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Even before we sent the cut, the questions Iikka asked helped put a lot of things in perspective. One thing that really worked for us is that both Per and Iikka were acutely aware of what we wanted and they helped us get the best version of that. Having two mentors working on the film is an excellent idea. Sometimes they agree and sometimes they don't, but all of this helps create more and more possibilities for us to play with as story tellers.  Ideas and suggestions are one thing, but to be able to give them with a sense of humour and with a lot of love is of unbelievable help when one is questioning and doubting everything which is pretty much what happens while editing.  It is impossible to talk of an organisation without talking about the people who work in it. And these people love documentaries, and it shows.

What would I change?

Creating a unique platform such as this, keeping it affordable and helping with suggestions on how to fundraise, putting us in touch with people, all of this has made it one of the most fulfilling experiences for us. RCS actually went much beyond the brief of what they say they will do on the site, so I cant really say what they could add, they've got a really great process going! Its an honest, transparent, human way to work and we can’t imagine making a film without their support anymore. We wish you all the very best and hope to work with you again.

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Hiring an editor for several months for a feature length documentary can cost 10,000 to 20,000 euros. Often my budgets cannot sustain this cost. And yet I feel the need for editing help by people who know an international audience, who know documentary, and who are sensitive and understanding of stories faraway from their society, and know how to help bring out the universal elements in them while keeping the integrity and authenticity of the 'local'. The RoughCutSerice, which I have used twice now, answers all these needs. Their critique of the film is thorough, detail , and look at both the content (ie a faraway world) as well as the aesthetic and technical. The RCS responded to my roughcuts with a fine, nuanced critique, paying attention to all the seemingly small details that ultimate add or, their mishandling, spoil a film. Its comments are to the point, forceful, yet sympathetic, and leave room for the filmmaker to decide for herself the important decisions. ...

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It is a most skilfull reading of the film and not heavy-handedly imposing. And the service is a fraction of the cost of hiring an editor from the start, and for months. For someone like me, who wants to be totally engaged in the process, specifically editing, which is the most vital part of making a documentary, the existence of such a service is a blessing. For it is the final stage of the documentary that makes or breaks a documentary. I have used the RoughCutService in my last two films and would use it again, without hesitation. Its affordability and ease of collaboration is a boon especially for filmmakers in the developing world

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We were lost at sea when we turned to Rough Cut Services - so much footage shot over so many years and a drawn out editing process had muffled and blinkered our ability to see our material objectively as a cinematic experience. Iikka wrangled with us through finding a new structure - suggesting a completely radical approach that we trusted and flew with. And yet, at no point was it an imposition - the few things we wanted to keep, we kept, and otherwise were blown away at how much the new ideas, the new input, not only shaved off all the unnecessary junk and helped clear up confusions, it also gave us tons of fresh insights on how to tell our story, re-energized our own creative approach to the material. Yael came in next and offered a subtler eye on the rhythms, the pacing, the filmic experience, bringing the scenes from rushed, pedestrian assemblies to living, breathing scenes. Such an incredibly valuable service!!!

What would I change?

A few times we felt like a Skype chat here and there along the way might be helpful. But would I turn to Rough Cut Services again? In a heartbeat...

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I made use of the service and for me and the project it was very helpful. It helped to confront, already existing doubts and to confirm final decisions towards the closign of the project. Even if in my case it was a low budget film, those few conversations we did helped a lot. Thanks for that!

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I feel very lucky to have come in contact with Rough Cut Service and I am so grateful for all the help I received with my documentary The girl who saved my life. Before I contacted RCS I was in a very difficult place. I had so much material, a very complicated editing procedure and had a hard time choosing and prioritizing in the vast amount of material. Mr Iikka and Per K. at RCS made me rethink, restructure and tell a story effectively, and shorten the film in a way that felt intuitive and natural. Now my documentary has been shown in many countries, won awards and received a very good response. So, thank you very much for all the excellent help! Best regards, Hogir Hirori

What would I change?

Continue to help others as you helped me.

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"Rough Cut Service is an important documentary film consulting services for film makers that needs to lift up her/his project 2 to 3 levels. During our cooperation with Rough Cut Service with Iikka Vehkalahti and Jean Tsien we were able to improve the quality of film. We managed to make a more interesting story both dramaturgical and also story wise. As a director I highly recommend the Rough Cut Service with my full support to them and their vision of developing one of the most important area outside the european union and USA. I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to work with a highly dedicated film-people."

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"Having meaningful, productive, valuable access to some of the world's greatest filmmakers and documentary editors is an incredible opportunity and is what Rough Cut Service delivers. The service is a great resource and collaborator for the film and the filmmaker. Rough Cut's engagement with me, which was not just cookie cutter online responses, was solely focused on my film and my film's needs around story, structure and the elements to take it from good to amazing. Skyping, chatting and exchanging ideas, notes and solutions with Iikka Vehkalahti and Jean Tsien is extraordinary and not only made the film better but made me better too. "

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"Experience of working with Rough Cut Service helped both me and my editor to see the film from new, fresh perspective and to discover new ways to tell the story - the ways that were unimaginable to us before we started to work with experts from Rough Cut Service. It was very inspirational for me to see my film from different angles and to analyse each scene and every single shot in detail. It helped me to get the distance from my footage and become more realistic about story structure and my main characters. So I can divide editing of my film in two very different phases - before I started to work with people from Rough Cut Service and after it."

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"We met with the Rough Cut Service team in a rough cut stage of our feature-length project. The service was recommended to us by Hanka Kastelicova, HBO Europe. We were really satisfied with the cooperation, helping us to calibrate our compass and giving a fresh perspective and pumping up our little bit drained creative process. We even took two consulting cycles and production-wise it was one of the best investments in the production of the film. And we also like twisted and sometimes bizarre Finnish humor!

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I am deeply grateful to have had RCS to hand-hold us through this process. Your advice was absolutely super both in structural terms, but also as two people who we felt got the meaning of the film and its cultural nuances and helped us come up with something that preserves these.

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