Her Name Was Moviola is a 2024 English documentary film written by Walter Murch, produced and directed by Howard Berry. It stars Murch and Dan Farrell, with an appearance by Mike Leigh.[2]
Plot
Beginning with an explanation of the intended film recreation before the separate 35mm picture and mag stripe audio reels arrive, Dan Farrell as assistant editor, proceeds to synch the rushes together, before they are screened to Murch on a Steenbeck at the Stanley Kubrick estate. Returning back to the cutting room, Farrell adds edge numbers to both the picture and audio on an Acmade numbering machine and then, breaks the reels into individual shots.
After a demonstration of how the Moviola works, Murch talks about his approach to visualising the edit, before he cuts two scenes from Mr. Turner. Using an editing bench and Acmade synchroniser, as well as the titular Moviola, the pair cut and assemble the rushes while discussing the process and considerations an editor goes through. Finally the finished edit is taken back the Kubrick Steenbeck and presented to Mike Leigh, in order for Murch to receive feedback from the director.
Production
Berry approached Mike Leigh to see if he would allow him and Murch to use footage from one of his films, in order to demonstrate the historical film editing methods, and after explaining the project in detail, Leigh allowed them full access to his work.[citation needed]
Production began in August 2022, at BBC Elstree Centre. Filming of the dailies review, and final edit with Mike Leigh, were filmed in Childwickbury Manor. Studio shots with Berry introducing the equipment were filmed at the University of Hertfordshire. Many of the crew of the film were lecturers, students or graduates from Berry's courses at the University.[citation needed]
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian, in a four star review, recognised the "radical approach" by eschewing traditional interviews and archive material in favour of a full reconstruction, and described the film as a "geekgasm".[2]
Accolades
On December 11 2024, the ACE announced[5] the film had been nominated for an Eddie Award in the category of Best Edited Documentary Feature. The awards ceremony is to be held on January 18 2025.
