Sally Menke (1953–2010)

How could I miss this? Three days ago Sally Menke passed away. She was the editor and notable collaborator of Quentin Tarantino’s films. Her skills in the editing room are responsible for our feelings of tension, suspense, fright, relief, as we watch Taratino’s filmography. Every time you re-watch the standoff on Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction’s “Ezekiel 25:17” prologue, the money exchange on Jackie Brown or the first chapter of Inglourious Basterds you’ll be remembering Sally’s masterful craft.

Editors are, in many ways, unspoken heroes of the filmmaking process. In some cases, a special partnership forms between director and editor. That’s the case with Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker. For Tarantino, Sally was his collaborator. The one.

Quentin Taratino in a “Death Proof” behind the scenes interview (video below):

«I’m a writer-director and the editing process and the writing process are very married to each other. They’re very connected. So much so, that I truly feel that the final draft of the script is actually the first cut of the movie and the final cut of the movie is the last draft of the script. This is the stuff that needs to be in there to tell your story.

And I don’t write with anybody, I write by myself. But when it comes to the editing I write with Sally.»

Here’s an interview she gave to The Editor’s Guild Magazine.

Taratino’s Death Proof interview and “Hi Sally”s:

» Inglourious Basterds’ “Hi Sally”s video on youtube

Terrible loss.

(via neven mrgan’s tumbl)