Eric: Today on Q and Eric, we are joined via satellite by David Ray, editor of such films as the “Bronx Tale”, “Scarface” and “Death of the Salesman”. And, we’re also joined by Steve Nelson, the man who saved me from an alien jacket.
Steve: Now I know the need for act leads, Eric. You know, saving the weak and helpless like yourself is just a patch of something that I do. I just do it.
Eric: Right. Steve, could you maybe scooch over a little bit to the left there, you are a little out of frame.
Steve: Yes I guess. Is that better? That can be an extra $20 for another move. What is so funny Eric? You’re funny and I did not say something, why are you…
Eric: Bing! Wait, what’s that? You are going to have to speak up Steve, I can’t hear you.
Anyways, David, can I call you David?
Okay David, can you tell me a little bit about how you broke into the film industry as an editor.
David: Well, getting in the film industry when I was young was extremely difficult. You cover the movies, you know that these actors are famous about where do they live, where do they come from, how do they get them on the film, how is that voice recorded, how is it all put together. I think particularly, young people have a lot of information about how that is done today. In my day, it was a total mystery. It was just out there, it was like magic.
I grew up in London, in England. And there, it was even more difficult. The unions had a very tight control of the industry and it was the old cash 22. You can’t be hard in the union. And, the union would not give you membership unless you got a job. That is much less the case today.
Eric: What do you think is the best way for an aspiring film maker or editor to break into the industry today?
David: Well, I think that maybe one of the best routes is through the independent film debut. A lot of the editors who are younger than I am and that some of them are very prominent and very successful, have – I call that because they attach themselves to directors who have become successful and they are very taunted and go on to make larger films.
When I first got into the business, the only work that there was was for Hollywood studios with very few exceptions. There are few independent films. It was really difficult to get into films and now, I don’t think that it is so difficult. And I think that there are opportunities for towns of people making their first entry into the film industry. And, this includes both directors and technical people, they just did not exist in my day.
I think that there are still a lot more people interested in getting into films that the film industry will never be able to absorb and that is a sad situation but I think that it is true.
On the other hand, the film industry is a wonderful opportunity for everybody. Almost every profession whether you are a house painter or whether you are an accountant, there is a function for you within the film industry.
Eric: What can student film makers do to improve their films?
David: I have been judging a lot of student films. Over the last few years, I have been on the panel judging student academy awards and one of the real weaknesses of the films is sound, sound editing and particularly, the use of music. I feel that it really is not taught very well because it is a little bit obscure. I know how exciting those costumes are or camera work.
Some of the camera work on the student films are just phenomenal with the costumes. But generally, the production in particular is the use of sound is relatively poor. And sometimes, the films are down. Don’t live up to that potential because they lack that polish that are good post production job could give them.
Eric: Okay. David, we’re almost out of time. Are there any final words of wisdom for the indy mogulers out there.
David: Post production, music, using music. Watch how music is used in films. Music is part of the storytelling process. It is not something that you slap over. And, the same with sound effects. Learn to cut track. Learn to cut your dialogue tracks so that it is neat and sound consistent.
Eric: Okay. It looks like we’ve lost David’s satellite feed. I guess we can talk to Steve. So Steve, why don’t you tell us why you love potato salad – Hey! That’s not Steve at all!
Female: I think he’s in the server room.
Steve: I tried to be a team player but was neglected. Now, I have no way of keeping these dark forces at b….
Eric: Steve, What are you doing?
Steve: I’m going to destroy the server so that I can take over Indy Mogul.
Eric: But if you destroy the server, there won’t be an Indy Mogu……
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