What is the first step in editing a short documentary film?

Back in the edit suite today working on Age of Renewal, the short documentary I am putting together around ageism and mental health and community and connection.

We shot this a couple of weeks ago, and I took a planned break after wrapping Alien Echo. It was needed. A bit of space before diving into the next story.

But today was the day to get back into it and start crafting this documentary.

A Story About Community and Connection

Age of Renewal is all about people.

It looks at how a group of volunteers come together through shared values and community, and how that connection supports mental health and the experience of getting older in our society.

It is a simple idea, but an important one. Humans connecting in the way we probably should, through purpose and shared experience.

Starting the Edit Process

Today was step one in the edit.

Cutting down the interviews into smaller, digestible pieces. Finding those key moments, those honest lines, and those emotional beats that will shape the story.

It is a creative process and it takes time. You are not just cutting footage, you are discovering the narrative within it.

Building Something Meaningful

I am super pumped to be back in the edit suite and working on this.

There is something really powerful about shaping real stories, especially when they touch on themes like mental health and ageism and community.

We are underway with Age of Renewal, and this is just the beginning of bringing it all together.

If you’d like to follow my filmmaker journey, from behind‑the‑scenes moments through to festival screenings, subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I’ll be sharing updates, insights, and the creative process as the documentary comes to life.