmoniously mirrors the director’s vision.
Furthermore, my all-encompassing approach encourages dynamic collaboration. Familiar with the nuances of various filmmaking disciplines, I can streamline communication and foster an environment where ideas meld effortlessly into a cohesive narrative. I respect the intricacies of each role, ensuring productive conversations that enhance the creative process. My multifaceted experience also fuels innovation. Drawing insights from different areas, I bring fresh perspectives and creative solutions often overlooked within a singular specialization. This adaptability lets me contribute in unique ways, elevating the storytelling journey.
How has your technical knowledge in both software and hardware used for filmmaking influenced your work in the editorial department?
My extensive technical knowledge in both filmmaking software and hardware has profoundly influenced my contributions to the editorial department. This expertise provides me a distinct edge, facilitating streamlined workflows, efficient troubleshooting, and an enhanced cinematic final product. In terms of software, my adeptness with a range of editing platforms and color-grading tools allows me to select the optimal application tailored to each project. Such versatility guarantees adaptability to diverse project demands and seamless collaboration across teams. Moreover, my software proficiency enables me to tackle intricate editing tasks with ease, optimizing the post-production process.
Can you describe a project where your ability to understand and collaborate with other departments significantly contributed to the outcome of the film?
When Palomar Production hired me in 2020 to oversee the digital department for the major series, “That Dirty Black Bag,” I recognized it as an ideal opportunity to showcase my accumulated knowledge. The production required me to wear two hats: Data Manager and Head of the Digital Department (Senior Dailies Operator). My responsibilities encompassed offloading all camera cards, generating the dailies, archiving footage onto the LTOs, and conducting daily quality checks.
In my role as Data Manager, collaboration with the camera departments was crucial to ensure they consistently provided all necessary reports. Furthermore, I coordinated with the DIT to verify the on-set looks. One of my pivotal tasks was to ensure all footage destined for post-production was securely stored on a NAS before the camera cards were cleared.
As the Senior Dailies Operator, I was entrusted with delivering all processed footage to the editor. This entailed meticulously updating metadata, recalibrating color and exposure, and uploading dailies to platforms like Aspera and Moxion. Understanding that the role of a Senior Dailies Operator is inherently collaborative, I initiated workflow discussions with the editor, script supervisor, and camera department during pre-production. This proactive approach harmonized operations between on-set and post-production, optimizing efficiency and curtailing potential expenses.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the field, in terms of the importance of understanding the overall filmmaking process rather than just one aspect?
For those stepping into the multifaceted world of filmmaking, I urge you to embrace a holistic appreciation of the entire cinematic journey, rather than limiting yourself to a single specialization. This comprehensive perspective can be your golden ticket, unlocking a fulfilling and influential career.
In filmmaking, a field inherently collaborative and multidisciplinary, having an all-encompassing grasp is akin to a craftsman with a diverse toolkit. Just as such a craftsman molds masterpieces from varied tools, your diverse skill set can sculpt and realize creative aspirations. An all-rounded knowledge facilitates productive dialogues with peers across departments, fostering idea exchanges and synergistic efforts that elevate the final masterpiece.
Moreover, such a comprehensive view is pivotal for preemptive problem-solving. Understanding each cog in the machine positions you to foresee potential challenges, allowing for agile resolutions and streamlined operations. This broader understanding also provides a clearer envisioning of the final cinematic piece from its inception. Making decisions in your domain then becomes an organic part of a grander narrative, enhancing the audience’s immersive experience.
While specialization can carve a path to mastery in a chosen field, it’s the amalgamation of these niche skills within the filmmaking panorama that distinguishes you. Seize every chance to delve into varied aspects of this art form, be it through academic avenues, internships, or self-driven quests.
In essence, for those poised on the filmmaking threshold, picture it as an intricate tapestry of interwoven disciplines. Relish the quest to grasp the entire spectrum, spanning from pre to post-production. By doing so, you’ll not merely amplify your creative arsenal but will also be instrumental in the collaborative enchantment that is cinema.
You mentioned that understanding the speed of the industry is crucial in your work. Could you expand on that, and share an experience where this understanding played a key role?
The film industry’s relentless pace profoundly shapes my role as an editor. Beyond the challenge of stringent deadlines lies the imperative of adapting swiftly to ever-shifting dynamics, ensuring that the essence of the creative vision remains undiluted. In this whirlwind environment, decisions, revisions, and progress occur at breakneck speeds, requiring a blend of agility and technical expertise.
A particularly poignant experience that encapsulates this was during the post-production of the commercial, “Terminal Amerigo Vespucci.” Constrained by a tight submission timeline and further crunched by unexpected production delays, we received the raw footage much later than planned. This left us with a daunting task of editing, colour grading, sound design, and final touches within a drastically reduced window.
In these pressing circumstances, my acute understanding of the industry’s pace became my compass. I implemented an efficient editing workflow, allowing for decisive and swift choices without overlooking the story’s intricacies. This strategy was not merely about time-saving; it was about synchronizing every element. I made instantaneous editing decisions, aligning each sequence for subsequent colour and sound work, thereby ensuring a fluid and harmonious integration of all components.
This tightly coordinated approach, driven by my awareness of the industry’s tempo, was pivotal. It facilitated a collaborative spirit among the team, enabling us to meet our deadline and, importantly, produce a refined final product. The culmination of our efforts saw the project being broadcast on Italy’s premier national TV channel, RAI.
This experience underscored a salient truth: in filmmaking, swift yet discerning creative instincts, paired with meticulous craftsmanship, are indispensable. Being attuned to the industry’s rhythm equips me to tackle projects with both precision and flexibility, consistently delivering outstanding results even under the most rigorous time constraints.
Could you talk about a time when your broad knowledge of the filmmaking process helped you to streamline the workflow and avoid additional costs for a production?
There was a significant moment when my all-encompassing knowledge of the filmmaking process was pivotal in enhancing workflow and averting potential excess costs during production. During the pre-production of “Ferrari,” I collaborated intimately with post-production teams to craft a workflow tailored for efficiency. With the expertise I’ve accrued over the years, we meticulously selected the most optimal hardware workstation for our project.
While we had multiple hardware options, we opted to archive our footage on linear magnetic tape (LTO). Not only was the LTO more cost-effective than conventional hard drive disks, but its longevity – a staggering 30 years compared to the typical 10-year lifespan of standard hard drives – made it an attractive choice. This strategic decision was well-received by the production team. It wasn’t just about saving costs; it was about ensuring that the storage solution we chose enhanced our workflow and was in harmony with the editor’s creative needs.
Implementing this revamped approach led to numerous benefits: a more seamless production process, minimized delays, and crucially, a reduction in costs that might have stemmed from less efficient practices. Reflecting on this, it’s clear that possessing a broad-based understanding of filmmaking can drastically shape a production’s trajectory. Leveraging insights from diverse departments and focusing on the big picture enabled me to spearhead a more economical and efficient workflow, benefiting both the production and post-production stages.