Wednesday, February 25, 1998
Editor in Chief
FILM: UCLA professor and film editor Richard Marks is at the top
of his field with a fourth Oscar nomination. Will he win or will
this be as good as it gets?
By Laura Noguera
Daily Bruin Contributor
Fifteen years ago Terms of Endearment was a big Academy Award
winner, taking five Oscars. This year As Good As it Gets, has been
nominated for seven awards. Besides sharing the label of
sentimental comedy, these movies also share three people a
director, actor and editor: James Brooks, Jack Nicholson and
Richard Marks, respectively.
Many may be familiar with the multi-Academy Award winning
director and actor, Brooks and Nicholson. But as both a renowned
editor and a UCLA professor in the television and film production
department, Marks may also get to add the coveted Academy
Award-winning prefix to his slightly less familiar name.
Marks is currently in contention for the Oscar in the Best Film
Editing category for his work on As Good As It Gets.
Its very thrilling, Marks says. When you finish working on a
project that consumed well over a year of my life, its nice to get
recognition.
This is Marks fourth Oscar nomination; he received his last film
editing nomination in 1988 for Broadcast News. He was also a
nominee for the films Apocalypse Now and Terms of Endearment.
Despite his impressive editing history, Marks has never won an
Oscar. Editing mostly comedies and dramas, Marks impairs his
chances at victory. Those genres are not usually considered, much
less winners of the Best Film Editing category. In fact, action
films traditionally dominate.
I think (action films) editing styles are a little flashier,
Marks says. Or perhaps its more obvious for an audience to look and
say, Oh, that was edited well.
But the Academy Award film editing nomination process is done by
a panel of film editors who are familiar with the subtleties of the
job, making the nomination an honor presented by peers.
In the case of drama/comedy which is what As Good As It Gets is,
recognition of film editing is not always done, Marks says. So I
think it is particularly gratifying for me to be nominated this
year.
Marks did not foresee his successful film editing career while
in college. Attending New York University, Marks became interested
in film but received a degree in English literature.
It had nothing to do with film. I just sort of slid into working
in film in a very serendipitous way, Marks says.
Marks started in the industry doing low-paying entry-level work
in commercial editorial houses as opposed to a start in
academia.
My first break was carrying film cans around New York City,
Marks says.
Since then, Marks has progressed to become an Oscar-quality
editor, working closely with director James Brooks. Together, Marks
and Brooks have completed three potential Oscar sweepers.
I think that Ive done more films with Jim (Brooks) than any
other single director, Marks says. You start to be able to
anticipate the other persons thoughts.
Marks relationships with directors allow him to bring out the
best in films. In the editing room, Marks senses the performance
and the mood it conveys.
In Richards case, what makes him especially good is his
sensitivity to the emotion of the moment, says Howard Suber,
co-chair of UCLAs Independent Television and Film Producers
Program. He makes actors look brilliant.
In UCLAs film production program, all students are expected to
edit their own films. For 10 years, Marks has taught advanced
editing courses.
Richie enlightens us with the editing process, says Joe
Neulight, a graduate student in the directing program.
Marks peers on the faculty feel similarly about his talent and
teaching ability.
Hes in a very enviable position and were really extraordinarily
lucky to have him, Suber says. Given how much professional demand
is placed around his time and energy, its a wonder he has time to
continue teaching.
Although Marks is extremely busy, he was at home the morning the
Academy Award nominations were released. Marks and his wife were
waiting near their phone, hoping it would ring.
The Academy Award nominations come out so early in the morning,
Marks says. You sort of know if your phone rings that youve gotten
the nomination and if it doesnt ring, you know you havent.
On the morning the nominations were released, Marks was among
others in the film industry waiting for the most important phone
call of the year. Was he expecting that fateful phone call?
The truth is you try not to think about it, Marks says. You
always hope that it will happen, but really if you are sane at all,
you try not to think about those things.
TriStar Pictures
Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt both received Academy Awards
nominations this year for their roles in As Good As it Gets.
TriStar Pictures
(Left to right) Jack Nicholson, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Greg
Kinnear engage in a neighborly feud in a film nominated for
multiple Oscars, including Best Film Editing.