Editor Courtney Ware cut the Tribeca film Acidman, which follows Maggie (Dianna Agron) as she tracks down her estranged and reclusive father (Thomas Haden Church) in a desperate effort to repair their relationship. It was directed by Alex Lehmann, shot by DP John Matysiak and posted at Tunnel Post.
postPerspective had the pleasure of interviewing Ware — at Sundance in 2019 and 2020 — about her work on the films Light From Light and Miss Juneteenth, respectively.
We reached out to Ware, who is also a writer, director and producer, once more to talk about Acidman.
Courtney Ware
How early did you get involved on the film?
I’ve worked closely with producer Liz Cardenas in the past, and it was she who initially contacted me about the project. I really connected with the script, so when Alex and I spoke for the first time I was excited that we were on the same page. We just clicked creatively, and I was officially brought on the project before filming began.
What direction were you given for the edit? How often was Alex taking a look at your cut?
Working with Alex was a dream collaboration. His process could be defined as all about “discovery,” and that’s how we both approached the edit. There was a lot of room for improvisation (and therefore, discovery) within the actors’ dialogue and performances through the framing of the script. So we didn’t discuss much during the assembly stage as he was interested in seeing what spoke to me. This gave me a lot of freedom to try things.
We then had extensive conversations after watching the first cut and dove into each individual scene. We would discuss his intention, other performance choices the actors gave and what I connected with. It was exciting to have the freedom and ability to explore what we had and shape the narrative. We worked together in person for about a week, but the rest of the edit was done remotely through screen sharing.
Where were you based when working remotely?
I worked in my studio in Dallas while Alex was in LA.
Was there a particular scene or scenes that were most challenging? If so, why? And how did you overcome that challenge?
There is a scene near the end of the film that changed significantly from the first cut to the final cut. We realized that the actors were giving us some incredible takes of a defining moment, and we ended up stripping almost all of the dialogue and instead carried the scene completely through their looks. Recutting that scene and seeing it work so well was really challenging…and really exciting.
Courtney Ware’s editing setup in Dallas.
What system did you use to cut, and is there a tool within that system that you find yourself calling on over and over?
I use Adobe Premiere to edit, and I found myself using After Effects and Content Aware Fill a lot on this project. I mainly used it to try out a visual effect or to see if something would work.
One great example of this: There is a dog (Migo) in the film. In one take, he didn’t quite clear the frame and was (adorably) distracting. We ultimately ended up not using that particular take, but it was so useful to essentially remove him from the edge of frame to see if that take was a viable option. It gave us some extended flexibility on takes that otherwise might not have been usable.
How did you manage your time?
I’m extremely deadline-driven. I generally know how long something will take me to attack, and I work backwards from when it’s due. We had a few touchstone dates that kept us on track.
Did you have an assistant editor on this?
I did not have an assistant editor on this project. But I do believe that AEs can be great collaborators, not just there to lend a technical hand.
How do you manage producers’ expectations with reality/what can really be done?
This boils down to communication. It’s important that the producers communicate their expectations and are capable of hearing why we can achieve something or not. It’s always my goal to attempt anything (within reason) and not to shut down any requests. It is equally important to clearly explain any reasons or examples for why or why not something can be done.
How do you manage your time? Do you manage expectations or try everything they ask of you?
For me, I feel like it’s a combination of both. Again, I am very open to trying things. So it comes down to knowing yourself enough to communicate any limitations or timing issues.
How do you take criticism? Do you find yourself defensive or accepting of others’ ideas (good and bad)?
I prefer to look at criticism as a conversation. Every idea is on the table, including my own. I like to use language around criticism like what “works” and what “doesn’t work.” If something isn’t working, then I definitely want to figure out what to do to get it to work.
Finally, any tips for those just starting out?
I think all editors should direct and edit their own project at least once. I have gained so much perspective and become a better editor by directing. Editing is so much about solving puzzles and problems. Having the opportunity to solve the puzzle that you created yourself — well that will teach you more than you think.
