We have been enjoyed a restful week since wrapping principal photography on The Spy Who Knew Me. Soon, we'll start the complicated process of editing all of this raw footage into one cohesive movie. With two cameras running at all times filming our actors from a variety of angles, there is a lot of film to go through (for The Curse of the Tempest Jewel, we had almost 70 HOURS of footage). An editor's job it to sift through all of this and find the best pieces of film - not just based on our actors' performances, but also the sound, picture, framing, and how it fits with the shots next to it. Editing our movies is extra complicated because of our method a dropping in actors - we have to make sure that our teaching artists' voices are taken out but that the actors don't have dead space in their line delivery. Needless to say, it's a big job. Fortunately, we have someone with lots of experience. Our editor for this movie not only worked extensively with us for The Curse of the Tempest Jewel (and worked under a TIGHT deadline to get that film finished)!, but he also served as a camera op on the set for us, so he knows this project inside out. We can't wait to see what he comes up with (and the fun special effects he's building for our laser and spy gadgets)
MEET BROCK!
Name: Brock Alter (Editor)
Birthday: March 30, 1987
Hometown: Vero Beach, Florida
What’s your job when you’re not with us?: I work in the Video and Automations departments at Blue Man Group and also design projections for theatres around Chicago.
How long have you been working with ABLE?: The Spy Who Knew Me is my second project with ABLE, the first being The Curse of the Tempest Jewel.
Why did you start working with ABLE? Had you worked with people with special needs before?: Some mutual friends at Li’l Buds Theatre Company had worked with ABLE before and put us into contact to make the first movie.
Favorite ABLE memory from class or performance?: In Tempest Jewel some of the ensemble would venture off script or reinvent the blocking and some of those adlibs will stick with me forever.
What’s your favorite way to perform (Acting? Singing? Dancing?): Only one of these do I do in public, and it’s dancing, and even then it has to be really dark in the club.
Do you have a hidden talent?: I sneeze like a duck. Is that a talent?
Who is your favorite actor/performer? What do you like about them?: Ben Mendelsohn’s performance in Season 1 of Bloodline was the greatest thing I’ve seen. I haven’t seen Season 2 yet, so shhh no spoilers.
What’s your go-to dance party song?: Underworld’s “Rez” can lift me up any time I hear it.
If you won a million dollars, what would you do?: Probably pay off some student loans (mine and my friends) and then make some cool art, then travel.
What else to add?: Shout out to my pets! Both past and future!
