#481 – Cut/daily Meets... Editor Affonso Gonçalves
Affonso Gonçalves is the editor behind the highly lauded Hamnet, directed by the double Oscar-winning Chloé Zhao.
The film's emotional impact, driven by some outstanding performances, is making waves in this season's awards conversations.
Reviewing Affonso's credits on IMDB, one thing that stood out to me is just how busy he is, having cut several features each year, all while working with esteemed directors such as (long-time collaborator) Jim Jarmusch, Walter Salles, Todd Haynes, and Benh Zeitlin, to name just a few.
These collaborations include:
- Hamnet
- May December
- Don't Worry Darling
- Wendy
- Dark Waters
- Paterson
- True Detective (x4 episodes)
- Beasts of the Southern Wild
My biggest takeaway?
“Watch a lot of films and, when you like one, watch it again.”
So often, I don't take the time to go back and figure out why something worked so well, to actually learn from it through repeat viewings.
Which reminds me... #011 - Three ways to watch a movie (intentionally)
Discover more editorial wisdom here.
What’s your daily work routine?
When I was working on Hamnet, I would get to the cutting room early in the morning and watch the footage for whatever scene I was about to work on.
I would take detailed notes and, once I was done, I would cut that scene.
Usually, I would do a couple of passes and move on to the next scene, and I did this till I had gone through the entire movie.
What do you now know about your work that you wish you’d known when you first started?
Probably manage the time better.
To plan the day ahead, before I start, and to actually plan the week before I start to cut. This simple step would have made for much better time management.