Filling in the Editorial Gaps
In film production, pickups are a normal, planned, and essential part of the post-production process. They consist of a small amount of additional filming that takes place after principal photography has concluded. It’s crucial to distinguish pickups from reshoots. Reshoots involve re-filming entire scenes that are deemed ineffective due to performance, story, or technical problems, and can be a sign of a troubled production. Pickups, on the other hand, are minor, surgical additions intended to smooth out the edit, clarify story points, and enhance the final film.
Most major film productions budget for a few days of pickups from the very beginning. As the editor assembles the first cut of the film, they, along with the director, will identify small gaps in the footage that, if filled, would improve the flow and clarity of the narrative.
Common Reasons for Pickups
Pickups are typically small, specific, and often do not require the entire cast or a large crew. They are used to capture:
- Inserts: A close-up of a key object, such as a character’s hand writing a note, a ticking clock, or a revealing headline on a newspaper.
- Cutaways: A brief shot that cuts away from the main action, such as a reaction shot from a minor character or a view of the surrounding environment.
- New Angles: The editor might realize that a different camera angle would make a particular moment more impactful or would help to hide a continuity error.
- Establishing Shots: A new wide shot of a location might be needed to better establish the film’s geography.
- Bridging Shots: Simple shots, like a character’s feet walking down a hallway, can be used to seamlessly connect two different scenes.
- Correcting Errors: A shot might be needed to fix a minor technical glitch, a continuity mistake, or a line of dialogue that was unclear in the original take.
Because of their limited nature, pickups are often shot by a smaller, more mobile unit known as a “skeleton crew.” Their purpose is not to reinvent a scene, but to provide the editor with the extra pieces needed to perfect it.