Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1470092
ic team and they did a treatment to the pictures, so it seems less noticeable." As often is the case with documenta- ries, the story and the edit evolved over time as material arrived. "I always say, when you work on a project, there's almost like three sto- ries that you have in mind," says Roda. "Obviously, we shot some interviews with the Menudo members. You have one idea in mind of how you're going to tell it. And then when you start putting paper edits or outlines together, you have anoth- er way to see things. And then when you start editing, you basically change everything around because what you felt was working, wasn't working…I know it happened multiple times. We [had] something, and then we will watch [it and say], 'No, that part needs to go to (Episode) 3, or go to 1, or to 4. You are changing things all the way until the last minute…It was like the broad outline was there, but a lot of things changed during the process." Roda's setup included a desktop Mac with multiple screens for editing, along with a laptop that she uses to download media without tying up her main system. And while the structure can change throughout the edit, Roda says she is always looking to present the truth of the story. "I always say that the editors have these 'magic powers' that we can create things, but honestly, for me, it's always about the truth. I'm trying to be creative with what I want to say and how I can say [it] with the material I have." A lack of material can present chal- lenges, she notes, but can also result in some of the most rewarding scenes in a documentary like this. Simpler scenes, she adds, can also offer opportunities to get creative when a wealth of mate- rial is available. "Some scenes, we have amazing footage and amazing coverage, and all the interviews cover it perfectly. And in some, we didn't. I think the combination of all of it is what made that documenta- ry extremely fun and challenging." Roda is already on to her next project — a yet-to-be-named documentary that will also require a fast turnaround for its fall release. "I love editing documentaries," she states. "To be able to tell real stories…I think [it's] the most fun thing. I feel like editing documentaries is kind of like writing and directing in post production." Menudo: Forever Young spans four episodes. The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Newly-shot interviews help tell the group's history.