Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetle-Edited! (feat. Editor Jay Prychidny)
Get ready to scream with laughter (and maybe just a little bit of fright)! This spooky season, Finding the Frame kicks off with the strange, unusual, and utterly delightful. Join your hosts Chris Haigh and Steven Napolitano as they sit down with the incredibly talented Jay Prychidny, CCE, the editor behind Tim Burton’s wildly anticipated sequel, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.
This isn’t just about jump scares and striped suits. Jay takes us on a journey through his career, from his childhood fascination with film to his collaborations with visionary directors. He spills the secrets behind the editing magic of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, revealing how he captured the film’s unique blend of manic energy, heartfelt emotion, and visual spectacle. Plus, he shares a surprising revelation that will have you shouting, “It’s Showtime!” (or maybe just “It’s Bob!”).
FROM VHS SPLICER TO HOLLYWOOD EDITOR: JAY’S JOURNEY TO THE CUTTING ROOM
Jay’s path to becoming a film editor began, as it does for many of us, with a childhood love of movies. But Jay wasn’t just watching films; he was dissecting them. He was fascinated by how stories were constructed, and how shots were pieced together to create an emotional impact. This led him to experiment with splicing VHS tapes, creating his own mini-trailers and mashups. It was clear from a young age that Jay had a knack for visual storytelling.
“From a very young age, I was just fascinated by movies,” Jay shares. “I loved watching films, and probably about when I was about eight or nine, I was just hooking up VCRs together and splicing movies… making my own pseudo trailers.”
This early experimentation evolved into writing scripts and directing his friends in homemade films. While he initially thought he’d pursue directing, he discovered a deeper passion for the art of editing during his university years. It was in the editing room where he truly felt at home, shaping narratives and crafting performances.
BEYOND BEETLEJUICE: EXPLORING JAY’S DIVERSE FILMOGRAPHY
Jay’s talent for crafting compelling stories through editing isn’t limited to the world of the afterlife. He’s also lent his skills to a range of projects, including the critically acclaimed Netflix series Wednesday.
Wednesday, courtesy of Netflix
In the Wednesday series, Jay masterfully captured the show’s dark humor and gothic atmosphere, perfectly complementing Jenna Ortega’s iconic portrayal of the titular character. He discusses the challenges of editing a performance that relies heavily on subtle nuances and facial expressions, highlighting the importance of emotional awareness as an editor.
“So much of editing is connected with human emotion,” Jay explains. “To be a successful editor, you really need to be kind of emotionally aware and emotionally open, and just allow yourself to feel what the footage, what emotions the footage is generating.”
Scream VI, courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Of course, we can’t forget his work on Scream VI, where he navigated the complexities of a beloved horror franchise, balancing fan expectations with fresh, innovative ideas. Jay’s ability to seamlessly blend genres and tones is a testament to his versatility as an editor.
COLLABORATING WITH A VISIONARY: INSIDE THE EDITING ROOM WITH TIM BURTON
Working with a director like Tim Burton is a dream for many filmmakers, and Jay offers a fascinating glimpse into this collaborative process. He describes Burton’s hands-on approach to editing, visiting the cutting room multiple times a day during filming and providing constant feedback.
Behind the scenes of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery
“He’s very involved in editorial, like every day of the shoot,” Jay reveals. “If he had time, he would come to editing like two or three times a day if he was able to.”
Jay also discusses the challenges of working with Burton’s limited coverage. This contrasts with the abundance of footage he received from the directors of Scream VI. This required a different approach to editing, relying more on careful shot selection and subtle adjustments to create the desired effect.
“BOB” THE BREAKOUT STAR: A HAPPY ACCIDENT
One of the most delightful surprises of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice is the emergence of Bob, the lovable (and slightly dimwitted) shrunken head employee. What makes this even more delightful? Jay himself provides the voice of Bob!
This unexpected role came about when the sound designers were struggling to find the right voice for the shrunken head characters. Frustrated, they turned to Jay, who had a clear understanding of Tim Burton’s vision.
“The sound designer just got fed up and he was like, ‘You understand Tim, you know what he’s talking about. You just do it,'” Jay recalls. “So I just went in the booth and I just recorded all of Bob’s bits.”
And the rest, as they say, is history. Bob has become a fan favorite, proving that sometimes the best creative decisions happen spontaneously.
MORE THAN JUMP SCARES: THE NUANCES OF EDITING “BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE”
Jay delves into the specific techniques he used to create the film’s distinctive style. He discusses the use of abrupt transitions. These are often accompanied by jarring sound effects or music cues, to reflect Beetlejuice’s chaotic energy. He also highlights the importance of subtle physicality in the “land of the living” scenes. To do so, they capture the characters’ grief and trauma through nuanced movements and gestures.
“A lot of the characters do have this kind of morose energy,” Jay observes. “I became very fascinated by that, just like the moments where the actors have these kind of subtle, kind of quiet, introspective moments.”
Jay also reveals the challenges of managing the film’s multiple narrative threads. Thus, ensuring that each storyline flows seamlessly into the next. He discusses the use of visual transitions and thematic connections to create a cohesive narrative experience.
And of course, no discussion of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice would be complete without mentioning the unforgettable “MacArthur Park” wedding sequence. Jay breaks down the creative process behind this musical mashup, revealing how he and Tim Burton deconstructed and reassembled the song to create a truly unique cinematic experience.
This episode of Finding the Frame is a must-listen for any filmmaker interested in the art of editing, the collaborative process of filmmaking, and the magic of bringing a beloved character back to life (or should we say, afterlife?). A special shoutout to Jay Prychidny, CCE for sitting down with us. Tune in now and get ready to be inspired!
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