Anna Daniels
Marvel fans are eagerly awaiting The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s debut on Disney+. It will be the first Marvel Cinematic Universe series for the streaming service, and the first to feature stars of the Marvel movies. Shows like Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Daredevil, Jessica Jones or Luke Cage took place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but with new characters. Sometimes characters like Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) or Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) would appear, but those were special occasions, although Agent Carter (Hayley Atwell) got her own show.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was set to premiere in August, but shut down production in Prague during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Neither Marvel nor Disney has not confirmed whether or not this would affect the premiere date. Better Call Saul editor Kelley Dixon is editing The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. She called into The Better Call Saul Insider Podcast remotely in February before the production shutdown. In the episode released April 7, Dixon discussed working on the Marvel show.
‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ has more action than ‘Better Call Saul’
It’s funny that Dixon happened to be talking about the “Bagman” episode of Better Call Saul. The intense episode included a shootout and a vehicular stunt. Normally, Better Call Saul is more about drama. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is action every episode.
“It is fun,” Dixon said. “It’s a very, very different type of editing, a lot of big stunt work and a lot of big action pieces, stuff like that.”
Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) have been through a lot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They first met when Bucky was under Hydra control. By the end of Avengers: Endgame, they were teammates and were the last to see Captain America (Chris Evans) alive. That’s where The Falcon and the Winter Soldier picks up.
‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ is teaching Kelley Dixon about working with other departments
Editing always has to work with other departments on a show. The writers work with editors to ensure they capture the script. The producers work with editors to make sure they’re getting what they want. A Marvel show like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier adds in departments that prepare the action scenes or generate the visual effects for the final cut. The editor puts all the elements together.
“I’m learning a lot,” Dixon said. “It’s just really interesting how these things go and there’s such a big crew. You’ve got previs people and stunt vis people and a whole VFX crew. It’s a big thing.”
Kelley Dixon is learning she only has one job to do
Better Call Saul has lots of departments too, although they rarely use visual effects and don’t usually have elaborate sequences for which to plan. Dixon may have to edit around something they couldn’t film, but on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Marvel has people to take care of anything that’s not editing.
“I feel like I’m a starting pitcher in Yankee Stadium and all I need to do is come out to the mound and throw strikes,” Dixon said. “That’s it. That’s my job. I don’t have to field the ball. It’s nice but it’s really a different type of thing and it’s fun to be learning something new.”
Written by: Cheat
