Gonzo Editing
December 27, 2011, 8:33 PM |
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by Eric Lasby, Editor
“Editing is too dangerous, and too sexy,” I warned.
“Write it,” she replied.
“What if I inadvertently sway some vulnerable youth into making the same volatile anti-
establishment career choices that I made? Good god, I can’t be held responsible for the
consequences!”
“Write it Lasby. Write the blog about editing Layover Montreal.”
“See you in Hell,” I smirked.
In the spirit of Hunter Thompson then, I abdicate all responsibility for the effects of this lurid
chronicle of artistic process. I present you with a diary of the edit - my reckless journey of
creative madness - 38 days in total.
Day 1: Start watching footage. There’s a lot of it. Keep watching...
(watch some more)
Day 2: Pick up where left off (watching footage).
Day 3: Depressed by sheer volume of footage, abusively fire three assistants in one day for
making a bad cup of coffee. Give the bird to the big boss. Leave in a huff.
Day 6: Tame the beast - arrange index cards on wall to wrap head around vast amount of
scenes, details, and characters. Drink entire bottle of Single Malt Scotch. Somehow find
desired timeline before passing out...
Day 8: Renowned Montreal chefs Martin Picard, Dave McMillan, Fred Morin, and Normand
Laprise all stop by the office to check on my progress. Offer to personally cook me lunch.
Typical perk. (Note to self: 37 courses a bit heavy mid-week)
Day 9: Surf music library - exhaustively seek and gather all the tracks that have a collective
sound appropriate to the Montreal episode. Sign autographs for editing groupies gathered
outside door.
Day 10: Start day with phone call from Uncle Ned. Rehash same old argument about what it
is I actually do for a living. (“NO, I ALREADY TOLD YOU I DON’T JUST CUT OUT THE BAD
PARTS!”). Put whiskey in morning coffee. Go mentally to the dark place. Throw computer
monitor out 19th floor window...
Day 11: Begin editing - the race to first deadline!
Pontificate to (new) assistant that this phase of editing is like a kind of writing. From all the
available dialogue, footage, narration from Tony, and music, we structure and shape the story.
(80 hours of possible content from 3 cameras are used to make one hour of t.v.). Fire assistant
for nodding off during my lecture.
Day 17: Office Fire! Carry several helpless ZPZ employees down stairwell to safety while still
editing - one handed - on iPhone.
Day 25: First cut submitted. Collapse....await feedback so can re-shape (again!!!).
Day 28: Receive notice I’m to be visited by the Pulitzer committee for my groundbreaking use
of food shots.
Day 30: Submit second cut.
Day 35: Get in a fist fight with Tony about best shot of oysters to use in Act 4. Bloodied, shirt
torn, return heroically to work.
Day 38: PICTURE LOCK! The edit is complete. Inspired by Tony’s travel advice, how
UTTERLY AWESOME the food is in Montreal, and how COOL the chefs are, I immediately
book travel there for my time off (which happens to only be 24 hours)!
Reader’s Note: Editors often enhance where a narrative is felt to be “boring,” or otherwise in
need of some “sweetening” - as they say in the business. Accordingly, some of the events in
this diary may have been exaggerated or added for dramatic effect.
Posted By: anthony bourdain
