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Editor David Michael Maurer has Audiences Shrieking with Splinter
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In total, we had reels more than 120 hours long, each with a matching cross convert and down-convert. One of the benefits of using a fully digital, Avid workflow is the fact that, with no film to scan, we could freely select any shot from the film that we wanted to tweak or enhance, and flag it as a visual effect without significant budget implications.
From a technical standpoint, we evaluated whether to use Avid or Final Cut Pro, but Avid’s software was the only reliable and cost-effective solution that could handle the complexity of this project, while providing multiple editing workstations—all on the independent film budget. We used Avid Media Composer 2.7 software on a Mac, and our assistants used Avid Xpress Pro on two Mac Pro laptops with extra hard drives. The Avid systems handled the entire workload, including more than 250 digital enhancements, large and small, with an additional 250 optical shots by the end. Most importantly, the set-up enabled us to review all the material, edit scenes in the field and effectively communicate with the production team to request specific shots. With the film’s fast-paced production, the ability to talk with the crew about incoming elements was critical.
MM: You’ve done a lot of work in reality television. Do you prefer editing reality or fiction? How does your editing process differ from one to the other?
DMM: I enjoy both for different reasons. Reality is in some ways an “editor’s medium,” which is a thrill as the editor has the great responsibility to not only tell the story though visuals, but also to create it in post-production instead of having a full script in the field. The scale of reality is tremendous as well, you screen hundreds of hours of dailies on the Avid and have to be able to recall pieces of shots anywhere on the timeline from memory, it’s very taxing and not for everybody. I’ve had many late nights where a solution pops up in my head on how to fix a scene from a shot that was disconnected by days or even weeks. It’s a tremendous challenge as shots don’t always work together, and events don’t always happen perfectly, so you and your producer are constantly being tested on how creatively you use the footage available. It can be very rewarding when it works.
On the other hand I love doing fiction because I get to focus on the subtlety of performances and experiment with visual style. Although I do get to shape the story, there is a finished script before shooting ever starts and the shots were directed and photographed to be edited. That is bliss for me. I enjoy collaborating with directors and helping them tell the best story they can.
MM: Aside from being an Emmy-nominated editor, you’ve served as an actor, director and producer as well. Which of these roles do you prefer? Do you have any plans to concentrate on more acting, directing or producing anytime soon?
DMM: I studied acting mainly to help my editing and to try to understand what makes or breaks a performance. That said, I enjoy directing a lot because working with actors to me is one of the best parts of the job. I’ve been silently working on behalf of actors to look their best from the edit bay. I’d love to direct a project in the near future to really showcase some great acting performances.
MM: What movies and editors do you admire or look to for inspiration?
DMM: Christopher Rouse is one of my favorite editors; the work he did on The Bourne Ultimatum was incredible. I think Jill Bilcock is so talented and I love what she does with performances and pacing. I also have so much respect for Michael Kahn and his legacy. He’s edited so many of my favorite films and gives me inspiration.
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COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
- Comment by ct divorce attorney on 6/01/09 at 2:07 pm
Hats off to Editor David Michael Maurer for his editing skills that led to the creation of one of the most spine chilling movies of the 21st century - ‘Splinter’. I believe his attention to detail, as well as, his respect for audience’s expectations and the software he used, all culminated to this super hit horrifying experience.
- Comment by David Maurer on 7/10/09 at 4:01 am
Thanks “ct divorce attorney”. What a great compliment. So glad you liked the film. Will try to do some more. -DMM
- Comment by women's on 7/14/09 at 1:24 am
Splinter - Seems to be an effective low budget movie. The start of the movie is great and goes on great until the very end. No boring stuff. Just an entertainer. The storyline is what I did not understand and did not make any sense.
- Comment by Nike air max 90 shoe on 8/12/09 at 10:18 pm
thanks anyway good post and i’d like to share with others.
- Comment by خلفيات on 8/15/09 at 9:57 pm
Thank you for your sharing
- Comment by توبيكات on 8/15/09 at 9:57 pm
Thank you for your sharing
- Comment by Bedava Oyun indir on 12/24/09 at 9:43 am
handsome brothers :) , thx for sharing
- Comment by تحميل الصور on 2/18/11 at 6:12 pm
It was alright, not a standout as of late
- Comment by Okey oyunu on 5/12/11 at 5:45 am
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- Comment by تحميل الصور on 9/13/11 at 1:25 am
Very good
and thank you
hope to see like that again
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