Impulse

I’m still cranking through the footage I shot of RAAM, reviewing and categorizing it. It’s much more intense work than it sounds as I’m watching and listening very closely while making notes, tagging footage, thinking of all the possible story lines and where each clip fits, all while trying to tune in to the subtext of the scene - what behaviors are they demonstrating, what’s going unsaid, how do they feel, etc. And there’s no fast forwarding. I have to watch all 20 minutes of a biker’s butt riding ahead of us because something might be said or someone might do something interesting. Even the boring bits demand my full attention - even more because they’re dull. I’ve been averaging about 1-1.5 hours a session before my brain turns to jello, and only about 3 of these per day. It’s easily one of the most focused things I’ve done in a while.

The interesting thing is that as we’re nearing the end of the race, and as the racers are realizing they’re closer to the end than the beginning, I too am getting psyched. I find myself pushing to do just one more tape because it gets me that much closer to the finish line. I’m more focused, able to push each session towards 2 hours or more. Today, I realized that I’m going to finish this stage of editing this weekend - just as I watched the racers get ready for their last 24 hours of the race. Synchronicity or unconscious design?