3 Body Problem

The Rough Cut

Editor Michael Ruscio, ACE and assistant editor Josh Carley

The 3 BODY PROBLEM editing team of editor Michael Ruscio, ACE and assistant editor Josh Carley collaborated for the first time to take on arguably the biggest episode of the Netflix adaptation of the Chinese sci-fi novel. Helmed by former GAME OF THRONES showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Wiess, 3 BODY PROBLEM masterfully blends multiple genres, including action, fantasy and psychological thriller.

The wheels of 3 BODY PROBLEM are set in motion when Ye Wenjie, an astrophysicist who sees her father beaten to death during a struggle session in the Chinese Cultural Revolution, is conscripted by the military. Due to her scientific background, she is sent to a secret military base in a remote region. Her decision at the base to respond to contact from an alien planet implicates a group of scientists in the present day, forcing them to confront humanity's greatest threat.

MICHAEL RUSCIO, ACE

Michael Ruscio began his editing career making films with independent mavericks Alan Rudolph and Robert Altman. He has enjoyed editing some of the top dramatic shows of the past twenty years, including The Sopranos, Homeland, Dexter, House of Cards and Six Feet Under, where he first met Rodrigo Garcia, for whom he edited the film Raymond & Ray. Recent work featuring Michael's talents include Pieces of Her, Your Honor, Carnival Row, Ridley Scott's Raised by Wolves, and Hulu’s Catch-22. Ruscio was nominated for an ACE Eddie Award for the finale of Six Feet Under and won the 2009 Eddie for the pilot of True Blood. He created a workshop for the American Film Institute on the art of editing which he also taught at the Los Angeles Film School. Additionally, he has directed multiple episodes of the HBO series True Blood and his short film In Order of Appearance received ensemble and individual acting awards during its festival run. He is currently editing the upcoming Amazon series Butterfly.

JOSH CARLEY

Josh Carley started his editing career in his home state of Louisiana, where he cut short films, trailers, EPKs, web pieces, local commercials, music videos, and a large array of other kinds of projects. His work led him to projects with other local filmmakers, and projects for SYFY, Lifetime, and Hallmark. In 2018 Josh moved to Los Angeles where he still resides with his wife and kids. He’s had the privilege on working as Assistant Editor on such shows as Amazon’s Utopia and The Terminal List, FX’s The Old Man, and Apple TV’s Truth Be Told. In addition to 3 Body Problem, his most recent work can be seen in the upcoming final season of The Umbrella Academy.

Editing 3 BODY PROBLEM

In our discussion with the 3 BODY PROBLEM editing team of Michael Ruscio and Josh Carley, we talk about:

• Doubling down on dialogue to deliver the action
• Slicing through the VFX work
• Taking a different angle on the same scene
• Sound advice for assistants
• Transcontinental cutting rooms

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