Who is Sally Menke and why many cult directors are loyal to their editors (14 photos + 3 videos)

Everyone knows that Tarantino is focused on cinema and for him this is more than just a job. For a famous film director, nothing is insignificant. Many actors who worked with Quentin claim that the film crew is like family to him.





Tarantino started with scripts, which is why his films are distinguished by their signature dialogue.



He loves the filming process. He can shoot the same scene several times, even if it turned out well from the first frame.

Tarantino was always meticulous to the smallest detail, but when it came to editing, he completely trusted his partner in masterpieces, Sally Menke.





Quentin Tarantino was once given a four-week deadline to film and edit the film Death Proof. He overheard his head of editing complaining to her colleagues, but when asked if they would meet the deadline, Sally Menke said everything was fine.



If given eight weeks, they would still be working on the film the whole time. Despite the tight deadline, they still managed to finish the film in time for the premiere.

The editing director is an inconspicuous role that is not usually brought to the fore. This is a kind of Sancho Panza for filmmakers. But every great creator has one. The union of masters of cinema and their editing directors usually lasts for many years, because it is very difficult to find a second person who has the same vision. Sometimes editors grow into successful film directors; a prime example of this is the Coen brothers.



Joel worked as an editor in New York early in his career, but the brothers found real fame as writers, producers and directors. The Coens' films are known for always going against the grain.



Fargo, The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men are just some of the successful films the brothers have worked on.

Other editors continued to work in tandem: for example, Thelma Schoonmaker has been working with Martin Scorsese for many years.



During this time, Martin Scorsese received one Oscar, although he was nominated 9 times, but Schoonmaker won three times.



Another Oscar-winning editor, Kirk Baxter, is one of the main secrets of the success of David Fincher's work. Thanks to their collaboration, Baxter won two Oscars.



Famous film director Chris Nolan has been working with Lee Smith since the first Batman film. Editing in all the works of this director is always noted only on the positive side, but among all of them it is worth noting Dunkirk, for which the editing director received an Oscar.



So the story of Sally Menke is not so extraordinary. They met Quentin Tarantino while filming his first film.



Since then, Menke has become a true partner for the director. In collaboration with Sally Menke, the director created real masterpieces. Each of Quentin's films represents painstaking work for the editor.



It is known that the director is not very fond of computer graphics, so many scenes were filmed live. This is painstaking and exhausting work that could drive anyone crazy. But Quentin treated Sally with love. He couldn't get away from his nature and not enjoy the process of filming, but to support his partner, Quentin sent warm messages to his editor in each film.



Over the course of 18 years, several dozen actors managed to say hello to Sally Menke, including Kurt Russell, Til Schweiger and Christoph Waltz.



Unfortunately, Sally Menke passed away in 2010. She died of sunstroke on the day the temperature record was broken. Tarantino continued filming, and Sally's place was taken by Fred Raskin, who was an assistant editor on two parts of Kill Bill.



“Understand, I gave up too much in life in order to make films. I have no wife, no children. I made these sacrifices with a clear purpose. And I’m happy,” Tarantino said several years before his first marriage.



Quentin Tarantino spent most of his film career with Sally Menke and I want to believe that she was happy.