In this episode, I sit down with Parker Laramie, an incredible film editor with two films premiering at Sundance—Andre Is an Idiot and Train Dreams. Parker’s journey from working as a PA to cutting feature films for A24 and Netflix is packed with lessons on resilience, creativity, and navigating the world of film editing. We dive into his experiences editing everything from horror films to award-winning documentaries, the challenges of working on high-profile projects like Allen v. Farrow, and how he balances narrative and documentary storytelling.
If you’re an aspiring editor, filmmaker, or just a fan of behind-the-scenes filmmaking, this episode is full of insights on the craft of editing, the importance of mentorship, and what it takes to get your work onto the big screen. Don’t miss this one!
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to Sundance & Introducing Parker Laramie
00:09 - Parker’s Two Films Premiering at Sundance
00:27 - Editing *Andre Is an Idiot* & *Train Dreams*
00:57 - Breaking into Film Editing & Early Career Struggles
02:15 - Working on *Dancing for the Devil* for Netflix
03:30 - From Short Films to Feature Editing
05:10 - Screening at Sundance for the First Time
07:05 - The Emotional Rollercoaster of Premiere Night
09:30 - The Power of Film Festivals for Distribution
11:50 - Growing Up in LA & Discovering Editing
13:20 - Film School vs. Hands-On Learning
15:05 - Learning Avid & Early Editing Projects
17:30 - Parker’s Journey from PA to Film Editor
19:45 - Editing *Argo* and Learning from the Best
21:55 - The Reality of Long Hours in Editing
24:10 - Working on *Unfriended* & Horror Editing Challenges
26:35 - Transitioning into Documentary Filmmaking
28:50 - Editing *Requiem for a Running Back* & CTE Stories
31:25 - The Importance of Finding Mentorship in Editing
33:10 - How *Ghost Fleet* Led to Editing *Train Dreams*
35:15 - Balancing Documentary and Narrative Films
37:20 - The Challenges of Editing *Allen v. Farrow*
40:00 - The Creative Process in Documentary Storytelling
42:35 - Managing a Career in Both Docs & Narrative Films
45:10 - The Art of Editing for Emotion and Impact
47:50 - Parker’s Workflow & Using Adobe Premiere for Editing
50:20 - What’s Next? Future Projects & Creative Aspirations
52:10 - Advice for Aspiring Editors & Filmmakers
54:00 - Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks