‘Wicked‘ Editor Reveals Challenges of Juggling Tone Between Musical Numbers and Dramatic Scenes
LOS ANGELES, CA – Editing the highly anticipated Wicked and Wicked: for Good proved a notable creative challenge, requiring a constant shift in tone and narrative focus, according to editor Wyatt Smith. Smith detailed the complexities of seamlessly transitioning between vibrant musical sequences like “Popular” and emotionally intense scenes such as ”No Good deed” in a recent interview.
The dual-film project, shot simultaneously and out of chronological order, demanded a meticulous approach to maintain both the overall story arc and the distinct emotional landscape of each moment. Smith emphasized the crucial collaboration with cinematographer Alice Brooks, noting thier daily conversations about the evolving feel of the film. “Alice Brooks and I, the cinematographer, we woudl talk at the end of every day of shooting, and I would say, ’You know, this is really different, right? Like, this is a completely different film.’ And she was like,’that’s what we’re going for,'” Smith recalled.
Beyond visual considerations, Smith also worked closely with director Jon M. Chu to ensure a cohesive understanding of the characters’ journeys. “And I would have to talk through with Jon and make sure that I understood the arc of these characters,” he explained. The non-linear shooting schedule further compounded the difficulty, requiring the cast and crew to constantly track their place within the larger narrative.
Despite the demanding process, which Smith described as ”a bit of a brain fry,” the final result has been met with enthusiasm from audiences. Wicked is currently available for streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription,while Wicked: For Good is playing in theaters now.
