About
"For an editor, sometimes things are hard, sometimes shows are hard, sometimes politics are hard, and you're not working with the people that you want to work with and stuff like that. But you know what? It's the best job ever."
In her two-and-a-half-hour interview, Kelley Dixon talks about her early life and about becoming a PA on thirtysomething. She describes becoming as assistant editor on Huff, and meeting her mentor, Lynne Willingham, while assistant editing Revelations and Without a Trace. She discusses assistant editing the pilot of Breaking Bad, and details her five seasons with the show. She recounts editing specific episodes of Breaking Bad, including “Madrigal," “…And the Bag’s in the River,” and “Gliding Over All,” for which she won an Emmy award. She speaks of hosting a Breaking Bad podcast, and of the audience reaction to the show. She concludes with advice to aspiring editors and on her proudest career achievement. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on June 3, 2015 in Culver City, CA.
Highlights
Kelley Dixon on television she watched growing up
Kelley Dixon on moving up to editor on Breaking Bad
Kelley Dixon on various editing techniques used early on for Breaking Bad, and how Vince Gilligan dealt with the editing process
Kelley Dixon on assistant editing the pilot for Breaking Bad
Kelley Dixon on editing the Breaking Bad episode "Gliding Over All", and on the music of the show
Kelley Dixon on her proudest career achievements
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on being a PA for thirtysomething; on getting into editing at thirtysomething
On the duties of the assistant editor; on working in both film and video as an editor; on the equipment she worked on in her early years as an editor, and on her fifteen years as an assistant editor
On assistant editing for Huff; on what makes a good editor and on tailoring her style to a specific show; on assistant editing for Revelations and Without a Trace for Lynne Willingham
On the various types of cuts an editor puts together; on how she came to work on Breaking Bad, and on working on the pilot of Breaking Bad; on various editing techniques used early on for Breaking Bad, and how Vince Gilligan dealt with the editing process; on moving up to editor on Breaking Bad
Chapter 2
On editing the Breaking Bad episode "...And the Bag's in the River"; on communicating with her collaborators on Breaking Bad, and on the logistics of editing the show
On determining which editor would work on which episode on Breaking Bad, and on working with assistant editors on the show; on the post-production process for Breaking Bad, and on the physical toll editing can take on an editor; on the pacing of Breaking Bad, and on collaborating with show creator Vince Gilligan on editing
On editing the Breaking Bad episode "Madrigal", and on editing the montages; on editing the Breaking Bad episode "Gliding Over All," and on the music of the show
On being nominated for, and winning Emmys for her work on Breaking Bad; on the experience of winning and accepting an Emmy award
Chapter 3
On the end of Breaking Bad, and on her Breaking Bad podcast; on audience interaction with the creative forces of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul
On the legacy of Breaking Bad; on how Breaking Bad impacted her career, and on then-current shows she admires
On advice to aspiring editors; on her proudest career achievements
On her then-future; on what she loves about editing
Shows
Better Call Saul
Kelley Dixon on audience interaction with the creative forces of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul
Breaking Bad
Kelley Dixon on how she came to work on Breaking Bad
Kelley Dixon on assistant editing the pilot for Breaking Bad
Kelley Dixon on various editing techniques used early on for Breaking Bad, and how Vince Gilligan dealt with the editing process
Kelley Dixon on moving up to editor on Breaking Bad
Kelley Dixon on editing the Breaking Bad episode "...And the Bag's in the River"
Kelley Dixon on communicating with her collaborators on Breaking Bad, and on the logistics of editing the show
Kelley Dixon on determining which editor would work on which episode on Breaking Bad, and on working with assistant editors on the show
Kelley Dixon on the post-production process for Breaking Bad, and on the physical toll editing can take on an editor
Kelley Dixon on the pacing of Breaking Bad, and on collaborating with show creator Vince Gilligan on editing
Kelley Dixon on editing the Breaking Bad episode "Madrigal," and on editing the montages in the episode
Kelley Dixon on editing the Breaking Bad episode "Gliding Over All," and on the music of the show
Kelley Dixon on being nominated for, and winning Emmys for her work on Breaking Bad
Kelley Dixon on the end of Breaking Bad, and on her Breaking Bad podcast
Kelley Dixon on audience interaction with the creative forces of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul
Kelley Dixon on the legacy of Breaking Bad
Kelley Dixon on how Breaking Bad impacted her career, and on then-current shows she admires
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Kelley Dixon on being nominated for, and winning Emmys for her work on Breaking Bad
Huff
Kelley Dixon on assistant editing for Huff
Revelations
Kelley Dixon on assistant editing for Revelations and Without a Trace for Lynne Willingham
Thirtysomething
Kelley Dixon on being a PA for thirtysomething
Kelley Dixon on getting into editing at thirtysomething
Topics
Advice
Kelley Dixon on advice to aspiring editors
Emmy Awards
Kelley Dixon on being nominated for, and winning Emmys for her work on Breaking Bad
Television Industry
Kelley Dixon on advice to aspiring editors
Professions
Editor
Kelley Dixon on the duties of the assistant editor
Kelley Dixon on working in both film and video as an editor
Kelley Dixon on the equipment she worked on in her early years as an editor, and on her fifteen years as an assistant editor
Kelley Dixon on what makes a good editor
Kelley Dixon on tailoring her style to a specific show
Kelley Dixon on the various types of cuts an editor puts together
Kelley Dixon on the post-production process for Breaking Bad, and on the physical toll editing can take on an editor
Kelley Dixon on the pacing of Breaking Bad, and on collaborating with show creator Vince Gilligan on editing
Kelley Dixon on editing the Breaking Bad episode "Gliding Over All," and on the music of the show
Kelley Dixon on advice to aspiring editors
Kelley Dixon on what she loves about editing
Post-Production Professionals
Kelley Dixon on the duties of the assistant editor
Kelley Dixon on working in both film and video as an editor
Kelley Dixon on the equipment she worked on in her early years as an editor, and on her fifteen years as an assistant editor
Kelley Dixon on what makes a good editor
Kelley Dixon on tailoring her style to a specific show
Kelley Dixon on the various types of cuts an editor puts together
Kelley Dixon on the post-production process for Breaking Bad, and on the physical toll editing can take on an editor
Kelley Dixon on the pacing of Breaking Bad, and on collaborating with show creator Vince Gilligan on editing
Kelley Dixon on editing the Breaking Bad episode "Gliding Over All," and on the music of the show
Kelley Dixon on advice to aspiring editors
Kelley Dixon on what she loves about editing
Genres
Drama Series
Kelley Dixon on editing Breaking Bad
Kelley Dixon on editing Breaking Bad
People
Vince Gilligan
Kelley Dixon on the pacing of Breaking Bad, and on collaborating with show creator Vince Gilligan on editing