Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes


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Editor – Rupert Houseman

CHERNOBYL: THE LOST TAPES editor Rupert Houseman is a documentary and drama editor known for his work on; RIOTS: ONE WEEK IN AUGUST (2021), GUN NO. 6 (2018), 7/7: ONE DAY IN LONDON (2013), BEDLAM (2014), LIFE AND DEATH ROW (2014), THE DETECTIVES (2015), THE WATCHMAN (2016) and UNSPEAKABLE (2017).  In 2019 Rupert received a BAFTA award for his editing on GUN NO. 6.

CHERNOBYL: THE LOST TAPES tells the full, unadulterated true story of what happened in one of the most iconic but least understood tragedies of the twentieth century.  While radio programs and scripted dramas have all told their version of events, no-one has ever made a documentary that reveals the full, shocking reality of this cataclysmic, world changing event – until now.  Using both a recently discovered hoard of dramatic footage filmed at the nuclear plant during the disaster, as well as newly-recorded, deeply personal interviews of those who were there, the film shows how Chernobyl and the cover-up that followed sparked unprecedented distrust in the authorities and gave birth to a protest movement in Ukraine which would eventually lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Editing CHERNOBYL: THE LOST TAPES

In our discussion with editor, Rupert Houseman we talk about:

  • Recovering and converting Soviet-era propaganda footage
  • Breaking away from the traditional treatment of talking heads
  • Editing footage in a language foreign to your own
  • Having fun with aspect ratios
  • Getting sound design advice from Bob Geldof

The Credits

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