tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post456017740416407847..comments2024-03-28T06:14:54.076-04:00Comments on And So It Begins...: Top 10 Directors Who Edit Their Own FilmsAlex Withrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-68067697608035529442021-12-16T09:53:55.144-05:002021-12-16T09:53:55.144-05:00Thanks for the comment. Yeah, I meant credited dir...Thanks for the comment. Yeah, I meant credited director/editors. A lot of editors, Malick including, are in the room for most of the cuts, but this list was about those few directors who take editing credit as well.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-50513093376990405292021-11-07T00:52:06.672-04:002021-11-07T00:52:06.672-04:00Thanks for the great list and comments. Missing Te...Thanks for the great list and comments. Missing Terence Malick though, and it's a big oversite if I say so myself haha. Also it's interesting there are some directors that don't get the credit but are known to be the director of the editing room, like Kubrick. Gaspar noe would also be good here.<br /><br />Others I'm not sure about<br />Chaplin<br />Powell and Pressburger<br />Fellini<br /><br />Koreeda edits his own<br />MifuneKinskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09480670517355791734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-87127775916832269122017-11-13T16:50:52.448-05:002017-11-13T16:50:52.448-05:00He only has an editor credit on Fear and Desire an...He only has an editor credit on Fear and Desire and Killer's Kiss, which are far from his best work. Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-32952305367801935332016-09-05T21:12:07.150-04:002016-09-05T21:12:07.150-04:00The two main reasons are time and studio control. ...The two main reasons are time and studio control. Editors edit while the film is still being shot. For example, when Martin Scorsese is done shooting a film, his editor, Thelma Schoonmaker, will have a very rough cut of the film ready to be viewed. Then, together, they start tightening it up. If a director <i>doesn't</i> have an editor, then those months their editor spent assembling the rough cut is lost. <br /><br />As for studio control, if a director is editing their own film, they likely have final cut from the studio, which is very rare and very hard to get. That's why most all of the names above are either indie director/editors, or very proven director/editors.<br /><br />For me though, editing is <i>by far</i> my favorite step in the process. I absolutely love it.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-87410097850688443832016-08-17T07:45:15.168-04:002016-08-17T07:45:15.168-04:00is there a reason why directors editing their own ...is there a reason why directors editing their own films is so rare?xvoidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-58923241886058060562015-09-08T17:37:56.379-04:002015-09-08T17:37:56.379-04:00Well, he only has two films to his name (as an edi...Well, he only has two films to his name (as an editor/director), and nothing about the editing of those films sticks out for me.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-42178462992745857322015-09-06T07:34:34.367-04:002015-09-06T07:34:34.367-04:00What about James Cameron? He at least deserved an ...What about James Cameron? He at least deserved an honorable mention.Em&3Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07229718288011443381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-6743803167227369662015-07-16T13:40:31.641-04:002015-07-16T13:40:31.641-04:00Thanks! I've noticed them popping up on your C...Thanks! I've noticed them popping up on your CinSpec's before! Love that. Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-57885380263355045372015-07-16T06:19:13.710-04:002015-07-16T06:19:13.710-04:00Great idea for a list! Wiseman and Kitano are blin...Great idea for a list! Wiseman and Kitano are blind spots for me, but I dig the rest of these picks. In fact, most of the directors get CinSpec love for their editing work, like Carruth, Lynch, Cuaron, the Coens, Kurosawa, James, Rodriguez, and Lean.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-75242572200574386052015-06-29T14:42:49.432-04:002015-06-29T14:42:49.432-04:00Yes, exactly. That's one of the reasons I love...Yes, exactly. That's one of the reasons I loved Haywire, even though most people loathed it. Soderbergh sat back and observed the action, as opposed to trying to craft it with quick editing.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-81451731356514998792015-06-29T14:41:18.767-04:002015-06-29T14:41:18.767-04:00One more thing: I'd bet good money that No Cou...One more thing: I'd bet good money that No County and TWBB split the vote for this category, and the presumed third place, The Bourne Ultimatum, won by default.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-87443370285355073472015-06-29T14:40:05.223-04:002015-06-29T14:40:05.223-04:00I think for the style that The Bourne Ultimatum is...I think for the style that The Bourne Ultimatum is trying to achieve, it is edited rather well. But my rankings for that category, which was <i>insanely</i> strong that year, would be:<br /><br />1. No Country for Old Men<br />2. There Will Be Blood<br />3. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly<br />4. Into the Wild<br />5. The Bourne Ultimatum<br />Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-59584319819495799002015-06-27T14:57:11.970-04:002015-06-27T14:57:11.970-04:00Also on Coens. The Bourne Ultimatum is well edited...Also on Coens. The Bourne Ultimatum is well edited in my opinion. The shaky-cam is use perfectly in moments to intensify the tension rather then mask untalented choreography (like Alex Cross). But I agree The Bourne Ultimatum was the weakest of the nominees (but it was in a very strong year). The Academy should give the award to the best edited film whether or not the nomination is under a pseudonym.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059813680559966539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-50134578966227895382015-06-27T12:07:56.750-04:002015-06-27T12:07:56.750-04:00A lot of my favorite directors here. The Coen Brot...A lot of my favorite directors here. The Coen Brothers in particular. No Country for Old Men definitely deserved the editing win that year at the Oscars. The frantic quick cuts and shaky cam of the Bourne movies has never been my thing. I like to see the action when i'm watching an action movie.Henrik J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12675100900709348187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-91857945073792379792015-06-25T13:48:43.734-04:002015-06-25T13:48:43.734-04:00Thanks buddy! Sadly, I'm not as hip on Dolan&#...Thanks buddy! Sadly, I'm not as hip on Dolan's work as I should be, so I innocently and accidentally looked over him when drafting this list. He definitely deserves to be here, no question.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-44392275580472677522015-06-23T13:04:06.502-04:002015-06-23T13:04:06.502-04:00VERY cool idea for a list. I'm becoming more ...VERY cool idea for a list. I'm becoming more and more fascinated with some of these young directors who are intent on dipping their hands into many facets of their films. Personally, I couldn't make a list like this without mentioning Xavier Dolan who has written, directed, produced, costumed AND edited all five of his films. Like, the man is incredibly talented, and only 26 years old.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-18435652964299543102015-06-22T12:53:24.698-04:002015-06-22T12:53:24.698-04:00Could not agree more on both fronts. Hoop Dreams i...Could not agree more on both fronts. Hoop Dreams is such an achievement, it never feels 3 hours long. Kurosawa was a total pioneer of editing for the exact reason you mentioned. Reminds me of John McTiernan's directory's commentary for Die Hard where he talks about how the studio kept rejecting his early cuts of the film because he cut on movement. He's since said if it was good enough for Kurosawa, it was good enough for him. Smart man.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-32797448022343033432015-06-22T12:48:25.487-04:002015-06-22T12:48:25.487-04:00Thanks! Couldn't agree more on those Lynch fil...Thanks! Couldn't agree more on those Lynch films. No one could edit those films but him. The Coen's are very good at hiding their edits - their films just flow. While Soderbergh is such a stylist with editing. Two very different styles, but I adore them. Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-69847989562433617952015-06-22T12:45:46.836-04:002015-06-22T12:45:46.836-04:00Isn't that crazy?! I learned that about a year...Isn't that crazy?! I learned that about a year ago and was stunned. He really was the master.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-44364944959914896362015-06-22T12:45:18.193-04:002015-06-22T12:45:18.193-04:00I like your praise for Robert Rodriguez. His caree...I like your praise for Robert Rodriguez. His career has fallen off for me lately, but I'll always love his early wok. And I was definitely thinking about doing that list - sounds like a fun idea.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-21246225138178571732015-06-22T12:43:34.597-04:002015-06-22T12:43:34.597-04:00Thanks buddy! It's so nice to hear that people...Thanks buddy! It's so nice to hear that people learn stuff from a post you write. That makes it all worth it!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-79067116621497695052015-06-22T12:42:21.161-04:002015-06-22T12:42:21.161-04:00Dolan is a GREAT call. That was an oversight on my...Dolan is a GREAT call. That was an oversight on my part - he should definitely be included here. And I love that clip of Van Sant editing Elephant. My god, I can't imagine cutting that way. So tedious, but it would also give you time to think and consider <i>every</i> cut.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-87042871393115865162015-06-22T12:40:39.458-04:002015-06-22T12:40:39.458-04:00So glad you like the list! Wiseman has been very g...So glad you like the list! Wiseman has been very good at cultivating his entire body of work to his website (www.zipporah.com), but he is alienating a whole new audience of people by not having the films available for streaming. Netflix or Hulu or Amazon or even his own site should be streaming them.<br /><br />I too can't imagine having someone else edit my films. There's the control aspect for one, but moreover, editing is my favorite part of the whole process - why hand that over?!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-48611885473817295762015-06-21T15:37:21.382-04:002015-06-21T15:37:21.382-04:00To edit 3 years worth of footage and condense it i...To edit 3 years worth of footage and condense it into a 3 hour film that is as dramatic as anything in fiction is a monumental achievement. Hoop Dreams, as you said, should be studied by every aspiring editor or filmmaker for that matter.<br /><br />Kurosawa's genius in editing is how he cut on movement. The edits are invisible at times. It just flows with the story. The editing during the final battle in the Seven Samurai alone warrants his inclusion on the list. Lukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03231911249238795602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-12033213574112075782015-06-21T07:20:46.569-04:002015-06-21T07:20:46.569-04:00Great list! I don't think anyone apart from Ly...Great list! I don't think anyone apart from Lynch would have been able to edit Eraserhead or Inland Empire. As for Wiseman, I've only seen Titicut Follies, which I felt was absolutely amazing.<br /><br />I really like the Coens' editing work on their films too. I think Soderbergh's best editing effort is probably Magic Mike.Aditya Bnoreply@blogger.com