Why Editing Is a Film’s Third Birth
Ever wondered how your fav film goes from script to screen magic? According to Polish director and editor Rafał Listopad, it's born three times…
Listopad, a juror at the 12th Silk Road International Film Festival's documentary section, sat down with CGTN's Zhang Meng 🎥. He explained:
- First birth: The screenplay—where the story map starts.
- Second birth: On set—when actors, camera, and crew bring the script to life.
- Third birth: In the editing room—where all the pieces click, and the true soul of the film emerges ✂️.
Listopad calls the editing room the film’s DJ booth: "It's where raw clips spin into the scenes that make you LOL, cry, or hit replay." 🎧
Think about binge-watching a Korean drama on Viu or a mini-doc on Netflix—editing is the secret sauce that hooks you episode after episode.
Growing up in Poland, Listopad discovered the world of Chinese director Wong Kar-wai's cinema—his slow-mo shots and colorful frames felt like stepping through a neon-lit Shanghai invitation. It taught him the power of rhythm and color in storytelling.
Whether you're editing a TikTok dance dodge, a travel vlog from Ubud, or your university's documentary, remember: the real soul of your story is in that final cut. Channel your inner DJ and make every frame count! 🎬✨
Reference(s):
Polish filmmaker Rafał Listopad: A film is 'born three times'
cgtn.com
