The Adam Project

Editors – Jon Corn ACE and Dean Zimmerman ACE

Editing THE ADAM PROJECT at home, away from production and director Shawn Levy, was a new and unwelcomed experience for editor Dean Zimmerman.  Throughout all their collaborative efforts, including the “Night at the Museum” films, FREE GUY (2021) and of course, STRANGER THINGS, the two were practically joined at the hip.  Not only that, but Dean was balancing a new season of STRANGER THINGS, wrapping up FREE GUY and getting THE ADAM PROJECT off the ground all at the same time.  Even with all his experience, he definitely needed help.  Fortunately, a talented editor familiar to both Dean and Shawn was available to help the pair hit all the right notes of comedy, drama and action, for their new Netflix film.

THE ADAM PROJECT tells the tale of time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds), who accidentally crash-lands in 2022 while on his way to 2018.  Once there he teams up with his 12-year-old self (Walker Scobell) on a mission to save the future.

JON CORN ACE

Prior to THE ADAM PROJECT, editor Jon Corn’s first and only experience with Shawn Levy and Dean Zimmerman was in 2017 on a series called, IMAGINARY MARY.  But apparently he made a pretty strong impression on the two as they trusted his talents to their latest high-profile project.  And why not?  Jon had an impressive roster of comedy tv to his credits, including; PARKS AND RECREATION, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, THE GOLDBERGS, ENTOURAGE and many others.  Jon had also recently cut the feature film FATHERHOOD (2021).

DEAN ZIMMERMAN ACE

THE ADAM PROJECT finds Dean collaborating once again with director and longtime friend, Shawn Levy.  The two have been working together for over twenty years on projects like the NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM franchise and a little series called STRANGER THINGS.  In fact, a lot of Dean’s crew from STRANGER THINGS is on board for THE ADAM PROJECT.  Assistant editor Kat Naranjo, pre-viz editor Brad Tobler and sound editor Craig Henighan were all on hand for the film.  So, clearly Dean takes a family-oriented approach to putting a crew together and keeping them together.  And editing is a family business in more ways than one for Dean.  His father, Don Zimmerman, is a highly accomplished editor in his own right.   (yes, I totally copied this from the write-up on Dean I did for FREE GUY)

Dean is currently working on wrapping up Season Four of STRANGER THINGS, premiering May 27th, 2022.

Editing The Adam Project

In our discussion with THE ADAM PROJECT editors Dean Zimmerman and Jon Corn, we talk about:

  • The additive coolness of digital trees
  • Overcoming the newness to the bigness
  • Getting rid of remote editorial anxieties with PacPost Live
  • Working with Ryan Reynolds on timing and inflection notes
  • Sacrificing great material for the even greater good

The Credits

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Hear editor Dean Zimmerman talk about FREE GUY

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