Architecture and Editing: "How I Met Your Mother" Editor Russell Griffin's Journey

Aug 28, 2024

Russell Griffin, ACE is a four-time Emmy-nominated sitcom editor and director, known for "How I Met Your Father," "Extended Family," "Mad About You," "Family Reunion," and "The Upshaws."

In 2023, he became the only editor to ever be nominated for two different shows in the same year in the Multi-Camera Comedy Series category (for "How I Met Your Father," and "The Upshaws"). In 2024, he currently holds another Primetime Emmy nomination, while earlier in the year won the ACE Eddie for Best Edited Multi-Camera Comedy Series (both for How I Met Your Father).

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, Russell went on to earn his Masters of Fine Arts degree in Motion Picture Production from the Graduate Motion Picture Program at the University of Miami.

He is a member of the editing honorary society American Cinema Editors (ACE) - where he currently serves on the Blue Ribbon Committee, as well as the Television Academy - where he recently served a four-year term on the Picture Editors Peer Group Executive Committee and currently (2024) serves on their Artificial Intelligence Task Force.

Russell and his family live in Los Angeles, where he continues to hone his craft and find the funny.

 

Architecture and Editing: Editor Russell Griffin's Journey
Editor Russell Griffin, ACE, shares his journey from considering architecture to pursuing filmmaking. Russell highlights the similarities between architecture and editing, emphasizing the importance of structure and timing in both. He also discusses the influence of the Bauhaus movement on architecture and appreciates the diverse architecture in Los Angeles and Southern California. Russell mentioned "L.A. Story," which showcases the city's older buildings.

Russell's Career Journey and "Extended Family
Gordon and Russell discuss Russell's career journey into television, focusing on his passion for multi-camera editing. Russell shares how he started as an assistant editor, then moved on to editing for shows on Nickelodeon, Netflix, NBC, and Hulu. The conversation also delves into Russell's work on the NBC show "Extended Family," which is based on a unique premise of a divorced family where the kids stay in the house, and the parents come in and out. Russell also describes the show's cast, including Jon Cryer, Abigail Spencer, and Donald Faison, and how the showrunner, Mike O'Malley, ensured top-notch performances.

The Evolving Landscape of Streaming Sitcoms
Russell and Gordon discuss the evolution of multicam sitcoms, particularly in the context of streaming. Russell explains that when streaming first started, there were no commercial breaks, allowing for more creative freedom in storytelling. However, as streaming services have begun to incorporate ads, they've had to build in breaks, which can disrupt the pacing of the show. Despite these changes, Russell noted that many streaming sitcoms still aim to hit the 22-minute mark to feel like a complete story. 

Balancing Authenticity in Live Studio Audience Shows
Gordon and Russell discuss the challenges and techniques of filming in front of a live studio audience, with a particular focus on balancing audience laughter and maintaining authenticity. Russell explains how they strive to ensure the audience's reactions are genuine and blend seamlessly with the final edit. They also discussed the unique case of "How I Met Your Father," a spin-off of "How I Met Your Mother," which Russell describes as a new story set in the same universe. Russell shares that the audience's response to the show's finale was electric, and he considers it one of his favorite multicam shows to work on due to its high degree of complexity.

Russell's Fast-Paced Project and Ace Committee
Russell discusses his enjoyment of working on a fast-paced project that involved time-traveling between 2050 and present-day, which he describes as a "situational romance" as much as a "situational comedy". He also mentions his involvement in the Blue Ribbon Committee for ACE, where he helps ensure the correct categorization and descriptions of entries for the ACE Eddies. The committee aims to promote and celebrate the art of editing within American cinema.

 


TAGS: american cinema editors avid media composer blue ribbon committee extended family film editing film editor film u chats filmmaker u how i met your father russell griffin tv editor
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