There are basically two steps to making a great film.

The first is shooting, or the acquisition of material.

The second is editing, when you assemble what you have acquired.

All too often the editing becomes a kind of rescue where you agonize as you try to cobble together bad shooting from the first step and 'save' the piece. And old industry expression is 'we'll fix it in post'.

This is a waste because it not only makes life harder, it also wrecks all the potential and power of the edit was it becomes a desperate attempt to fix the problems from the shoot.

The solution to this, of course, is to shoot perfectly in step 1.

In cooking, a great deal of the success of the final dish is in the raw ingredients.

Buy the best produce, spices and meat or fish you can find and the odds are the you will make a great meal. The same goes for video and film.