Editing. How important is it in film and commercials? Creative Excellence Fridays

Editing. It's considered important enough that it deserves and academy award category. But isn't editing just taking what the director shot and "popping it together?" If only it were that easy. Countless films over the years have won best picture, or best story because of the editing. And have you ever noticed how directors tend to use the same editors? A director likes to be made to look good just like anyone else. Quentin Tarantino's devotion to Sally Menke was legendary. She cut all of his films right up until her death in 2010. InGlorious Basterds was the last film she worked on with Tarantino and it was an epic sign off. Tarantino was so dedicated to Sally that he would have several shout outs to her in each film as a way of involving her and keeping her morale high in those long edit sessions. Here several actors from Inglorious Basterds say hello to Sally so the footage would just pop up while she was going through it.



Who took over for Sally? Fred Raskin,a former assistant editor under her on “Kill Bill” and the editor of the last three “Fast & Furious” films. He edited the Oscar winning “Django Unchained."
In the commercial world, we sometimes don't recognize the importance of editing. But watch this spot for AT&T.



AT&T - "Sharing" from Raúl B Fernández on Vimeo.
Yes the performances make the film. But count the edits. 19 back and forth edits and a closing graphic animation. The edits are as important as the performers comic timing. Occasionally I'll see a spot and say to myself "if only..." This spot works on every level. Editing. It's as important as grandma's pinch of this and pinch of that in the kitchen. But a lot more precise.

With over 30 years experience, Tim McLarty  currently works out of Toronto Canada as a writer/voice performer, producer and media strategist producing advertising and entertainment content.

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