Editor of Memento Dody Dorn 'Editing is meant to be an invisible craft'

Dody Dorn is an award winning veteran features editor who has been nominated for an Oscar for her work on Christopher Nolan's Momento. She has worked with the best directors and cast in the industry from Ridley Scott and William Monahan to Al Pacino and Hilary Swank. Dody has edited hollywood blockbusters such as Insomnia, Kingdom of Heaven and Australia.

Dody started off her career in numerous production jobs before finding a passion for post production in sound and film editing. Step2Inspire are proud to have interviewed such a legendary editor who can give you advice on an industry she has truly mastered. We salute you Ms Dorn!

1. What made you want to get into the TV/Film industry?

I came into the business as someone who needed a job to pay the rent more than as a career. Once working in film, I fell in love with it, especially the alchemy of editing.

2. How did you get your foot in the door?

Growing up in LA, there were a lot of entry-level jobs that I could do to earn a paycheck. I took on work as a production assistant, location manager, production coordinator, and assistant to the producer, among other jobs, as a means of getting a sample of all the crafts. Once I landed in post-production, I found my passion and never looked back.

3. How did you gain the necessary skills to be an editor? (education, training, career progression e.t.c.)

All of my training was through practical experience. I learned the skills needed to be an assistant film editor by reading books, grilling other friends who were assistants, calling rental houses to learn names of the gear and how it worked, a lot of trial and error, and elbow grease. I was also keen to work in as many formats and work environments as possible to always keep learning and broadening my skills.

4. What has been the highlight of your career and why?

Editing MEMENTO was a highlight because the editing plays such a big role in the telling of the story. Traditionally, editing is meant to be an invisible craft, but in MEMENTO, the editing is part of the story. Figuring out how to do that elegantly was a very gratifying challenge.

5. What are the positives & negatives of being an editor?

Editing is an exciting blend of the creative and the technical. It is exhilarating to put two pieces of film together and create meaning through that. You might have an idea of what the impact of such juxtapositions will be, but until you do it, you don’t really know. And adjusting things by a frame here and a frame there can really make a difference. It is a constant experience of discovery. It is also inspiring to work closely with a director and have the healthy battle of ideas that creates a spark and an inspiration that might not have come if either the editor or the director had been working on their own. The negative about being an editor is that as it is a completely collaborative art, you can’t exercise your craft without someone trusting you enough to let you get your hands on their material. As a result, it is difficult to break in. The editor plays such a pivotal role, that few filmmakers are willing to take a risk on an untried person without a track record.

6. What are you currently working on?

LONDON BOULEVARD directed by William Monahan

7. Give us one harsh truth about the industry?

Until you have worked on something people have heard of, you may have trouble getting a job.

8. What is the best advice someone gave you when you started out?

Figure out what you want to do and do it as often as you can on projects you love.

9. What advice would you give to someone hoping to become an editor?

Edit as often as possible with people you like and on projects you believe in.

10. What should a new entrant expect from the TV/Film industry?

It is an exciting and highly competitive environment so expect to work hard. Don’t give up when you encounter small set-backs. If working in TV or film is your passion, with a combination of luck and hard work, you can hope to connect with like-minded people who you can work with to manifest their vision.

11. Is there anything else you would like to add to inspire newcomers to the industry?

Keep your eyes and ears open. New ideas and approaches to the art are valid. Film is a constantly changing medium. Stay fresh by being a student of life. All experiences help you to become a person who can add to the creative process. Don’t worry about getting comfortable. Stay focused on being creative, collaborative and telling a good story.