DYNAMIC DUOS
KILLER QUEEN Historical drama Mary & George was the duo’s second project together, and tested the
limits of their mutual trust
AW: I think you never know until you try. DEF: HAVE YOU EVER FACED A CREATIVE DIFFERENCE OR DISAGREEMENT, AND HOW DID YOU HANDLE IT? AW: I think the closest we have ever come to disagreeing was on a couple of episodes of Mary & George . There was a scene that Paul really believed had some value. I was scared of disagreeing with him, but I remember at a certain point going ‘I think we have to cut this’. PD: I was like ‘no, but it’s got this thing in it’. However, in an editing environment, the best idea will win, and you have to concede sometimes. AW: There was another scene when Paul was the lone voice saying ‘you can’t cut this, it’s so important’. So we said ‘if Paul’s that convinced about keeping it, leave it in’. Then we look back after it’s released and we’re all thinking ‘how on earth could we have ever thought about cutting that scene?’
respectful of the rushes, and don’t make choices. They try to put it all in, and it’s a disaster. Paul is a gentle, kind soul, but as an editor he’s quite aggressive and assertive. I think that’s a real strength. For example, I’d never used split screens much, but while getting into the online for Somewhere Boy my jaw was on the floor because the online editor was going ‘you’ve got a split screen here, and another one there’. Paul had done all this labour-intensive, technically challenging work without mentioning it. He’d decided that’s what we need the material to do. PD: The thing I love about Alex’s work is his instinct and his feeling about things – it’s so emotionally right. You can’t argue with it because it feels profoundly true to the character or the story. When you find somebody like- minded, it’s like playing with a tennis player who’s better than you; you know you can improve. Working with Alex is like that. That’s what makes it a special experience. I know that, whatever project we attack together, I’m suddenly going to build muscles I didn’t have before.
DEF: WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH ONE ANOTHER? WHAT MAKES YOU SUCH A GREAT TEAM? AW: I have confidence when Paul’s looking at the rushes that it’s the best it can be; there’s not some better version of it lurking in there. You get editors who are almost too WHATEVER we attack together, I AM GOING TO build muscles I DIDN’T HAVE BEFORE”
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DEFINITIONMAGS
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