Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline - Social Sound Design

Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-09T19:41:40Z

So I hit the wall today. Sooner or later, everyone comes to a point where they realize they are doing more harm than good. It's that point where you realize that everything you're doing is sub-par and will just have to be redone later. I'm in a good spot for it, because I'm ahead of schedule on my current project. I can afford to walk away from it. I've only an hour left in my actual work day, and it's Friday. Plenty of time to recharge over the weekend (despite the fact that I have different freelance work to do).

It got me thinking though, "What if I wasn't in a good spot?" Say you're under a tight deadline, and you hit this point. What would you do to recover? I haven't encountered that situation before...a hard deadline and fear can be great motivators ;)...but can only assume that someday, sooner or later, if even only once, it could happen.

Anyone have any strategies for working through the wall?

Edit: I'm referring more to a lack of energy and focus in this question than I am to aesthetic choices. It's less of an artistic viewpoint and more of a critical faculties issue.

Answer by Julian for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-09T20:42:05Z

No sleep 'till it's done.

Answer by Utopia for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-09T20:46:40Z

I believe in synergy and I either show it to a co-worker who has nothing to do with the project or bring the other editor or editors up and show them what I've done and we bat ideas back and forth at each other. Sometimes their idea isn't used but a combination of or a bright idea is created out of each of our opinions or ideas.

Otherwise, I take a walk for 5 to 10 minutes or do something dis-related and come back to it refreshed. I also refresh my memory of the purpose and idea the director is trying to communicate because sometimes you can lose sight of that.

Answer by Jay Jennings for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-09T21:10:29Z

Happened to me just yesterday: Last minute crunch, no time, and a sub-par library of effects available. I had about a 10 minute window to design a sound, so the only thing to do was summon all my strengths and power through it. I think you also have to put some of your 'perfectionist' tendencies aside in times like that because it's unlikely you will be able to satisfy yourself in that way under duress.

Answer by audiLe for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-09T23:06:46Z

I had it just yesterday and today. 2 months ago or so, happened to have promised a friend to handle the sound for her graduation project, an approx 20 mins short. all dialog edits, sound design, mixing and what not. did the set sound recordings myself as well so I was convinced that it would go smooth, it was a very tiny project after all... then, she ended up taking new shots without proper sound equipment, and using those in the actual edit and I ended up with nothing but bad camera sounds mostly.. everything got delayed... the picture wasn't locked until a week ago, and I only had 3 full (12+ hours non stop) days to work on it from scratch.. whats crazy is that still today she talks about changing the final edit, and getting new music in. wanted to back off long ago when the delays got introduced but couldn't. so stupid. by the time I got the exports and raw materials, it was too late. it turned out the fcp project was all messed up. all kinds of sync problems. manual adjustments on my side before even being able to work on the sound.. finally finished a mix an hour ago (if you can call it one) and sent it in. but I can assure you the only time I felt this much fed up, tired and so terribly frustrated was 2 years ago, during a 1 year project where all the team members got burned out. anyhow, premiere is tomorrow. I should be relieved but I dunno what to expect. somehow survived but got damaged both physically and mentally... oh and did I mention that this was for free.....?! never ever again.

Answer by AdamAxbey for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-10T01:24:08Z

I find the fear of missing a deadline is a great motivator. If you're in not danger of that, take a break. I realize this isn't very helpful. When I full on hit the wall under deadline here's what I do.

Have a meltdown. This usually happens at about 3am with a 9am deadline usually after several late nights, and I'm no longer able to produce anything worthwhile and it still has to get done. So I pitch a little tantrum in my head, and think of all the awful things I want to do to everybody involved with the project. I then take a deep breath, lie to myself that this will never happen again and push on. It's not pretty, but it works (sort of).
Assuming you're working with picture, add a fart. Somewhere that it's visually supported. The idea here is to give yourself a much needed giggle and put the gig in context. Whether the fart ends up down the line for the client to see is up to you.

It's better when you can see it coming (ie 14 hours to do in 8 hours - you're gonna hit the wall). Here's some tactics I use.

Internet off. Disable Airport, unplug the Ethernet cable, lock the damn modem away if you have to. Phone only and only for emergencies.

Play beat the clock. I like to divide the amount of minutes of program I have left by the amount of time I have left and then halve that. So if I have 8 minutes of program to do in 12 hours, my goal will be to do it in 6. I'd drop a marker for every hour (spaced at every 1min20sec here) and race the clock. This prevents me from dawdling in light sections. I find that this tactic keeps me on track, with little time left over. Any extra is spent on a another pass.

When working late at night, resist the urge to fuel up on fast food if you can. I love me some grease, but it will make you crazy tired. Veggies are key.

Alternate between coke, red bull and espresso. Pour espresso into coke only in dire emergencies.

Answer by Steve Urban for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-10T01:58:57Z

I have the good fortune of working unsupervised 95% of the time. So I'm usually in a good position as well, I hardly ever have to stay past midnight. :)

What I'll do is get away from the desk for 5 minutes. Walk around the building (if there isn't a monsoon), stretch, push-ups, some kind of physical activity to get your blood pumping, heart-rate up and a little life in your legs. In dire situations of dual-ended-candle-burning 5-hour energy is my drink of choice. In extreme situations, just set an alarm on your phone and take a power nap. Losing those 20-25 minutes of productivity will always win out over having to redo the past 3 hour's work. Although I don't recommend trying that during your actual shift.

Answer by Rene for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-10T02:25:54Z

Initially its good practice just to have your body tuned and working well as often as you can.

this means sleeping and eating well when you're not crunching at the end of a project. Proactively taking care of one's self helps tremendously with endurance and focus.

when you're there at the wall though, I think you've already gotten some very good advice.

internet off, phone in the other room
no fried food
5 minute breaks, maybe push ups or stretches
playfulness is good.
cover basics as quickly as possible, then tweak and fill in details
if you have someone you can call in for an opinion, that can be the biggest lifesaver ever
maybe watch it down once with the sound off, then watch it again with the picture off

after that, it's all about you. (ignore the horrible music edit)

[vimeo]27933991[/vimeo]

Answer by Nathan for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-10T04:24:30Z

Broad strokes first, refine later if there's time left over. Work in multiple passes to get something at least barely passable first, so if you run out of time at least you have something that's completely mediocre, instead of partially excellent and partially horrible.

Good, Fast, Cheap. Pick two. This is physics. If you're going really really fast to beat the clock, the quality is going to suffer. If you were being paid by the hour, it would be more expensive (for someone else) too.

It reminds me of a saying from the film industry regarding production schedules: It's Gone With The Wind in the morning, and The Dukes of Hazard in the afternoon.

Also, planning three moves ahead from the beginning can prevent you from ever being in this spot in the first place!

Answer by Iain McGregor for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-10T06:20:56Z

Establish what is the absolute minimum that needs done, and then complete it.

After that, if there is any time left, choose the bits that annoy you the most and then improve them until you run out of time.

Phone my wife for a quick chat, she always puts everything into perspective and cheers me up.

Lastly fresh fruit in fresh air, natural sugars in the real world.

Answer by Christian van Caine for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-10T19:15:23Z

I've hit the wall several times over the years, once in the beginning of my career near-well sending me to hospital, and has found several things to keep it at bay. First of all, the sentence "I will not do this, it's unrealistic." was a good thing to learn, but of course that only applies when the project is truly unrealistically scheduled, not if you want more out of the project than does the director.

When I feel too exhausted I have a couch (it can be folded into a bed, but I've never actually tried it) in my studio (not used for casting whatsover ;-)). When the head feels like an over-ripe melon I often takes a nap for about 90 minutes. It's normally 90 minutes as the body works in cycles of near well exactly an hour and a half, waking up in the very beginning of the first phase in the next cycle normally gets you the most well rested and gives energy to deal with the rest of the day.

If sleep's not what I feel is what's needed for the moment, I often take either a break on the cargo-bay (I share house with both some bands and some kind of wholesale dealer) with a cigarillo and something playable on my iPhone, or a long nice walk around the area with only the world to listen to :-)

Actually, the thing about one and a half, sometimes hours, sometimes minutes, actually applies to many things concerning the human being and spirit! It's no fluke most movies are about 90 minutes long ;-)

Answer by Dave Matney for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2011-09-11T15:00:30Z

Because you have the time to walk away, do it. Get outside, hit up a library or something, or take a nap.

I've hit that point more than a few times doing 48-hour game jams, and the absolute best thing I can do at that point is walk away for a bit.

At the 2010 Global Game Jam, it meant taking a 2 hour nap in my car, followed by a McDonalds breakfast run; in 2011, it meant trying my hand at the visual art for the game (which wasn't used, but it gave my ears a welcome rest).

If you don't have the time to walk away, bring in a fresh pair of ears. Even if it's not someone who is sound-oriented, just asking them for input helps a lot.

Also, a trip to the restroom can rejuvenate your mind in ways that nothing else can.

Answer by FFRMusic for Strategies for when you've crashed into the wall under deadline

2013-02-07T19:36:30Z

Strangely, once I hit the wall, and before I got to the point where I wanted to shoot myself, I just sat back and relaxed for half hour, an hour (or depending on how much time you actually have left).

Getting stressed out will only cramp your workflow but you will more than likely miss things and or overdo things, as your ears get tired. Just chill out for a bit, then get back into the swing of it.