2016 (Production)

2016-04-28 (Production)

English (Original)

Interviewee: Sandra Adair
Interviewer: Maya Smukler

Professional production

United States

Editor Sandra Adair is interviewed by Maya Montañez Smukler at the Harry Ransom Center in Austin in 2016. Adair covers her work as film editor and co-producer, from TRUE CONFESSIONS (1981) and DESERT HEARTS (1985), to DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993) and BOYHOOD (2014).

Editor Sandra Adair is interviewed by Maya Montañez Smukler at the Harry Ransom Center in Austin on April 28, 2016. Adair describes her liberal and open upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada. She credits her brother, film editor Robert L. Estrin, with fostering her early interests in music and the visual arts. She recalls moving to Oakland then Los Angeles to pursue her artistic endeavors, noting that she was heavily influenced by the sixties’ counterculture. On discussing her first job in film, Adair muses on working with her brother as an apprentice editor on MEMORY OF US (1973). She goes on to describe her introduction to film editing technology of the time. Adair talks about working as an assistant editor on THE SWINGING CHEERLEADERS (1974) and OUTLAW BLUES (1977). She chronicles her move up to first assistant editor on TRUE CONFESSIONS (1981) and DESERT HEARTS (1985), before detailing her role as editor for THE TELEPHONE (1988) and SMOOTHTALKER (1990). Adair recalls her 1991 move to Austin, Texas where she met filmmaker Richard Linklater. She speaks at length about their first collaboration, DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993), and continues with observations on the dynamics of their working relationship. She recounts the post-production process of Linklater’s BEFORE SUNRISE (1995) and the sequels (BEFORE SUNSET, 2004; BEFORE MIDNIGHT, 2013). Adair explains the experience of working with Linklater on the animated films WAKING LIFE (2001) and A SCANNER DARKLY (2006). She comments on the challenges of editing rotoscoped animation traced over motion picture footage. Adair muses on her role as editor and co-producer of BOYHOOD (2014). She goes on to detail the non-traditional approach of filming a project over a twelve-year period. Adair continues with a discussion on her directorial debut, THE SECRET LIFE OF LANCE LETSCHER (2016), noting the obstacles in financing the film. Adair concludes with an in-depth observation on the picture editing process, remarks on the state of independent filmmaking and thoughts on Austin’s thriving film community.

Sandra Beth Adair (born 1952) is a film picture editor best known for her work with director Richard Linklater. After high school, Sandra followed her elder brother, editor Robert L. Estrin, to Hollywood where she worked her way up through the ranks. During this period, she worked on films such as TRUE CONFESSIONS (1981) and DESERT HEARTS (1985). In the early 1990s Adair and her husband Dwight Adair moved to Austin. Her first film with Linklater was DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993) and she has continued to edit his subsequent films. A highlight of their collaboration is the romantic trilogy revisiting the relationship of Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) beginning with BEFORE SUNRISE (1995) through BEFORE SUNSET (2004) to BEFORE MIDNIGHT (2013). Adair was nominated for an American Cinema Editors’ Eddie for Linklater’s SCHOOL OF ROCK (2003). She was nominated for an Oscar for editing BOYHOOD (2014). This film, which she also co-produced, was shot and edited over 12 years. She made her directorial debut with the documentary THE SECRET LIFE OF LANCE LETSCHER, released in 2016. Adair is a member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild of America, American Cinema Editors and the Austin Film Society.

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