Editor Melissa Kent weaves the tense real-life story that drew the attention of the entire nation
Hula Post recently provided editorial systems, facilities and support to editor Melissa Kent for her work on Captive, Paramount Pictures’ new thrilling drama. Kent spent six months cutting the film at Hula’s Burbank facility, followed by an additional two weeks on Paramount Pictures lot in Hollywood. Hula provided Avid workstations and storage at both sites.
Directed by Jerry Jameson (Last Flight Out) and starring David Oyelowo (Selma) and Kate Mara (House of Cards), Captive centers on Brian Nichols who captured national attention in 2005 when he broke out of a Georgia courthouse after killing a judge and three other people. He subsequently took Ashley Smith, a single mother, hostage and held her for several hours before surrendering to authorities.
The movie tells the story with gripping realism. The first minutes of the film, when Nichols makes his escape, features intense action with almost no dialogue. Much of the balance of the film occurs in Smith’s small apartment where the ratcheting anxiety is heightened by the flowing camerawork of cinematographer Luis David Sansans.
Kent enhances the dramatic tension with an editorial approach that is deliberate, but understated. “My job is to be responsive to the actors, and David Oyelowo and Kate Mara are amazing,” she observes. “Although playing a killer, David brought a deep humanity to Brian Nichols, and Kate was wonderfully subtle and expressive.”
“The film is very dynamic in the way it was shot; the camerawork is completely hand-held and constantly in motion,” Kent adds. “Once Brian takes Ashley hostage in her apartment, the camerawork heightened the frenetic energy of Brian, and contrasted well with the stillness of Ashley.”
Kent notes that the support she received from Hula Post freed her from technology concerns and allowed her to focus on storytelling. “Hula bends over backwards to make the environment very pleasant and conducive to creativity,” she says.
Kent, who reviewed historical records including the 9-1-1 call from the incident as part of her preparation, notes that the real-life events were always on her mind. “It’s an intense story and makes for an exciting, compelling movie,” she says, “and is all the more powerful and tragic because it is true.”
About Hula Post Production
For nearly 20 years, Hula Post has provided exceptional equipment rental services to the post production and broadcast communities. With offices in Burbank and West Los Angeles, we are the industry leader in customized workflow solutions. We offer a large inventory of editorial and finishing systems, storage solutions, and support gear, and we back it up with the most experienced and knowledgeable support team in the industry. Whether you need a single system or a complex, customized workflow to take you from production through post, we can provide you with the tools to meet your technical requirements, budget and production schedule.
For more information, visit http://hulapost.com.
2024 AICP Awards Tour Concludes with Stops in Dallas and Chicago
The 2024 AICP Awards Tour concludes with stops in Dallas and Chicago this month as it wraps up its tour of cities across the U.S. The National Tour brought presentations, panels and screenings to marketers, advertising agencies, production and post production companies. The AICP Awards will be in Dallas on Thursday, November 14th, at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, followed by the Chicago event, set for Thursday, November 21st at The Old Post Office. Tickets are available now for both events at www.aicp.com. In Dallas, the program kicks off at 6:45 pm with a happy hour, followed by the screening and panel discussion at 7:30. The evening ends with a networking reception from 8:30 to 11:30. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas. Appearing in Dallas will be Abe Garcia, Chief Creative Officer, Dieste; Julia Melle, Director of Brand and Content, Southwest Airlines; and Isaac Pagán Muñoz, VP, Executive Creative Director of PepsiCo Foods. The panel will review selected winners from the suite of the AICP Awards programs, offering insights into what made them rise to the top of their respective categories and share their viewpoints on key trends in the industry. The Chicago stop starts at 6:00pm with a happy hour, followed by the presentation and screening at 7:00pm. A reception caps the event, starting at 8:00pm and concluding at 11:30pm. The Old Post Office is located at 433 W Van Buren Street in Chicago. The panel there will feature 2024 AICP Awards Curators and Winners from the marketer, agency, production and post production sectors who’ll highlight this year’s winners. The conversation will include a discussion about the winning work, including insights... Read More