Misery - One of the best films I ever worked on

[scottsta]

As a music editor I've done almost every Rob Reiner film since When Harry Met Sally. My job, as music editor, begins by finding and editing temporary music before the composer, Marc Shaiman, starts writing original music. The reason for 'temp' music is to preview the film in front of audiences to get an overall reaction to the film. These test screenings make, especially the director, feel every insecurity they have ever known - unless they happened to make something as good as Misery.

I've worked on a lot of films and been through many previews. My favorite is still Misery. The story was tightly adapted by one of the best screenwriters at the time. (William Goldman) The casting was magic. Kathy Bates is wonderful in everything she does. The music was also lot of fun to edit, because the emotional through-lines were so easy to connect.

The hobbling scene with Liberace (Reiner's idea) playing in the background is about the coolest thing about cinema that I have ever witnessed. After the second preview I snuck up front and sat with the audience. (The filmmakers get reserved seating in the back of the theatre. I dunno why they don't sit in the audience, because that's the best place to hear and see the reactions from people who've never seen the film) Now, just before Annie takes the sledgehammer to Paul's ankles I turned and watched as an entire theatre reacted to the hobbling. The heads snapped back like a great wave in a football game - as if they were getting hobbled. That's the most powerful audience reaction I've ever witnessed in thirty years of working in the business. I'm proud to have worked on that film and thought Misery fans would appreciate the story.

[GNTLGNT]

Nothin' like an Insider's take....and what a cool story...thanks for the share and welcome to our little branch of the universe...

[fljoe0]

As a music editor I've done almost every Rob Reiner film since When Harry Met Sally. My job, as music editor, begins by finding and editing temporary music before the composer, Marc Shaiman, starts writing original music. The reason for 'temp' music is to preview the film in front of audiences to get an overall reaction to the film. These test screenings make, especially the director, feel every insecurity they have ever known - unless they happened to make something as good as Misery.

I've worked on a lot of films and been through many previews. My favorite is still Misery. The story was tightly adapted by one of the best screenwriters at the time. (William Goldman) The casting was magic. Kathy Bates is wonderful in everything she does. The music was also lot of fun to edit, because the emotional through-lines were so easy to connect.

The hobbling scene with Liberace (Reiner's idea) playing in the background is about the coolest thing about cinema that I have ever witnessed. After the second preview I snuck up front and sat with the audience. (The filmmakers get reserved seating in the back of the theatre. I dunno why they don't sit in the audience, because that's the best place to hear and see the reactions from people who've never seen the film) Now, just before Annie takes the sledgehammer to Paul's ankles I turned and watched as an entire theatre reacted to the hobbling. The heads snapped back like a great wave in a football game - as if they were getting hobbled. That's the most powerful audience reaction I've ever witnessed in thirty years of working in the business. I'm proud to have worked on that film and thought Misery fans would appreciate the story.

It is amazing how important the music is to a movie. Bad selections can ruin a movie. One of my favorite examples of this is on the bonus disc for the movie Alien. Ridley Scott had a famous composer do the score (can't remember who it was) and then Ridley had to tell this famous gifted guy that his score wasn't right for his movie and Ridley used different music which made for a little tension. On the bonus disc, he shows some scenes with both scores and Ridley was right (I think Ridley is most always right). Alien would not have been the same movie with that original music.

BTW - Great job on Misery.

[fushingfeef]

Welcome to the board, Mr. Stambler. Thanks for the cool story and hope to see you around the boards again!

[DeathStalker]

It is amazing how important the music is to a movie. Bad selections can ruin a movie.

Check out the music at the beginning of the original movie The Blob (the one with Steve McQueen). Talk about a tension killer. (about 1:10 there are words to it)

[Cthulhu]