Insights from the co-editors of Tubi’s “Rejuvenation” using Adobe Creative Cloud and Frame.io
“Rejuvenation” shares the journey of a collegiate track star, Trinity Tucker, who battles an addiction to painkillers following a debilitating injury and seeks help from an experimental treatment facility.
We had the pleasure of speaking with Shannon Carmichael and Amber Carstensen, student co-editors from Moonshine Post, who shared their insights into the creative process behind this project. Due to the nature of the film, Carmichael and Carstensen took on multiple roles during editing. They relied on Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects and Frame.io to seamlessly navigate the post-production process. They found the integration between Premiere Pro and After Effects beneficial to their process, offering them the flexibility needed for their editing work.
Additionally, Frame.io was a crucial asset to their workflow by facilitating the sharing of dailies and cuts with the team. Producers used Frame.io for timestamped notes, which allowed Amber and Shannon to work more efficiently. Read on below for more on how they brought the film to life.
“Rejuvenation” is now streaming on Tubi and Amazon Video.
How and where did you first learn to edit?
Carmichael: I first learned to edit by making short animations and animatics that I would import to my editing software and adjust the timing of everything. Most of my learning started on my own, exploring the program, and then continued through college courses.
Carstensen: When I was around 10 years old, I would rope my friends into filming skits, music videos, etc. I would string the footage together on whatever free program the family laptop had at the time and then present it to my family. At the time, I didn’t put too much care into the editing process. I just knew it was the next step before I had a finished project to show off. After starting college, I began to learn Premiere Pro through trial and error.
Image Source: Amber Carstensen, co-editor on “Rejuvenation”.
How do you begin a project/set up your workspace?
Carmichael: I usually start with file management. I have a template set up for organizing files. Then, I review the footage to rename files and add information in the notes. For example, identifying which camera (A or B) was used, noting close-ups etc.
Carstensen: I can’t begin work with clutter, so organizing my physical and digital workspace is key! I start off every project with a file workflow that another editor introduced me to, so I can just copy and paste it.
Tell us about a favorite scene or moment from this project and why it stands out to you.
Carmichael: My favorite moment was late at night during production. Everyone had a long day of working on the movie, but they were all passionate and willing to stay late to get the extra footage needed. It was very inspiring to work with people that are dedicated to the project. Throughout the production and post production, there was a strong sense of comradery and a willingness to help out.
Carstensen: My favorite scene from this project is this action/fight sequence during the climax. It was fascinating to see the practicals used and props that were constructed on the filming day. This scene was also one of my first editing assignments. It was an interesting puzzle to piece together. I’d never worked on a fight scene before, so ensuring clarity in the action happening was a big focus of mine.
What were some specific post-production challenges you faced that were unique to your project? How did you go about solving them?
Carmichael: Due to the nature of the film, we had to juggle a lot of roles at once during production and post-production. It was important for me to stay organized and manage my time efficiently to get everything done.
Carstensen: We were on set during the filming, so we were often dealing with a mobile set-up. Trying to find the best places to work and planning enough time for setup and breakdown was a challenge. We learned to be very flexible and adapt to the space available.
Image source: Tubi and Amazon Video.
What Adobe tools did you use on this project and why did you originally choose them? Were there any other third party tools that helped enhance your workflow?
Carmichael: I used Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Frame.io. A large reason why I work with these programs is because of the ability to seamlessly switch between Premiere Pro and After Effects. I like Premiere Pro because of its flexibility with its user interface and customization options. We also used Frame.io primarily for dailies and to share the cuts easily with the team. With the help of Frame.io, we were able to get proxies quickly to review and start an assembly cut.
Carstensen: We used After Effects for some temp VFX work. Adobe programs are great at providing flexibility, so there was no issue flipping between Premiere Pro and After Effects. Additionally, Frame.io was a huge asset to our workflow. Our digital imaging technician would upload the proxies to Frame.io, which we would then download, ingest, and sync to prepare for cutting the next day. Further into the project, we would use Frame.io to get time stamped notes from the producers, which made us more efficient.
If you could share one tip about Premiere Pro, what would it be?
Carmichael: There are several good tutorials online. I’d recommend looking online for guides and answers if you hit a roadblock. Whenever I ran into an issue I couldn’t solve on my own, I’d look on forums and find someone else that found a solution to a similar issue.
Carstensen: Seek help when needed, and play around! I learned Premiere Pro on my own and found online video tutorials and articles very helpful. The Adobe community is quite active, so asking questions on forums from fellow editors is also very helpful. If I’m not pressed for time, I often like to play around with different features just to see what they do.
Also, Adobe offers free certified training at AdobeVideoTraining.com!
Who is your creative inspiration and why?
Carmichael: My current creative inspiration is Julien Solomita. I love his travel vlogs and editing style. He’s always trying new film techniques and equipment and is able to master them for a video. I’m also very inspired by films like “Nope” (2022) for the shot compositions.
Carstensen: Rather than one sole person, I have a list of movies I love going back to for creative inspiration. Many of them are quite stylized, vibrant, and a little unconventional. They often make me think of different ways to present a story and inspire me to try new ideas even if they might not work out.
Image source: Tubi and Amazon Video.
What’s the toughest thing you’ve had to face in your career and how did you overcome it? What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers or content creators?
Carmichael: It can be tough for me to find creative projects to work on. I’ve overcome that by broadening my network and reaching out to people I know to see if they have any projects I could help out with.
Carstensen: The toughest thing I’ve had to face in my career is building confidence in my choices and ideas. While I’m not sure if I’ve completely overcome it, I’ve found that I’ve gained more confidence by consistently presenting my ideas. I think being an active participant in the collaboration is important, regardless of whether those ideas are accepted or rejected. My advice would be, don’t be afraid to have swings and misses!
Share a photo of where you work. What’s your favorite thing about your workspace and why?
Carstensen: Shannon and I brought in a couple of plushie friends to keep us company in the office. Fun things like that make work a little more stress-free.
Image Source: Amber Carstensen, co-editor on “Rejuvenation”.