The Rough Cut Rough Cut - Film Editing

Editors Maria Gonzales and Aika Miyake The work of SHOGUN editors, Maria Gonzales and Aika Miyake played a crucial role in the success of this adaptation of James Clavell's novel, as Maria and Aika created a fast-paced story, shifting the conflicts away from battlefields and into political intrigues by highlighting interpersonal dynamics, intense dialogue scenes, and the crucial role of female characters.  While editing, they were also often challenged with condensing the run times of episodes down from close to one hundred minutes to one hour each, while still fleshing out the complex tapestry and culture clashes of XVII century Japan and overcoming language barriers themselves.
SHOGUN follows the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds; John Blackthorne, a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan and in a country whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him, and Lord Toranaga, a shrewd and powerful daimyo at odds with his own dangerous political rivals.  Entangled with the pair is Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance.
MARIA GONZALES With over twenty years of experience in the industry, Maria's previous television work includes many award-winning shows, including The Old Man, See, and Counterpart, as well as fan-favorite shows, like The Walking Dead and its spin-off show, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. Outside of her episodic work, Maria served as an editor on two horror features: A24’s fantasy horror The Monster and Blumhouse’s horror thriller Mockingbird. She also previously worked as an assistant editor on the Academy Award-winning film The Bourne Ultimatum and Academy Award-nominated Up in the Air along with working on a long list of features beloved by audiences, including Jon Favreau’s Chef and Barry Sonnenfeld’s Men in Black II.  Maria sees editing as the subtle hand that guides narratives into seamless coherence, and she continually seeks the delicate equilibrium between creativity and technical mastery while fostering a creative environment that uplifts those around her.  Currently living in Los Angeles with her family, Maria was born in the United States but spent her formative years in modern-day Serbia before returning to LA to study at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she graduated with a BA in Cinema Studies.
AIKA MIYAKE Aika's sixteen years of film/tv work spans across all styles and genres, covering short-form branded content, documentaries, narrative TV, and feature films. Her television work includes Netflix's Emmy-winning documentary mini-series Chef's Table: BBQ, and Beyonce's Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated visual album Black Is King. Aika also worked on a diverse range of films, including the "nominated at SXSW Film Festival" short documentary film Coming Home, and Best Documentary Feature winner at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, Hafu: The Mixed-Race Experience in Japan. She started her career working on commercials and music videos with clients such as Nike, Pampers, IKEA, and Spotify to name a few.  Growing up in Japan, Aika enjoyed playing drums and making hundreds of mixtapes for her sisters, and after discovering her passion for photography, she opened her heart to the potential of filmmaking and how images paired with music could create emotional experiences.  She currently lives in Los Angeles.  Outside of her work in editing, Aika is passionate about food, travel, reggae music, and her two cats, Oreo and Millie.

Editing SHOGUN In our discussion with SHOGUN editors, Maria Gonzales and Aika Miyake, we talk about:
Starting off with subtitling The Red Hot Ronin Peppers Commercial breaking into the business Filling out the story with flashbacks "Feudal" gestures The Credits Visit ExtremeMusic for all your production audio needs
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Editors Nathan Orloff and Shane Reid GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE editors, Nathan Orloff and Shane Reid both came into the latest installment of the supernatural, super funny franchise having past experience with writer/director Jason Reitman.  But whereas Nathan's work with Jason came from collaborating on feature films like GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE (2021), Shane's work with Jason was amidst his impressive body of work in the commercial world.
FROZEN EMPIRE sees the Spengler family returning to the iconic New York City firehouse where the original Ghostbusters have taken ghost-busting to the next level. When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must unite to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.
NATHAN ORLOFF Nathan Orloff is known for his editing on TULLY (2018), PLAN B (2021), GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE (2021) and JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 (2023).
SHANE REID As a partner of the award-winning post house Exile Edit, Shane has been nominated for, and won, multiple awards for his work in the commercial space with top brands including Apple, Adidas, BMW, Hennessy, Audi and the Olympics.  He quickly became one of the most trusted short form editors, working with such directors as Damien Chazelle, Terrence Malick, Andrew Dominik, Jason Reitman, Craig Gillespie, Blake Lively, John Hillcoat & Chloe Zhao. He has also cut multiple music videos for Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, Florence + The Machine and Kamasi Washington.
In 2018, Reid edited on the film A Hidden Life for director Terrence Malick.  He recently cut the short film I’m on Fire for director Michael Spiccia which premiered at the 2022 Toronto and Clermont-Ferrand International Festivals.  Shane is currently co-editing Deadpool & Wolverine alongside editor Dean Zimmerman, ACE.

Editing Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire In our discussion with GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE editors, Nathan Orloff and Shane Reid, we talk about:
How paying tribute to Ivan lead to a job that pays tribute to Ivan Being expeditious with the exposition Raising the stakes while staying funny Conquering the edit without clearly dividing it Less Mayor, more marshmallow The Credits Visit ExtremeMusic for all your production audio needs
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Watch Nathan Orloff's guided tour of his John Wick: Chapter 4 Media Composer timelines
Hear Nathan Orloff discuss cutting Ghostbusters: Afterlife and John Wick: Chapter 4
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Editor - Doc Crotzer, ACE ROAD HOUSE editor Doc Crotzer ACE got his first real studio feature film experience cutting Doug Liman's Sci-Fi/Fantasy film, CHAOS WALKING (2021).  Three years later Doug would tap Doc once again to take the film fight game to another level for Liman's latest entry in the action genre.
Directed by Doug Liman and produced by Joel Silver, this remake of the 1989 cult classic sees ex-UFC fighter Dalton take a job as a cooler at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.
DOC CROTZER, ACE A filmmaking Swiss Army knife, Doc has directed, produced, and edited studio feature films, award winning television series, and immersive documentaries. He draws from his wide-ranging experience in production and postproduction to tell cinematic stories that remain grounded in human emotion, regardless of the medium. His encyclopedic knowledge of editing allows him to shoot efficiently and creatively, while inspiring confidence from collaborators on both sides of the camera. His favorite part of filmmaking is collaborating with actors and crew to create something in which the sum is truly greater than any of its parts. Doc’s instincts and work ethic are trusted at the highest levels, often quietly working as a “fixer” on studio films and TV shows that need fresh eyes to reach their fullest potentials. A musician himself, Doc has edited over 100 music videos and excels at bringing stories to life that incorporate music and visual effects.
Doc was nominated for an Emmy® for his work directing a web series and nominated for ACE and HPA awards for his work on the TV show Glee. He is a proud member of the Director's Guild of America, American Cinema Editors, and the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences.



Editing Road House In our discussion with Road House editor Doc Crotzer ACE, we talk about:
Being "Bourne" again with Doug Liman Giving fight scenes the ol' Hollywood pass Taking 25% of a beating The battle in front of the bands Managing big personalities on screen and off The Credits Visit Extreme Music for all your production audio needs
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Hear Doc discuss his work on CHAOS WALKING and SHOTGUN WEDDING
Listen to director Doug Liman share his thoughts on filmmaking
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Editors - Inbal B. Lessner ACE and Ben Kaplan STORMY editors Inbal B. Lessner, ACE and Ben Kaplan each brought their considerable experience in unscripted storytelling to this timely and unique perspective of a woman who dominated the headlines throughout and following the presidency of Donald Trump.
Directed and produced by Sarah Gibson, STORMY follows Stormy Daniels as she navigates being a mother, artist, and advocate working hard to reinvent herself following the Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal.  Judd Apatow serves as an executive producer under his Apatow Productions banner.
INBAL B. LESSNER, ACE Inbal B. Lessner, ACE is an Emmy-nominated and Eddie-winning producer and editor. Prior to her work on STORMY, Inbal was most well-known for such true crime hits as Starz' Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult (2020) and Netflix's Escaping Twin Flames (2023), both of which she co-created alongside her filmmaking partner Cecilia Peck.  As executive producer, showrunner, and editor, Inbal steered both shows towards nominations for Best Edited Documentary (Non-Theatrical) at the ACE Eddie Awards, nabbing a win for the latter. She was previously Eddie-nominated for her work on the "Can We All Get Along" episode of CNN's The Nineties (2017).
Inbal has worked in the cutting rooms of directors such as Davis Guggenheim, Nancy Schwartzman, R.J. Cutler, Kelly Duane, Tricia Regan, Jeremy Simmons, and Tracy Droz Tragos, as well as Natalie Portman's feature directorial debut. A member of the AFI Conservatory faculty, she has also been a Visiting Professor of Film Editing at UNCSA Film School and is a mentor in the Karen Schmeer Diversity in the Edit Room Program.
BEN KAPLAN A multi-award nominated documentary editor with over a decade of experience in the edit suite, Ben has worked on projects for CNN, Peacock, ABC/Hulu, Viceland and MAX.  When he's not cutting docs, he's usually cutting up ingredients in the kitchen, perfecting his favorite dishes.
Editing STORMY In our discussion with STORMY editors Inbal B. Lessner, ACE and Ben Kaplan, we talk about:
Making the most of the Miro board "If you can't sum it up, you must cut it out". Motorboating your way to authenticity Deconstructing one documentary for another Stringing together the spine of the story The Credits Visit ExtremeMusic for all your production audio needs
Check out the Frame.io blog for an enhanced transcription of The Rough Cut.
Watch the ACE Invisible Art - Visible Artists Panel
Hear editor Inbal B. Lessner ACE discuss cutting SEDUCED: INSIDE THE NXIVM CULT
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Editors - Mags Arnold, Brenna Rangott and Matt Chessé ACE TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY editors Mags, Brenna and Matt had never worked together prior to uniting under showrunner Issa López for the fourth season of the HBO MAX anthology series, but you wouldn't know it from talking to them.  The camaraderie between the three and the fun they have is in stark contrast to the dark and dangerous tone of their hit show.
TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY is set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska and follows the investigation behind the mysterious disappearance, and even more mysterious discovery, of eight men from a research station.  Leading the investigation are two law enforcement officers who share a troubled past, Detectives Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis).
MATT "CHALKY" CHESSÉ, ACE Editor Matt Chessé, ACE often finds himself cutting with frequent collaborator, director Marc Forster.  The pair have been working together since 2000 and have joined forces on such films as; MONSTER'S BALL (2001), FINDING NEVERLAND (2004), THE KITE RUNNER (2007), QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008) and CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (2018).  Matt also cut TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY star, Jodie Foster's film MONEY MONSTER (2016).
MAGS ARNOLD Mags Arnold entered the film industry in 1993 as a trainee sound editor, crossing over to picture editing as second assistant editor in 1994. She was promoted to first assistant editor in 1995, working on films such as HIGH FIDELITY (2000) and CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN (2001), both under celebrated editor Mick Audsley. Following her work as an assistant, Mags has cut shows such as WITCHER (2023) and BIG LITTLE LIES (2019).
BRENNA RANGOTT Brenna is the lone editor on "Night Country" who has past experience with showrunner Issa López, working on the series BRITTANIA (2019) together.  Despite her cheerful demeanor, Bren could often be found in the cutting rooms of horror genre projects like STARVE ACRE (2023), FATHER OF FLIES (2021) and HOST (2020).
Editing TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY In our discussion with TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY editors Mags Arnold, Brenna Rangott and Matt Chessé, ACE, we talk about:
Fun with field trips When the editor is the scene stealer Keeping things light when the story's so dark Playing the paranormal against the practical How "clumping" is better than cross cutting The Credits Visit ExtremeMusic for all your production audio needs
Check out the Frame.io blog for an enhanced transcription of The Rough Cut.
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Editors - Tia Nolan ACE and Kim Boritz ANYONE BUT YOU editors Tia Nolan, ACE and Kim Boritz reunite and meet cute once again for a film that has been an absolute box office smash.  In an era where prevailing "wisdom" says that you can't get audiences out to the theaters for a romantic comedy, Tia and Kim's little 25M film has racked up over 200M worldwide!
Loosely based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, ANYONE BUT YOU was directed by Will Gluck, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ilana Wolpert.  The film stars Glen Powell as Ben and Sydney Sweeney as Bea.  Despite having an amazing first date, Bea and Ben's initial attraction quickly turns sour.  When they unexpectedly find themselves at a destination wedding in Australia, the pair pretend to be the perfect couple to keep up appearances.
TIA NOLAN, ACE A seasoned editor in the world of comedies, Tia Nolan has cut such films as FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS (2011), HOW TO BE SINGLE (2016), I FEEL PRETTY (2018) and THUNDERFORCE (2021).  Tia's storytelling skills can also be found in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; as an editor on DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (2021) and an additional editor on AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2019) and AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2022).
KIM BORITZ Prior to editing alongside Tia on ANYONE BUT YOU (2023) and THUNDERFORCE (2021), Kim sharpened her skills as an assistant on CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019), THE MEG (2018) and ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016).
Editing ANYONE BUT YOU In our discussion with ANYONE BUT YOU editors Tia Nolan, ACE and Kim Boritz, we talk about:
Surviving spiders Keeping your leads likeable through conflict Breaking the box office with a romcom Nailing down the needle drop The Richard Marks connection The Credits Visit ExtremeMusic for all your production audio needs
Check out the Frame.io blog for an enhanced transcription of The Rough Cut.
Learn all about what's new with Avid Media Composer
Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode
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