On this week’s episode, I’m joined by John Magary, editor of the new film Between the Temples. We discuss how he got into the editing business, the role of the editor in building the rhythm and flow of a picture, the aesthetic choices an editor can make in shaping the meaning of a movie, and a little about his work with the Criterion Channel. If you enjoyed this episode, try to find a theater playing the movie near you; it’s in 500 or so screens, which means there’s a decent chance there’s a showing somewhere in your neighborhood. And make sure to share it with a friend!
This kind of “nuts and bolts” approach to filmmaking I found very interesting. I read somewhere the director shoots about 6 - 10 hours of film footage and then the editor has to condense it into a two-hour film while retaining the plausibility and transparency of the plot. Also, it seems to me (and this is just my impression) that the Oscar awards for editing often (usually?) go to the editor of fast-cut action films. Which reminds me of a book I read that asserted that compared to older classic films with an average shot of 10 seconds, current films average 4 seconds per shot which gives current films a faster-paced look, and often gives me a headache. I kind
of wished Sonny had reviewed this with John Magary to assess whether editors are responsible for this supposed trend
Another great episode, and this one’s mostly about an excellent movie everyone should go see.
Haven’t listened to this yet, but Magary directed a terrific movie called THE MEND starring Josh Lucas.
I'm not a student of film. I'm merely a filmgoer, if you will, so I don't know why I listen to your interview podcasts. They seem directed to film students or filmmakers. But the thing is, I learn stuff even if it is stuff I'm not sure that I want to learn. Then I look for whatever it is I learned when I go see the movie. So, thanks, Sonny. I guess.
Glad you’re getting something out of it!