E133 - Demystifying Editing with BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Mdhamiri Á Nkemi

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by the prodigiously gifted editor Mdhamiri Á Nkemi. A BAFTA Breakthrough Brit and Screen Daily Star of Tomorrow, he has a long list of credits which includes The Last Tree by Shola Amoo, Blue Story by Rapman and Ear for Eye by Debbie Tucker Green. With a natural sense of story and rhythm, we do a deep dive with Mdhamiri on the craft of editing. This conversation includes:

 

-His journey into editing.

-How he chooses his collaborators.

-What are the first conversations with a director like?

-The process of assembling a first cut.

-How do you navigate notes?

-What does he bring to a project?

-Can an editor have a style?

-What does the future hold?

 

Born in Hammersmith, up until the age of 12 Mdhamiri had his heart set on becoming an author, but on discovering that his friend’s new camera had a video mode, that love of storytelling transferred to making films and he began them from there, often playing every role himself. 

He took part in the inaugural BFI Film Academy scheme for young aspiring filmmakers’ and subsequently studied editing at the National Film and Television School.

His first credit came on an independent feature called A Moving Image, Directed by Shola Amoo and produced by Rienkje Attoh, which premiered at BFI London Film Festival.

This led to bigger standout films such as The Last Tree, again with Shola Amoo, Blue Story which was written and directed by Rapman, and Debbie Tucker Green’s Ear for Eye which was recently added to the criterion collection.

 

Nuggets of the week

Marcus: How to direct actors - Directing Advice from the Greats

Oz: Scriptnotes 403 - How to Write a Movie

Mdhamiri: The Servant - Apple TV

 

Credits

Music by Oliver Wegmüller

 

Socials

Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast

Twitter: @DirectorsTake

Mdhamiri Nkemi: Instagram

 

If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.