Disclaimer

The Rough Cut

DISCLAIMER editor, Adam Gough ACE, BFE began his journey with director Alfonso Cuarón over eighteen years ago as an editorial trainee on Cuarón's CHILDREN OF MEN (2006). In 2018, Adam would co-edit Cuarón's ROMA, alongside the writer/director. This long-standing collaboration has evolved over time, reflecting the trust and synergy they've built together, leading to Adam working as the sole editor on Cuaron's first TV series, DISCLAIMER.

For a project that would end up spanning two years, assembling a reliable and passionate editorial team was crucial to Gough. Aiming to bring on individuals who were eager to step up in their roles and commit to the project's duration, his team's unwavering dedication was pivotal in navigating the intense workload they would endure. From the onset, Adam was aware of DISCLAIMER's magnitude—boasting 670 script pages that were ultimately condensed into seven episodes. The complexity wasn't just in the volume but in its narrative structure as well. Using color-coded scripts and scene cards, the editorial team was effectively able to navigate the shifting perspectives and multiple narrators that took place throughout the series.

The Credits

Visit ExtremeMusic for all your production audio needs

See what's new with Avid Media Composer

Hear Adam talk about cutting Spike Lee's DA 5 BLOODS

Subscribe to The Rough Cut for more great interviews with the heroes of the editing room

Explore The Rough Cut on YouTube

The Chapters

00:00 The Journey Begins: From Trainee to Sole Editor

00:46 Diving into the Script: First Impressions and Challenges

02:35 Synopsis: What is Disclaimer About?

05:18 Editing Process: Building the Team and Workflow

08:03 Challenges and Lessons: The Marathon of Editing

15:37 Narrative Techniques: Voiceovers and Perspectives

20:42 Organizing the Complex Narratives

23:21 Stylistic Choices: Adapting to Different Timelines

25:26 Balancing Visual Techniques and Audience Perception

26:24 Easter Eggs and Rewatch Value

27:02 Character Development and Narrative Techniques

30:38 The Impact of Music and Sound Design

38:36 Visual Effects

40:41 Audience Reactions and Screening Insights

47:51 Final Thoughts and Future Plans