Meet Sophie Becker | Film editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sophie Becker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sophie, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
In 2020 I read Elena Ferrante’s ‘My Brilliant Friend’. I was struck by the vivid portrayal of female friendship, and by how involved I felt with the characters and their lives.

I’ve often thought about Ferrante’s translator, and the set of skills needed to translate a text while preserving the rhythm and essence of the author’s language. The work of a translator interests me because of similarities I feel it shares with my work as a film editor. To be a good editor is to understand the essence of a director’s vision, and use our tools to find the best way of expressing that vision.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I found editing almost by accident. A late-college obsession with electronic music precipitated a feverish urge to take classes in TIMARA, Oberlin College’s Technology in Music and Related Arts program. From there, I pushed myself to learn new softwares, generating a collection of mediocre soundscapes and exploring the world of post-production, all while unknowingly laying the foundation for further development as an editor. After sound design I found radio journalism, which led to documentary, which finally led to scripted editing. I love editing because as an editor, you are with the project the moment that it transforms into cinema. You have spent weeks steeping in raw materials– footage, sound effects, temp score, and then get to be a chief architect in bringing the elements together.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take my visitor on a walk in my Mt. Washington neighborhood, and show them the canyons and views. I’d take us for dinner at Joy on York Street, tacos as Angel’s, bagels at Belle’s, and coffee at Loquat or Kumquat. We would see a film screening at the Los Feliz Theater or Brain Dead Studios, go surfing or swimming in Malibu, and get pizza at Endless Color in Topanga Canyon on the way back. I would take them thrifting, to the outdoor Thai Market on Hollywood Blvd for Pad Thai, and give them a tour of the American Film Institute campus.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to recognize my beloved acting teacher, Tom Bentley-Fisher.

Any talent I have as an editor I attribute in large part to my acting training, and specifically my work with Tom. I discovered Tom’s school, The Yat-Bentley Centre for Performance, during a time when I was craving mentorship and artistic guidance. A gifted actor, writer, and director himself, Tom’s expansive approach to acting is rigorous and brimming with humanity. As creative professionals, it’s important that we cultivate curiosity about our own inner lives and the inner lives of others. I can’t thank Tom enough for seeding this curiosity and for helping me develop confidence in my creative process.

Instagram: @sophiecolettebecker

Linkedin: Sophie Becker

Image Credits
First three b/w : Lu Li
Last b/w: Didi Beck