From Oscar-winning editors and production designers to producers and screenwriters — here are some of the biggest takeaways from our recent interviews.
Over the past year, here at PremiumBeat we’ve been lucky enough to speak with some industry-leading creatives and filmmakers. At one point, these rock stars were right where you are now, whether that’s just starting out or creating your next feature. Whatever your filmmaking goals may be, these masters of the craft have given us some truly excellent advice.
Here are some of our favorite quotes from our recent interviews.
The Masterful Editing of First Man
Probably one of the best working editors alive, Tom Cross broke down how he tackled the enormous task of cutting First Man. Our talk was long but full of gems for anybody thinking about editing a film.
Black Panther’s Oscar-Winning Production Design
Hannah Beachler is now an Oscar winner. Her work on Black Panther was one of the biggest reasons the film was so darn captivating. Wakanda looked and felt like a place rooted simultaneously in history and fantasy. When asked about the decision and freedom to incorporate vibrant colors in a Marvel film — due in part to the success of Guardians and Thor: Ragnarok — Beachler had the following to say.
Tatiana S Riegel
The Oscar-nominated editor behind I, Tonya dove into why and how an editor must look at their own work — and the importance of knowing when to take others’ opinions.
Patrick J Don Vito
Right before Oscar-nominations were announced, Patrick J. Don Vito detailed what it was like bringing the now Best Picture-winning film to life. He talked in-depth about learning how to let the audience breathe and knowing when to let the scene play out.
Stacey Schroeder
We spoke with the editor of Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Need I say more? The Disaster Artist was easily one of the most complicated films to make in recent memory, but somehow the team pulled it off — and then some. Stacey is slowly becoming one of the most sought-after editors in the business and The Disaster Artist is a testament to her talent for blending genres and managing expert pacing.
Ernie Gilbert
Ernie Gilbert is regular collaborator with Hiro Murai and Donald Glover. That was enough to stop me dead in my tracks. Ernie’s brilliance as an editor and storyteller are on full display in “This is America.”
Adam Salky
One of the finest directed movies in recent memory, I Smile Back is a tragic and narrative masterpiece. We sat down with Adam to talk about his approach to editing, shooting indie projects with little time, and working with actors.
Matt Kennedy
Look, I’ll get right to the point: this dude shoots BTS and stills for Marvel movies. I mean, come on! How cool is that? We spoke with him about his process and working with studios. (The picture up there under Hannah Beachler’s section at the beginning of this article . . . check out the photo credit.)
Dan Morocco
Starting out as an assistant to Alexandre Desplat, Javier Navarette now scores Brooklyn Nine-Nine. This creative genius creates the iconic score with the images right before his eyes. We spoke with him about taking those first steps and how he finds inspiration.
Bradley Olsen
Bradley Olsen‘s seemingly niche documentary about Final Cut Pro’s transition to the fateful Final Cut Pro X is much more intricate and accessible than its subject matter suggests. Olsen hopes that a documentary like this might one day help change some minds and open possibilities for future editors.
Patricia Resnick
Having worked with Robert Altman and contributed to one of the best shows ever created, Mad Men, Patricia Resnick is a powerhouse writer that has had some truly inspiring and unbelievable experiences. We were lucky enough to speak with her about how the pitch process works for screenplays these days. Be sure to check out the rest of the interview for some of her awesome stories, like dancing with the First Lady.
Toby Halbrooks
One of the fastest rising producers in Hollywood and on the Indie film circuit, Toby Halbrooks is one of the most hard-working filmmakers around. Having worked on both micro-budget short films and Disney blockbusters, Halbrooks gave us his take on why keeping your cool and trusting your team is key to being a successful producer.