Editor John Dingfield of Cutters steps up to answer Five Questions.
1. What are you working on today?

Aside from my commercial work, I’m editing a short film called “Bodega” for director Brian Billow, and working on a sitcom pilot in my spare time.

2. What have you found is the best tool or innovation that has come out in the last year?

I think the most interesting innovations right now are happening with content delivery. Obviously, there’s the rise of YouTube, and the video content available on iTunes. I think Apple has made a pretty bold statement with their new release of the Mac mini. It’s meant to be a media server, but they’re essentially saying, “We’re not interested in adding a TV tuner or DVR, because in the near future, all of your content will come from the web… preferably from us.” If Apple happens to be right, we need to figure out where we fit into the picture.

3. The project (film, television, commercial or music video) that most impressed you in the last year? Why?

I’m a big fan of Wholphin, a DVD “magazine” that comes out quarterly. It’s made by the same fine folks that publish McSweeney’s Quarterly. Anyway, their mission is to find the best rare and unseen short films and get them out there; the last issue had short pieces by Errol Morris, Bob Oedenkirk, and Steven Soderbergh, among others. Not every film in the magazine is a gem, but there are always one or two astounding images that stay with me. I can’t wait for my next issue.

4. The best or favorite project that you worked on in the past year? And why?

The coolest thing happened recently. I did a really great McDonald’s project for DDB Chicago, helmed by Mark Gilbert at Biscuit. The creative was deadpan funny, and unusual for McDonald’s. The best part was that after the creatives and I were finished with the cut, there were no picture revisions. None. I’m still expecting to get a phone call from the client….

5. Name the top 4 artists on your iPod?

Nouvelle Vague
Lee “Scratch” Perry
Neko Case
Antonio Carlos Jobim

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Recent Project
Cutters Editor John Dingfield Makes Corelle Unbreakably Funny
Corelle has a new line of beautiful, elegant, durable product ‘ perhaps more durable than the model who takes a plate out with her on the “Runway.”

“I loved that this project included a fashion/beauty component, a sexy, stylish attitude that is usually not part of the comedy work I’m known for,” said Dingfield, who has worked with director Chuck Bennett of Big Lawn Films numerous times.

“I’m really glad John was available to cut this spot,” said Bennett. “He was perfect for this.”

Timing was a huge factor on this project, the editor explained. “There’s a big turning point in the humor, as it’s a one-joke setup and the first part has to be sexy, slick, and convincing. Then, right after the VO, you pull the rug out from under the viewer ‘ and the model.”

Dingfield said there was a conscious effort on his part in the rhythm of the edit, to let the model have her own personality and confidence ‘ perhaps even overconfidence ‘ to contrast with the pratfall. The tumble was shot from many angles, but Dingfield and Bennett ultimately felt it was funniest not to edit the fall but to let it happen naturally. “When you see the moment in its entirety and it works that well,” Dingfield concluded, “the best thing an editor can do is let it play.”

CREDITS:

Agency: Cramer-Krasselt ‘ Milwaukee
Creative Director: Chris Buhrman
Art Director: Jim Root
Copywriter: Sandy DerHovsepian
Agency Producer: Dinah Goris

Production Company: Big Lawn Films/Santa Monica
Director: Chuck Bennett
DP: Pancho Alcaine
EP: Andrew Denyer
Producer: Andrew Denyer

Editorial: Cutters
Editor: John Dingfield
Assistant Editor: Charles Moore
Producer: Patrick Casey

Post/Effects: SOLdesignfx/Chicago
Producer: Megan Mitra-Maples
Sound Design/Audio Post: Another Country/Chicago
Sound Designer: John Binder
Mixers: John Binder, Ben Keller