Paul LaMastra

Editor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his nearly three-hour interview, editor Paul LaMastra describes his early life and education and his stint living in Japan. He recalls working in the sound effects department at Paramount, which led to an apprenticeship on the comedy series Hogan's Heroes. He speaks of a very short stint editing the series Eight is Enough, and talks of editing many classic made-for-television movies, including Wallenberg: A Hero's Story, Eleanor and Franklin, Attica, and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. LaMastra recalls editing the made-for-television movie Foxfire at the same time he found out he was HIV-positive, and shares how that diagnosis impacted his life and career. He details some of the technical aspects of editing, outlines how the profession has changed since he started, and talks about his involvement in American Cinema Editors (ACE). He concludes by talking about his wish to be a director and offers advice to aspiring television editors. Karen Herman conducted the interview in a joint venture with ACE on February 26, 2010 at Universal Studios in Universal City, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"An editor puts all the pieces together in a nice fashion. The first cut is technically his. You used to be able to hold off directors at the door saying 'back off.' But now the directors can't wait until they get into the cutting room. But I still want my two weeks."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Paul LaMastra on apprenticing as an editor on Hogan's Heroes and various other projects
11:46
Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Wallenberg: A Hero's Story
04:47
Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Eleanor and Franklin
09:56
Paul LaMastra on editing Eight is Enough
01:13
Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy
11:01
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on being attracted to film at a young age 
On his education and early work experience; on living in Japan; on meeting Gene Kelly
On working in the sound effects department at Paramount; on apprenticing as an editor for Hogan's Heroes
On network notes and editing bad projects; on editing the made-for-television movie Unnatural Causes; on editing the made-for-television movie Wallenberg: A Hero's Story

Chapter 2

On working with director Lamont Johnson; on editing Wallenberg: A Hero's Story; on editing Love Is Never Silent
On editing Eleanor and Franklin; on editing Backstairs at the White House; on editing Eight is Enough
On editing Attica; on editing the made-for-television movie Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy
On editing Foxfire; on living with HIV

Chapter 3

On editing Foxfire; on editing Heaven & Hell: North & South Book III; on editing the made-for-television movies The Killing Yard and The Last Best Year
On his then-current life; on wanting to be a director; on how technology has changed editing
On the made-for-television movie Queen; on his involvement in A.C.E.; on advice to aspiring editors
On what an editor does; on his Archive of American Television interview
Shows

Backstairs at the White House

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Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Backstairs at the White House
02:46

Eight Is Enough

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Paul LaMastra on editing Eight is Enough
01:13

Eleanor and Franklin

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Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Eleanor and Franklin
09:50

Foxfire

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Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Foxfire and living with HIV
11:37
Paul LaMastra on editing Foxfire
04:05

Hogan's Heroes

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Paul LaMastra on apprenticing as an editor on Hogan's Heroes and various other projects
11:46

Love Is Never Silent

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Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movies Ruby Bridges and Love Is Never Silent
04:22

North and South

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Paul LaMastra on editing Heaven & Hell: North & South Book III
04:08

Ruby Bridges

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Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movies Ruby Bridges and Love Is Never Silent
04:22

Wallenberg: A Hero's Story

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Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Wallenberg: A Hero's Story
04:47
Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Wallenberg: A Hero's Story
03:56
Topics

Advice

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Paul LaMastra on advice to someone starting out in the television editing field
06:16

Historic Events and Social Change

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Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Foxfire and living with HIV
11:37

LGBTQIA+

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Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Foxfire and living with HIV
11:37

Representation on Television

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Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Foxfire and living with HIV
11:37

Technological Innovation

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Paul LaMastra on how the technology and approach to editing has changed since he started
05:03

Television Industry

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Paul LaMastra on advice to someone starting out in the television editing field
06:16
Professions

Editor

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Paul LaMastra on what an editor does
07:21
Paul LaMastra on advice to someone starting out in the television editing field
06:16

Post-Production Professionals

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Paul LaMastra on what an editor does
07:21
Paul LaMastra on advice to someone starting out in the television editing field
06:16
Genres

Comedy Series

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Paul LaMastra on apprenticing as an editor on Hogan's Heroes and various other projects
11:46

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Wallenberg: A Hero's Story
03:56
Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Eleanor and Franklin
09:56
Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy
11:01
People

Lamont Johnson

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Paul LaMastra on working with director Lamont Johnson
04:58
Paul LaMastra on editing the made-for-television movie Wallenberg: A Hero's Story
03:56

Gene Kelly

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Paul LaMastra on returning to the United States after living in Japan and meeting Gene Kelly 
05:28

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