ScreenTalk Legends - Annie Collins

Editor Annie Collins started her career “full of beans and bullshit”. Fifty years later, she stands as one of New Zealand’s most respected editors. Known for a rich array of credits and a no-nonsense yet nuanced approach, Collins gravitates towards projects that challenge norms and tackle social issues. Her long collaboration with late Māori filmmaker Merata Mita included Springbok tour documentary Patu! and Saving Grace. Collins has ranged across drama (Scarfies) and documentary (Mouth Wide Open).

In this extended ScreenTalk Legends interview, Collins talks about:

• Stumbling into a passion for editing, on a polytech course tutored by filmmaker Pat Cox (5 minutes in)

• Learning to cut on a Steenbeck flatbed editing suite, and training under Cox at one of New Zealand’s earliest independent post-production facilities (6 minutes)

• Undergoing "a profound awakening” while working alongside Māori director Merata Mita — and the influence the director would have on her life and work (8 minutes) 

• The power of asking “what if?” in the editing suite (13 minutes)

• Drawing creativity out of chaos on large-scale productions like Peter Jackson's Lord of The Rings trilogy (19 minutes)

• Why she watches every minute of footage for an edit, riding the shift from film to digital, and the changes it brought to her workflow (23 minutes)

• Working on the stories that matter — New Zealand ones (26 minutes)

• Living by her kaupapa, and feeling satisfied with what she has achieved in her career (31 minutes)

Interview Rosie Howells. Director/Camera Chris Terpstra/Rocket Rentals. Sound Recordist Michael Kerslake. Editor Tom Field. Producer Fran Carney. Exec Producer Kathryn Quirk.