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On My Radar: Shannon Griffin
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Church Edit's New York-based film editor Shannon Griffin admits to not being a tech-head, couldn't live without one particular pencil, and has embraced having her mum as a teacher once more.
What’s the most creative advertising idea you’ve seen recently?
I really loved the StreetEasy subway ads about being a ‘forever New Yorker,’ as well as the BackMarket subway ads with cheeky copywriting about buying refurbished tech. As an editor, I work with video every day, so I always appreciate a great still image and really fun writing.
What website(s) do you use most regularly?
Spotify.
What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought?
I recently splurged on a new Mac Studio. Although I’m an editor, I don’t particularly love the tech side of the job. I’m usually perfectly happy with hand-me-down electronics or whatever gets the job done, and I like to keep my workflows as simple as possible so I can focus on the story. So, it’s a pretty big deal that I’ve got a new Mac Studio. I’m feeling ultra-powerful and super-high-tech now.
What product could you not live without?
My Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow pencil, and my laptop. If I lost either of these things, I would immediately go and re-buy, no hesitation.
What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year?
A Useful Ghost, directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke. It’s smart, funny and really well-written. I first heard of it when a film I edited, One Woman One Bra, was nominated in the same category at the BFI London Film Festival. It was such an honour to be nominated alongside such an incredible film.
What film do you think everyone should have seen?
The Red Shoes. Aside from the fact that it’s a beautiful film, I think every creative person can relate to the story of choosing between your personal life and your passion.
What’s your preferred social media platform?
Letterboxd! I love seeing everyone’s commentary on the films they’re watching, especially when we disagree. Makes for great conversation in the edit bay.
What’s your favourite TV show?
The Rehearsal is the last show that truly made me laugh-out-loud.
What’s your favourite podcast?
Team Deakins. I love the episodes with Denis Villeneuve, Lee Smith, Tom Cross, and Joe Walker. Non-film related podcasts I love are You’re Wrong About, and Revolutions.
What have you been most inspired by recently?
Editing my second feature, One Woman One Bra. I had never seen a story quite like it on screen, and I was so excited to help bring it to life. During the process, I was often asked if I was editing a documentary rather than a narrative feature, simply because the story centred on an African woman. It really reinforced for me how rarely we see African women at the centre of a film, and how much work we still need to do to expand whose stories we get to see on screen.
That’s something I really care about, and something I love bringing into my commercial work as well. One Woman One Bra went on to premiere at the Venice Film Festival, win the Sutherland Award at BFI London Film Festival, and receive the Audience Award and a Special Jury Mention at Tribeca. Seeing the film connect with audiences in that way was incredibly inspiring.
If you could only listen to one music artist from now on, who would it be?
Paul McCartney. He has a huge discography, so it would never get stale. There’s a Paul McCartney song for every situation.
If there was one thing you could change about the advertising industry, what would it be?
I’d like to see the industry make a more meaningful commitment to representation. Advertising has a huge influence on the culture, so I think it’s important that the people creating that work represent a broader range of backgrounds. And when more perspectives are in the room, we get more interesting ideas and stories.
Who or what has most influenced your career?
More than any particular film or music video, it’s the people I’ve worked with who have most influenced my career. The directors who trusted me with their stories. The editor friends who answer my late-night texts asking, “What movie has a shot like this?”. The mentors who helped me navigate my career, and the assistants who taught me new editing tricks. I’ve learned something from every person I’ve worked with, and I hope they’ve learned something from me too. Those relationships have shaped my career more than anything else.
What scares you the most?
Re-opening a locked edit. Always brings a shiver down my spine!
What makes you happiest?
At work: Picture lock!
Outside of work: my husband Zac, a really good piece of fruit, great conversation, and the beach.
Tell us one thing about yourself that most people wouldn’t know.
I’ve been learning to speak Thai! My family speaks Thai, but I never learned the language growing up. When my sister started learning a couple of years ago, I decided to follow her lead. It’s been such a fun way to reconnect with my heritage while learning something completely new.
As you get older, there’s a point when you stop needing your mom to teach you things in the same way you did as a kid. But learning Thai has brought that relationship back in a really unexpected way. Now, my mom gets to be my teacher again, and I love that.
