Role of the Film Editor:
Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling. Film editing is the only art that is unique to cinema, separating film-making from other art forms that preceded it (such as photography, theater, dance, writing, and directing), although there are close parallels to the editing process in other art forms like poetry or novel writing. Film editing is often referred to as the "invisible art” because when it is well-practiced, the viewer can become so engaged that he or she is not even aware of the editor's work.**********
Voting Procedures:
1. A Reminder List of all eligible motion pictures shall be sent with a nominations ballot to all members of the Film Editors Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five productions.
2. The five productions receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Film Editing award.
3. In accordance with Rule Two Paragraph 5, only film editors who hold principal position credit(s) shall be considered eligible for the Film Editing award.
4. Final voting for the Film Editing award shall be restricted to active and life Academy members.
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Eligible Films:
According to the, above, procedures, all motions picture on the Academy’s office ‘Reminder List’ are eligible. There are a LOT of movies on this list.
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Nominations:
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Nominee Run-Down:
The Artist
· Anne-Sophie Bion: 1st nomination. Anne-Sophie has worked as an editor in the French film industry for six year.
· Michel Hazanavicius: 1st editing nomination. Michel is also nominated for ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Original Screenplay’ for this film.
My Two Cents:
This is a very tough movie to judge for editing. This is a relatively unknown team utilizing somewhat primitive editing techniques… that of the silent film era. However, ‘The Artist’ is considered a nostalgia film, and it is pretty difficult to pay homage to such techniques unless you legitimately know what you are doing.
The Descendants
· Kevin Tent: 1st nomination. Previously edited ‘Sideways’, ‘About Schmidt’, and ‘Election’.
My Two Cents:
I really like Kevin’s work. He is a very thoughtful editor who really gives the actor’s time to shine and allows scenes to develop natural moments within the cuts. Kevin Tent’s editing is part of what makes an Alexander Payne film so special.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
· Angus Wall & Kirk Baxter: 3rd nomination, 1 win for ‘Social Network’. Previously nominated for ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
My Two Cents:
There is an interesting story about these two guys. In 1992, Angus co-founded his own Editing firm, specializing mainly in commercials. During that time he ended up editing a few commercials directed by David Fincher, who brought him on to do some extra work on ‘Se7en’ and ‘Fight Club’… then eventually Angus graduated to co-editor in 2003 for ‘Panic Room’.
Then in 2004, Kirk, who owned his own Australian commercial editing firm, joined Angus’. Together, in 2006, the two designed the title sequence for ‘Big Love’ and they have been inseparable ever since. In 2007, when Angus was asked to edit Fincher’s ‘Zodiac’, he brought Kirk along for help. One year later Angus and Kirk officially became co-editors and from that moment forward, ever film they have edited as a team has garnered them an Oscar nomination.
Incidentally, for ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ they won the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Editing… however, this is a relatively new award for the Association and since its inception, their winner never ends up taking home the Oscar. (BTW: In case you’re wondering… ‘Inception’ won this award last year, but was snubbed from the Oscars).
Hugo
· Thelma Schoonmaker: 7th nomination, 3 previous wins: ‘Raging Bull’, ‘The Aviator’, and ‘The Departed’.
My Two Cents:
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Thelma is Martin Scorsese’s personal editor. In fact, she hasn’t edited a full length feature film for any other director since 1980, when they made ‘Raging Bull’ together. She is a time honored, proven editor and has a real shot at her fourth win.
Moneyball
· Christopher Tellefsen: 1st nomination. Previously edited ‘Man on the Moon’, ‘Capote’, and ‘The Village’.
My Two Cents:
You know? Christopher has a very strong body of work… but I think he’s the long shot this year. Although ‘Moneyball’ was a very successful film, for a quite a few reasons, including Christopher’s contributions, this is only his second collaboration with director Bennett Miller (‘Capote’). Over time I think these two will develop a much stronger voice that will lead back to the big dance.
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Snubs:
When you have five VERY worthy films nominated in this category, it hard to say someone was snubbed… in cases like this, simply put, there just weren’t enough spots to honor everyone.
That said, if there were room for a sixth nomination… it should probably have gone to Matthew Newman who edited ‘Drive’. Right now David has two things going for him… 1) ‘Drive’ is only his 3rd feature film; 2) He is developing a very strong collaborative relationship with ‘Drive’ director Nicolas Winding Refn. This is their third film together and their fourth is expected sometime this year.
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Oscar Trends:
Although the American and British Academy’s don’t always agree, for the last 20 years the Oscar winning Film Editor has also received, at least, a nomination from the British Academy. This year, only two movies have been honored with nominations from both: ‘The Artist’ and ‘Hugo’.
It becomes even more of a tossup when you consider this: for the last seventeen years, the winner of the American Cinema Editors ‘Best Edited Feature Film’ Award (in either the Comedy or Dramatic category) has also won the Oscar. This year, ‘The Artist’ is nominated for Comedy and ‘Hugo’ is nominated for Dramatic… then again… all five Oscar nominees are nominated in one category or another… but I suspect ‘The Artist’ and ‘Hugo’ will win their respective categories, which will leave the Oscar up for grabs.
Personally, I’m going to give the edge to ‘The Artist’ mainly because of the nature of the project… I have a feeling that they’re going to have a big night.
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Prediction: The Artist, just barely over Hugo
For my complete (weighted) list of Oscar Predictions click here!
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