Mormon

Mormon was the first film that I edited, as part of the Production in Practice unit during my second year at Arts University Bournemouth. It also marked my first experience editing a documentary, which brought with it a unique set of challenges and creative rewards.

Unlike my usual role in post-production, I was involved in Mormon from the start, working on set across the three shoot days as Script Supervisor and 2nd Assistant Camera. This early involvement helped build a stronger connection to the story and gave me a clearer vision when it came to structuring the edit.

The film originally set out to follow two active Mormon missionaries living and serving in the local community. However, after facing access limitations imposed by the church, the project naturally evolved into a more reflective, interview-driven documentary. It focuses on the personal stories and testimonies of church members, while also touching on the Mormon church’s more controversial history.

With over six hours of footage and more than 1.2 TB of data, I had just seven days to shape the material into a cohesive eight-minute film, including credits. It was an intense but collaborative process. I worked closely with the director throughout the entire week, constantly exchanging ideas and building the story together. I also worked alongside the cinematographer throughout the shoot, which allowed us to quickly troubleshoot gaps in coverage and strengthen the visual language of the film.

This project gave me the chance to explore the flexible, adaptive nature of documentary storytelling and taught me how to respond creatively to unexpected limitations. It was a rewarding experience that helped me grow both as an editor and a storyteller.