Kill Your Darlings

“Good editing is like good sex,” affirms editor and director Susan Korda (The Darkest Days). “You create an expectation in your audience – and then you fulfil it.” Tracing finished film scenes from Bonnie and Clyde and Jaws back to the initial “Oh, shit!” experience in the editing room, Korda reveals how the magic of brave editing can create a gratifying cinematic experience from what initially appears to be a collection of mistakes. Sharing tools learnt from Walter Murch and Michael Rabiger, Susan demystifies the editing room and demonstrates how to “kill your darlings,” the critical ability to surrender preconceived preferences. Yelling “Cut!” never felt so good.