Camilla Bartoli is an Italian-born film editor with an impressive portfolio of work. Her versatility as an editor is evident in her diverse projects, which include award-winning short films, TV docu-series, children’s educational shows, documentaries, and indie feature films. Camilla’s recent work as the editor of the award-winning short film Hallelujah has garnered significant attention in the film industry. The short was executive produced by Academy Award winner Spike Lee and directed by Victor Gabriel. Already making waves on the festival circuit, Hallelujah premiered at the renowned Sundance Film Festival and won the Grand Prix at the HollyShorts Film Festival which shortlisted it for the Oscars. A feature version of the story is currently in the works and is already gathering attention.
The film, described as a “traumedy” by the filmmakers, is a mix of dark and light tones, humor, and violence. It centers around Chetty and Paper, two brothers in Compton, CA, who must take on the guardianship of their nephew Hallelujah and their quiet niece Lila. The film deals with themes of family, responsibility, and the people we leave behind. The film had a small budget and was shot in the backyard of the director’s house in Compton, CA, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Despite the production’s limitations, the team’s commitment to the story resulted in a successful project. Proving that a strong and cohesive team can always create something that matters.
Camilla’s approach to editing is to always put the story first. It is important for her to separate herself from the shoot to be able to be fully objective when selecting the shots that will help shape the director’s vision for the story. She says, “Efficiency is the most important factor when editing a short film. You have to constantly remind yourself that you only have between 10 and 15 minutes to tell the story. If a scene, shot, or moment is not moving the story forward, cut it out”.
Camilla’s favorite challenge to overcome in the editing room is fixing scenes that are not convening the desired emotion. Looking through the footage for any shots, dialogues, or actions that will help her build the missing beat. The challenging part of editing Hallelujah was to make a 13-minute short that split into two tones; the comedy and wit in the dialogue and the tragedy of dealing with death and grief.
Camilla explains that “it was all a balancing act. A great rhythm and moving the story along are always key factors when editing. If a line isn’t delivered as intended, a shot is lingering, or a reaction is missing, the audience can be pulled away from the story. As editors, we trust our instincts to rework the scene by adding, removing or shifting frames to fix it”.
When asked about the success of the film, she says, “It has been incredible to attend all these festivals and get to hear what people have to say about the film. However, I will never get used to re-watching my work. Seeing the audience react emotionally to the story, confirming that all of the decisions taken in the editing room paid off, is what really matters”.
Various publications have recognized Camilla’s work on Hallelujah, and the film’s success has opened doors for her. She is an editor to watch out for in the coming years, and we can’t wait to see what she will do next.
