Avid Technology > Case Studies > Transatlantic Film Editing: The Imitation Game Case Study

Transatlantic Film Editing: The Imitation Game Case Study

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Computer Vision Software
Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms

Applicable Industries

Education
Equipment & Machinery

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Use Cases

Counterfeit Product Identification
Visual Quality Detection

About The Customer

The customer in this case is acclaimed Hollywood editor William ‘Billy’ Goldenberg, ACE. Goldenberg has a long history of crafting intense thrillers, having previously won the 2013 Oscar® for Best Film Editing for Argo. He has also been nominated for several other Academy Awards, including for his work on Seabiscuit (2003) and The Insider (1999). Goldenberg has built strong working bonds with directors Kathryn Bigelow, Ben Affleck, and Michael Bay. He is known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to bring a director's vision to life on the big screen. For The Imitation Game, Goldenberg was tasked with cutting the complex and cryptic storyline, a task made more challenging by the transatlantic divide between the editing team and the director.

The Challenge

The challenge was to overcome a transatlantic divide to bring the OSCAR®-nominated thriller The Imitation Game to life. The film, based on the true story of British cryptanalyst Alan Turing, was set during World War II and required a high level of precision in editing to accurately depict the race against time to crack Nazi Germany's naval Enigma code. The editing team, led by Academy Award-winning editor William Goldenberg, was based in Los Angeles, while the production crew was shooting in various locations around England. This geographical barrier posed significant challenges, including time zone differences and the need for a fast turnaround of footage. Budget constraints meant that the editing team could not travel to the shooting locations, further complicating the process. The team needed to maintain a 24/7 editing operation to keep up with the production schedule.

The Solution

To overcome these challenges, Goldenberg and his team embraced Avid Everywhere, implementing the Avid MediaCentral platform and Media Composer. These tools enabled the team to run a 24/7 editing operation, despite the geographical distance and time zone differences. The footage was sent electronically from the shooting locations in England to the editing base in Santa Monica within a 24-hour timeframe. This allowed the team to work at the same rate that the footage was being captured, ensuring they were on top of the production at all times. Media Composer's versatility allowed Goldenberg to present scenes that looked like finished scenes, complete with stereo sound effects, stereo music, and visual effects. This gave a visual representation to the producers and director of what the finished movie would look like, facilitating collaboration and feedback.

Operational Impact

The use of Avid Everywhere and Media Composer resulted in a highly efficient and effective editing process for The Imitation Game. Despite the geographical logistics, Goldenberg and the director, Morten Tyldum, were able to collaborate closely throughout the production. The ability to present scenes that looked like finished scenes allowed for more effective communication and feedback, leading to a stronger working relationship. The tools also allowed Goldenberg to work instinctually, freeing him up to focus on the creative aspects of the editing process. The willingness to make mistakes and try different things, facilitated by working digitally, brought out some really good ideas and contributed to the success of the film.

Quantitative Benefit

Enabled a 24/7 editing operation despite geographical distance and time zone differences
Allowed for a fast turnaround of footage, with the editing team receiving the footage within a 24-hour timeframe
Facilitated collaboration and feedback by allowing the editing team to present scenes that looked like finished scenes