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Editor – Nick Houy ACE, VFX Editor – Matt Garner and Apprentice Editor – Maya Rivera
The BARBIE editing team of Nick Houy ACE, Matt Garner and Maya Rivera seemed to have as much fun in the cutting room as what audiences saw on the big screen. Despite this being the first time the three worked together, they described the process of working on BARBIE to be an open, collaborative “family” atmosphere where both personal time and creative contributions were valued.
Stereotypical “Barbie” (Margot Robbie) and a wide range of fellow Barbies all reside in Barbieland, a matriarchal society where all women are self-confident, self-sufficient, and successful. While their Ken counterparts spend their days engaging in recreational activities at the beach, the Barbies hold important positions as doctors, lawyers, and politicians. Beach “Ken” (Ryan Gosling) is only happy when he is with Barbie and seeks a closer relationship, but Barbie rebuffs him in favor of independence and female friendships. Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbieland. However, when they get a chance to go to the “real” world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.
NICK HOUY, ACE
NYC-based Nick Houy is now on his third film with actor/writer/director Greta Gerwig. The two previously teamed up for LADY BIRD (2017) and LITTLE WOMEN (2019). In addition to his work with Gerwig, Nick has also cut for actor/director Jonah Hill on MID90’S (2018) and STUTZ (2022). In 2017, Nick won an Emmy co-editing the first episode of the mini-series THE NIGHT OF alongside editor Jay Cassidy.
MATT GARNER
Coming into his work on BARBIE, Matt brought with him the enviable experience of having worked on three films for director Martin Scorsese; HUGO (2011), THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (2013) and THE IRISHMAN (2019).
MAYA RIVERA
Apprentice editor Maya Rivera’s editorial career had hardly begun and yet she was a valued contributor to the biggest film of 2023. Much of that can be attributed to her initiative in walking up to editor Nick Houy at a screening for LITTLE WOMEN and saying, “I want to work with you”!
Editing BARBIE
In our talk with the BARBIE editing team, we discuss…
- First reactions to a film nobody thought could happen
- Building a better Barbieland
- Barbie vs The Irishman
- Whose baby is this?
- Making things up (music? entire scenes?) as you go along
The Credits
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