Show notes
Editors - Catherine Haight ACE, Laura Zempel ACE and Isaac Hagy ACE
SIRENS editors Cate, Laura and Isaac have crafted a television experience that intrigues and entertains the audience, while also challenging them on conventional gender biases. Their work on SIRENS was not just professionally unifying but creatively fulfilling as well. The team established a ritual of analyzing scenes together each week, discussing tone, performance, and overarching storyline elements. This collaborative approach allowed them to align their unique editing styles into a cohesive representation of the series' narrative. One of the remarkable aspects of SIRENS is its tonal balance—oscillating between humor, mystery, and drama. The show's collaborative ethos even extended beyond the main editing trio. They leaned on the talents of assistant editors like Jen Bryson, who ultimately co-edited Episode 5 with Laura. Based on her play, Elemeno Pea, Molly Smith Metzler's Sirens tells the story of two estranged sisters from Buffalo, Devon and Simon. While Devon is back in Buffalo, caring for their father who suffers from early on-set dementia, Simone is living in the idyllic seaside town Port Haven, working as a personal assistant for a wealthy socialite named Michaela. When Devon travels to Port Haven to bring Simone back to Buffalo to help care for their father, she finds a resistant sister who seems to be under some kind of mind control from her employer. When Devon refuses to leave without Simone, the mystery of Michaela unravels in a blend of drama and dark comedy.
CATHERINE HAIGHT, ACE Catherine Haight, ACE is a film editor who has helped bring many award-winning television shows and films to the screen. Cate has had a long collaboration with Joey Soloway including the film Afternoon Delight, starring Kathryn Hahn, the award winning series Transparent, and I Love Dick. She also cut both The Polka King, starring Jack Black, and The Good House, led by Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline, with the directing team of Maya Forbes & Wally Wolodarsky. Cate also has edited the films Troop Zero, starring Viola Davis and Allison Janney, and Puzzle, with Kelly Macdonald and Irrfan Khan. She also cut the television series High Desert, Mozart in the Jungle, Girls, and New Girl. Her work on the pilot episode of Transparent earned her a nomination for both an Emmy and ACE Eddie Award, and she also received an ACE Eddie nomination for the pilot of Girls. Cate is a member of The American Cinema Editors and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Originally from New Hampshire, she now resides in Los Angeles with her husband.
LAURA ZEMPEL, ACE Laura Zempel, ACE is a two-time Emmy Award winning editor based in Los Angeles. Originally from Sacramento, she received a BFA in Film Production from Chapman University. She began her career in as an assistant editor, and has gone on to edit features and television such as HBO's Euphoria, Apple TV's Lessons In Chemistry, Netflix's Beef.
ISAAC HAGY, ACE Isaac Hagy, ACE graduated from USC film school in 2006 and continues to live and work in Los Angeles. His editing credits include feature films Waves and The Friend, as well as television programs Atlanta, Mr & Mrs Smith, Station Eleven, American Vandal, and Chef's Table. He has been honored with two Emmy and four ACE nominations. But to be fair, his Assistant Editor - a pit mix named Blue - does most of the hard work.
The Credits Visit ExtremeMusic for all your production audio needs Listen to Laura talk about cutting BEEF Hear Cate discuss cutting TROOP ZERO Check out what's new with Avid Media Composer Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode Visit The Rough Cut on YouTube
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