As editors, who often live with a film for an extended period of time, it becomes like one of your children. In this segment I ask Chris about sequences from Slumdog he is especially proud of, or ones that hold a special place in his heart. We talk about some of the directors he admires who have influenced him, his fondness for stories told in a non-linear way and how his director Danny Boyle encouraged him to take risks and try new ideas while cutting the film.

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	iPod/iPhone/iPod Touch 640×360	Part I	Part II	Part III	Part IV	Part V
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Today we present Part I of a multi-part series with award winning film editor Chris Dickens. Chris is the recipient of this years “triple crown” of editing awards for his work on “Slumdog Millionaire”, for which he took home the American Cinema Editor’s (A.C.E.) EDDY Award, the British Academy of Film an Television Arts (BAFTA) award and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy Award.

I had a chance to sit down with Chris the Friday before the Academy Awards here in Los Angeles, and although I had a pretty good idea, we didn’t know that two days later he would take home the Oscar. We spoke a bit about his career and went into depth about both the creative and technical aspects of his work on Danny Boyle’s hit film. The project, which was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures received a total of eight Oscar’s at this years ceremonies, an excellent showing for an independent film which was budgeted at around 15 million dollars.

Here in Part I, I ask Chris what drew him to the editing profession and how he got his foot in the door in his native country, the UK.

More from this series
	QuickTime Movie HD 768×432	Part I	Part II	Part III	Part IV	Part V
	iPod/iPhone/iPod Touch 640×360	Part I	Part II	Part III	Part IV	Part V
	Windows Media Format 640×360	Part I	Part II	Part III	Part IV	Part V

On February 19th, USC’s Annenberg School for Communications will be presenting author Scott Kirsner for an exploration of Hollywood’s relationship with innovation — from the days of Thomas Edison to the era of YouTube, the iPod, and the Xbox. This discussion will explore how new technologies and new ideas have shaped the movie industry, and where we’re heading next. Kirsner, author of The Future of Web Video: Opportunities for Producers, Entrepreneurs, Media Companies and Advertisers, and a new book, Inventing the Movies: Hollywood’s Epic Battle Between Innovation and the Status Quo, from Thomas Edison to Steve Jobs. He will be joined by Steve Schklair, CEO, 3ality Digital Systems, Evan and Gregg Spiridellis, Co-founders, JibJab Media and Cliff Plumer, CEO Digital Domain. Following the formal program, there will be time to network and meet the author. This event is part of Dean Wilson’s initiative on Sustainable Innovation, and is produced in collaboration with the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation and the Entertainment Technology Center @ USC. To RSVP click here.

Parking information and directions to campus »

Digital technology is radically changing filmmaking and by extension all media. The future of movies, music, games, social communication is being created as we speak. This Friday and Saturday October 17th and 18th, you are invited to participate in helping to shape what this future might look like.

The team behind the event includes: Ken Goldberg, artist and director of the Berkeley Center for New Media, Boston Globe and Variety columnist Scott Kirsner whose new book”Inventing the Movies” is a must read for anyone interesting in the history and future of the medium, Tiffany Shlain, Filmmaker and Director of “The Tribe”, multi-festival award winner and the #1 downloaded short film at iTunes and Filmmaker and “Cultural Hacker” Lance Weiler, who Wired magazine named “One of twenty-five people helping to re-invent entertainment and change the face of Hollywood.”

The Conversation promises to be an eye opening and fascinating event. Get an idea of what the future has in store for you by registering to attend The Conversation today.

“The overall goal is for The Conversation to be a real exchange of ideas — a gathering of people working on the edge and thinking about the future.”

Scott Kirsner over at Cinematech and several other leading web thinkers want you to be a part of “The Conversation”. Future Forward Events is organizing the 2-day gathering at Berkeley’s Pacific Film Archive Theater October 17th and 18th. The focus of the confab is new creative and business opportunities arising out of the democratization of digital media tools and technologies. Participation from attendees is welcome and encouraged, and there will be an opportunity to present your own work during the Saturday workshop session.

More from “The Conversation” website:

New software is making incredible things possible in visual effects and animation, and also democratizing those fields. Web sites offer to help finance film projects, or share ad revenue with video-makers. Marketing and release strategies are shifting by the minute. High-end high-def cameras are plummeting in price. The connection with the audience is changing. Established ways of doing things just don’t seem to be working anymore, while new opportunities are emerging.

I think this will be an exciting and mind opening event for all attending. We will update you as speakers and workshops are added in the coming months.  Stop by The Conversation Web site for more details on speakers and places to stay in and around the event area.