Disability civil rights at the forefront of Netflix’s Crip Camp

Editor Eileen Meyer discusses her work on the award-winning Netflix documentary, Crip Camp.

Image source: Netflix.

Winner of the IDA Documentary Award for Best Feature and nominated for Best Editing, Crip Camp unveils the groundbreaking disabled youth summer camp, Camp Jened, and the inspiring stories of the campers in their fight for equality. Told firsthand from co-director Jim LeBrecht, who was a camper himself, the film sheds light on the everyday challenges for the disabled before the American with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990. The film was recognized as an audience favorite at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival with the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary.

Editor Eileen Meyer helped the directors piece together the story balancing archival footage with supportive testimonials. We asked Eileen about editing the film remotely, how Premiere Pro helped her save time while working with many different types of archival footage, and lessons she’s learned during her career.

How and where did you first learn to edit?

I first learned to edit when I was a student at Hampshire College. I started studying documentary film in my first year there, and since the education model is very project-based, I was able to start editing right away. My very first project was on 16mm film and edited on an Steenbeck flatbed with a splicer and tape!

How do you begin a project and set up your workspace?

I usually work on 1-2 projects per year and I prefer to change my workspace at the beginning of each one, so it feels refreshed and different. I just recently added a standing desk converter and an under-desk bicycle, which I hope will keep me more active this coming year. In terms of a starting point for a project, I like to spend at least a couple of weeks screening footage, having lengthy conversations with the director about creative ideas, and working on laying out a structure for the film.

Tell us about a favorite scene or moment from this project and why it stands out to you?

I have a lot of favorites scenes and moments - it’s hard to pick just one! I would say the scene at the end of summer camp when all the kids are passing the mic around and talking about their parents. We always knew this was a pivotal scene where we experience the kids finding their voices and agency, but it was incredible to watch it change and develop over the final months of editing. Mary Lampson, our co-editor brought true magic to this scene.

What were some specific post-production challenges you faced that were unique to your project? How did you go about solving them?

This was the first project I worked on that was mostly a remote workflow. The directors and assistant editor and associate producer were in Berkeley, while I was in New York and Los Angeles, and our co-editor and additional editor were in Maine. We all had duplicated media on our drives but had to figure out how to split up the project and share our sequences. It required very good communication, so that we all knew who had the “master” project at any given time and what everyone was working on. We also had very long virtual calls to discuss our creative ideas- our longest one lasted nearly 7 hours!

What Adobe tools did you use on this project and why did you originally choose them? Why were they the best choice for this project?

We used Premiere, Photoshop and After Effects. Adobe was absolutely the best choice for this project because we were incorporating many different types of archival materials, and not having to transcode everything saved us so much time. Lauren Schwartzman, our incredible assistant editor and associate producer, also used the powers of After Effects to create her unique subtitles.

Image source: Netflix.

What do you like about Premiere Pro, and/or any of the other tools you used?

I love that Premiere Pro is always listening to editors and incorporating their requests into the updates. I also really appreciate that they took aspects of other editing programs that we all learned early in our careers and kept many of the things that were always working well, while fixing the things that didn’t work and creating a new program that is intuitive and easy to learn.

What’s your hidden gem or favorite workflow hack in Adobe Creative Cloud?

I’m not sure if this is a hidden gem exactly, but I love using the extended sequence markers in Premiere Pro for easy and quick organization in a string out, or the very first cut of the video.

Who is your creative inspiration and why?

I have different creative inspirations for every project, but mostly I am inspired by the incredible directors and editing mentors I’ve been lucky enough to have so far in my career. I continue to learn exponentially on every project, not just about the subject matter but also about editing, filmmaking, and storytelling.

What’s the toughest thing you’ve had to face in your career and how did you overcome it? What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers or content creators?

I suffered from imposter syndrome for a long time. I didn’t know how to believe in myself or know my worth, and I ended up in some situations where I was exploited and taken advantage of. That caused me to reach a point of burnout, where I almost quit editing all together. Luckily, I was able to take a break and slowly work my way back into feeling good about it again, thanks to a few great directors and editors that mentored me and supported me. My advice would be to try to have strong boundaries, don’t be too hard on yourself, and join organizations that offer mentorship and connections. Editing can be lonely!

Share a photo of where you work.

Image source: Eileen Meyer.

What’s your favorite thing about your workspace and why?

I love having big windows. It’s a myth that editors like to edit in a dark cave, unless you’re doing a lot of color correction which requires very specific lighting conditions. Sunlight is very important for mental health. I also love my two assistant editors, June and Birdman, keeping me company on the client couch.

Crip Camp is currently streaming on Netflix.