TRC Book Club - Every Frame Counts (An Assistant Editor's Reference Book)
The Rough Cut
Assistant Editor - Jared Simon Assistant Editor Jared Simon's new book, Every Frame Counts - An Assistant Editor's Reference Book, covers everything an assistant editor needs to know, and then some. Topics covered in Jared's book include: Setting Up The Show - Everything you need to know to get up and running for the first day on the job—from setting up the printer to setting up the NEXIS. Media Composer and FileMaker - A deep technical dive into the tools assistants use in the context of a cutting room. Dailies Workflow - Soup to nuts coverage of the dailies process in excruciating...
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Sirens
The Rough Cut
Editors - Catherine Haight ACE, Laura Zempel ACE and Isaac Hagy ACE SIRENS editors Cate, Laura and Isaac have crafted a television experience that intrigues and entertains the audience, while also challenging them on conventional gender biases. Their work on SIRENS was not just professionally unifying but creatively fulfilling as well. The team established a ritual of analyzing scenes together each week, discussing tone, performance, and overarching storyline elements. This collaborative approach allowed them to align their unique editing styles into a cohesive representation of the series'...
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Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning
The Rough Cut
Editor - Eddie Hamilton ACE MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING editor Eddie Hamilton ACE has edited the last four of the franchise's eight films. While there are a combined five other editors responsible for the first four movies, the challenge of tying up any loose ends and bringing the franchise to a close (seemingly) fell solely to Eddie. In addition to his work on the Mission Impossible films, Eddie has also taken part in two other action franchises. Eddie cut TOP GUN: MAVERICK as well as two of director Matthew Vaughn's "Kingsman" films. Both within, and...
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Overcompensating
The Rough Cut
Editors - Todd Downing ACE and Amelia Allwarden ACE OVERCOMPENSATING editors Todd and Amelia often leaned on each other for perspective throughout the post process. As Todd recounted, "You lose perspective, but there are other jokes that you always, always laugh at, and then you know it’s a gem." Editing comedy, as Amelia noted, involves understanding the micro-timing of jokes — knowing precisely when to cut away or linger, to maximize comedic impact. Todd echoes this sentiment, explaining that edits can drastically influence the pacing and timing essential for landing a joke....
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Daredevil - Born Again
The Rough Cut
Editors - Cedric Nairn-Smith, Melissa Lawson Cheung and Stephanie Filo ACE DAREDEVIL BORN AGAIN editors Cedric, Melissa and Stephanie open up about their experiences and the unique challenges they faced while working to bring back Matt Murdock and his crime fighting alter ego under the Marvel Television banner. Assembling this team of super editors happened through various means. Stephanie credits her introduction to Marvel through a mentor, while Melissa explains how her work in Marvel's SECRET INVASION showcased her skills in creating grounded action sequences, helping to...
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The Studio
The Rough Cut
Editor - Eric Kissack, ACE THE STUDIO editor Eric Kissack began journey his journey with series co-creator and star, Seth Rogen, on the Sasha Baron Cohen film, Bruno. From there their partnership would continue, spanning projects like Sausage Party, Black Monday and others. For their current project, they would be working closer than ever before, as Seth's vision for THE STUDIO necessitated Eric's presence on set, fostering a tighter creative process that brought editorial not only on location, but into aspects of prouction. THE STUDIO tells the story of Matt Remick, the newly...
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Monsters - The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
The Rough Cut
Editor - Peggy Tachdjian, ACE MONSTERS editor Peggy Tachdjian will tell you that, in the world of television, few things are more daunting than delivering a true crime story that is both gripping and respectful. Her work on the second season of the Netflix series delves deep into the infamous tale of the Menendez brothers, weaving in elements of humor, trauma, and the complexities of the human condition. Peggy gives us an insider's perspective on this challenging editing journey, her working relationship with co-creator Ryan Murphy, and the emotional landscape navigated throughout the...
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Thunderbolts
The Rough Cut
Editors - Harry Yoon, ACE and Angela M. Catanzaro, ACE THUNDERBOLTS editors Harry Yoon and Angela M. Catanzaro each gained a whole new appreciation for production crews, having spent considerable time themselves cutting on-set and as a integral part of the process. Harry reflects on his previous working relationship with director Jake Schreier on Beef and how he came on board for THUNDERBOLTS. Angela also shares her excitement about joining the MCU after working on the feature film Prey. The editors delve into the collaborative process and the importance of depicting mental health...
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The Pitt
The Rough Cut
Editors - Mark Strand ACE, Joey Reinisch, Lauren Pendergrass and Annie Eifrig In this episode, we explore how THE PITT editing team of Mark, Annie, Joey, and Lauren navigated the unique challenges of cutting this intense medical drama. From their experiences working with producer John Wells to dealing with emotionally charged scenes, they reveal their techniques for maintaining authenticity and managing the show's fast-paced environment. They also share their personal connections to the material and how they balance relentless action with powerful storytelling. Created by R. Scott...
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Severance
The Rough Cut
Editors - Geoff Richman ACE, Joe Landauer, Keith Fraase ACE The Severance editing team of Geoff Richman, Joe Landauer and Keith Fraase discuss their experiences and creative processes for the hit show's second season. They talk about their initial impressions of the project, preparation to join the show, and specific challenges in editing various episodes. Highlights include creating complex montages, handling visual effects, maintaining geographic and narrative coherence, and managing ambitious scenes like Mark's dual-dialogue via a DV camera. They also discuss the excitement of...
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Editor Otto Burnham took on the job for SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY knowing that he wouldn't be lacking for source material on his subject. Rather, the challenge would lie in processing the countless hours of material from Reeve's work and his life to find the real superhero within.
Directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, who co-wrote the script with Otto, SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY is an intimate view into the life of actor Christopher Reeve. The film chronicles his rise to stardom upon landing the role of Superman in the 1970's, as well as the dramatic turn his life takes when a horse-riding accident leaves him paralyzed in 1995. Through home movies and interviews with those closest to Reeve, the audience is shown a side of this super man they've never seen before.
Otto Burnham
In his own words, award-winning (ACE Eddie, Emmy® and RTS) editor Otto Burnham describes himself as, "comfortable with the story telling and creative demands of broadcast TV, feature documentary, commercials and music videos. I love collaborating on films which focus on dramatic, emotional stories or difficult, challenging topics. With every project, I bring a high level of speed, skill and enthusiasm to my work. I have also shot and directed my own work and cut an award-winning feature documentary in my spare time".
Editing SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY
In our discussion with SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY, Otto Burnham we talk about:
- Climbing the greasy rungs of postproduction
- The McQueen's Gambit
- One Avid, two timelines
- Avoiding the radio play approach
- The storytelling superpower of ScriptSync
The Credits
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