Interviews

Turtle Bay: How did you become interested in being a film editor?

Peter Samet: Actually it was Final Cut Pro that got me first into editing. Up until that point I was just editing on VCRs. I'm a bit of a software junkie and I just fell in love with the program. I knew I wanted to be an editor and my experience at USC just confirmed it.

Turtle Bay: What is the typical day like in the editing bay?

Peter Samet: Before any editing can be started there is a lot of preparation that needs to be done. After that process it is just basic storytelling. Putting a scene together, figuring out what the scene needs to accomplish within the overall context of the film. Then I cut the scene, Then I look at it and see if it works, then recut it and repeat that process until I achieve the goals I have set forth from the beginning.

Turtle Bay: What attracted you to want to work on Gotham cafe?

Peter Samet: I really liked the script it had a very distinct editing scheme built into it. I also like King's short story.

Turtle Bay: You were present on set for some of the shoot? What was your most memorable experience on set?

Peter Samet: The most memorable was when Cullen (Guy) pretended to quit. He had told me beforehand he was going to do this and it was hysterical.

Turtle Bay: You got shanghaied into appearing in the film. Tell us about that and what was it like being in front of the camera?

Peter Samet: I heard a voice from the distance yelling my name and before I knew it I was being shuffled in front of the camera, given direction and introduced to Mick Garris. I have acted before but this time for some reason I kept second guessing myself and trying to look like I was 'not acting' then finding it had the opposite effect. Mick Garris got me through it as he was very natural in front of the camera and this helped me immensely. I ended up satisfied with the end result.

Turtle Bay: What is your dream project?

Peter Samet: My dream is to edit the type of feature films that I enjoy watching  in the theatre. I would love to work with Steven Spielberg he is my favorite director.