 CMMC: Hello Mr. Assoua, it’s a pleasure to have this chat with you. Please introduce yourself to our readers.Achille: I am Assoua Achille Brice E. Editor / Ass. Director living in Cameroon. I have 1 personal award to my credits as best film editor at the Verdant Hill Minifilms festival. I am a Campus alumni at the Durban Talent Campus (south Africa) and The Berlinale Talent Campus (Germany). I have worked as Editor on 8 short films (2 of which won award) and 5 Feature Films. Also worked as Director on 4 musical videos. I am the main editor on all the jobs I have worked on so far.
CMMC: For the benefit of youths who aspire to join the film industry. Please tell us who a movie editor is.
Achille: Film editing is the process of selecting and joining together shots, connecting the resulting sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling. Film editing is the only art that is unique to cinema. A film editor is a person who practices film editing by assembling the footage. However, the job of an editor isn’t simply to mechanically put pieces of a film together, cut off film slates, or edit dialogue scenes. A film editor must creatively work with the layers of images, story, dialogue, music, pacing, as well as the actors' performances to effectively "redirect" and even rewrite the film to craft a cohesive whole. Editors usually play a dynamic role in the making of a film.
CMMC: What does it take to be an editor?
Achille: I think the best respond to this is that, every editor needs to be very creative, focus and patient. It takes a long time for an editor to come up with a wonderful 1 min scene from thousands of raw footages / images.
CMMC: Many who envy the film industry only look at its lucrative nature. Would you say editing is a lucrative job?
Achille: One must first learn to love what he or she is doing in life. I personally think there is much to learn and discover in the film industry than the money making part. It’s not an easy industry as many may look at it. It’s time consuming and it keeps you pondering day after day, hours after hours. It is true that there is no job without payment. Thus, be passionate, love it, give in your best and I think money will follow.
CMMC: Why did you choose editing from the long list of jobs that abound in the film industry?
Achille: I wanted something more challenging. Something more creative and something people run away from because of it’s time consuming nature. I had dreams of been an actor, Director or writer but I was hooked up by editing, maybe because of my curious nature to always want to create or recreate things new to amaze and baffle an audience.
CMMC: How has your editing experience been so far? The good and the bad!
Achille: I think there is more to envy in it than hate. I have worked with the best directors in Cameroon. I have had my name, credited on many films collection which has helped to boost my portfolio. I have met wonderful people and share ideas everyday. On the other hand, Cameroon movie industry is still a baby one and after long hours of work on several projects, you don’t really see the pay but just some kind of motivations. In general, I am more happy than sad about it, because thanks to the baby industry we have, I have had the opportunity to fly abroad on several occasions for training, seminars and workshops not leaving out film festivals. (I was accredited as Festival Guest for the prestigious Durban International Film Festival and the Berlinale Film Festival
CMMC: Tell us about some of your major projects past, present and future.
Achille: I have worked on 7 short films, 2 documentaries, 6 feature films, about 5 musical videos. I am currently planning my first short / feature entitled, “Obsession”. As concern my future project, I have been selected for an artist program where I am going to carry on other projects.
CMMC: What is Binamstudios?
Achille: Owned by independent filmmakers, it is a guide into the works of the Cameroonian Filmmakers with the aim of promoting our works, our culture and our way of life. It’s a showcase of Local and International Film Projects and Programs. A research ground for Cameroon & African Film makers about movie making gigs. A place to create Co-production and Networking opportunities. In short words, a unique world for our own exposure. www.binamstudios.net
CMMC: A lot of youths in Cameroon write to us asking how they can join the industry. With a structure like Binamstudios what can you tell them?
Achille: I think it’s all about research first. We post online casting calls and film gigs for amateurs and professionals. Also they need to look for forums where they can network with other movie makers. Also by joining newsletter subscriptions to get all the latest happening and upcomings.
CMMC: Do you have a word for CMMC?
Achille: Keep the good work going on, for we have to get ourselves up rather than waiting on someone else to do it for us. I like the “SPIRIT”
CMMC: It’s been a pleasure having this interview with you Sir and we look forward to working with you in the future.
Achille: Thank you for the feeling is mutual, also I prefer been refer to as Achille and not really “Sir”. Ahahahaa. Bye
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