Technical Difficulties

Technical Difficulties (30-Minute Thesis Musical)

This was my first ever musical that I edited, Technical Difficulties, is a 30-minute original musical created as my undergraduate thesis film. I was responsible for shaping the rhythm, emotional arc, and comedic timing that define the story. The project blended traditional narrative filmmaking with multi-layered musical numbers, requiring an editing approach that balanced performance, choreography, and music-driven pacing.

My work began with organizing and syncing extensive audio and multi-camera footage for each musical sequence. From there, I focused on building momentum through precisely timed cuts, seamless transitions, and a visual flow that supported both the lyrical storytelling and the character-driven moments between songs. The film’s tonal shifts with chaos to comedy to heartfelt introspection demanded a strong editorial voice and a close collaboration with the director, composer, and sound team. I collaborated with my director during the critiques and when given feedback from classmates.

Beyond musical numbers, I shaped the narrative’s dramatic beats, polishing dialogue scenes, refining comedic timing, and ensuring the story moved with clarity and intention. The editing brought the film together, combining performance, sound, and visuals into a clear and engaging story. I focused on color correcting and balancing audio levels from all the different cameras and audio equipment used during the production stage.

Working on Technical Difficulties allowed me to develop deeper editing skills. Especially in music synchronization, pacing, and multi-layered scene construction. It reinforced my love for editing as the place where story, sound, and structure finally come together.