On My Radar: Guy Savin

What’s the most creative advertising idea you’ve seen recently?

I recently had the privilege of creating a memorial reel for the great Ringan Ledwidge. His body of work stretches over many years and every single film we added to the reel, which was nearly 30 minutes long, had its own piece of brilliance within it. A talent as great as his is so missed in our industry today. 

This spot for the COI was the one that, from an editor’s point of view stood out. It's so simple, brutal and thought-provoking. The bravery of all involved was truly inspiring. 

What website(s) do you use most regularly?

The BBC website, Sniff Petrol, and Cricinfo. The BBC, as their website offers a window not just for real news from across the world, but is a mine of information that you need daily. Sniff Petrol is one of the best places for all things cars, told with a slightly satirical and humorous tone. Cricinfo feeds my love of cricket and is one of the best places for the latest updates and news in the world of cricket.

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought?

While I can’t use them for work, they have a delay, a pair of Air Pod Pro 2. Their functionality is amazing, and for travelling they are the perfect way to listen to radio music and podcasts, and the odd film or two. Oh, and they don’t have a wire that gets wrapped around stuff in your bag.

What product could you not live without?

Having tried, I think this would be Marmite. It is one of the most versatile products in my kitchen. It’s a breakfast staple and an interesting way to add a little flavour to a sauce or ragu. I know you either love it or hate it.

What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year?

Oppenheimer and Evil Does Not Exist were both excellent pieces of work. I found the storytelling in Oppenheimer brilliant, telling it from his point of view and not distracting from the wider picture of the politics and events of the time. Evil Does Not Exist is a beautifully told story and a true indulgence in cinema. The unhurried pace of the dialogue and the way the camera is used, shots composed and held for so long was an inspiring piece of filmmaking I would recommend.

What film do you think everyone should have seen?

Over the past few months, I have revisited a few films from my youth that inspired my path into editing. Kes, Get Carter, The Italian Job – the original Caine versions – but the one that stands out the most is Uli Edel’s Christiane F. This harrowing story based on the true confessions of a young woman in Berlin in the 1970s had such an influence on me discovering a path into filmmaking and on to be a film editor.

What’s your preferred social media platform?

I stopped using Facebook years back. To me, it became a little old-fashioned, with an annoying, constant bombardment of unrelated ads and some of the objectionable content. Instagram I rarely use it now, and it seems to have become similar to Facebook. A congested marketplace rather than what it started as; a social picture-sharing forum. YouTube, being the daddy of social media, is no better place to disappear into a wormhole. You can go from wood turning to model plane making and on to a conspiracy theory or two, all on a wet Sunday afternoon. 

However, the likes of Mat Armstrong and Tavarish have now started to get my attention for an interesting watch when I get the chance. LinkedIn is my social site of choice, a great place to connect with people in our industry, and to showcase your work to the people who matter. I’m just starting to figure out BlueSky as an alternative to X which seems to have descended into chaos and quite poisonous content.

What’s your favourite TV show?

Having always enjoyed watching TV we are, I think, now spoiled for choice, and it is so mood dependent. Ripley was one of the standout series recently. The cinematography was breathtaking, the performances were brilliant, and the production design outstanding. Andrew Scott in the lead role was a masterstroke of casting. Having only known him from his roles in James Bond as C, and the priest in the brilliantly fun Fleabag. Also of note was the wonderful Slow Horses and Rivals. A show that always gives me an emotional reaction, the BBC’s The Repair Shop; I just love it and will be in tears by the end.

What’s your favourite podcast?

As someone recently said, “Arh, the podcast, it's Radio 4 for the modern age”. This is another difficult one to answer as there are many good ones. The BBC Sounds’ Toast, which discusses the downfalls of some of the UK's most loved businesses, is fascinating and an insight into how business works and then fails. Working it out is a fun listen that I enjoy from time to time, it's comedians just trying to create funny stuff. Then, finally, I'm a big fan of Smith and Sniff, which is a spin-off from the Sniff Petrol website. It feeds my nerdy petrolhead-ness. 

What show/exhibition has most inspired you recently?

Shooting the Mafia, at The Photographers’ Gallery, was recommended by an old producer friend, it is amazing. Letizia Battaglia's body of work as a press photographer in Sicily, shot over three decades, is very inspiring. Her documenting everyday life, alongside the brutal reality of life surrounding the Cosa Nostra and their victims in Sicily during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s produced some of the most incredible images of their time. I would highly recommend but, be warned, you may need a strong stomach.

If you could only listen to one music artist from now on, who would it be?

I can’t start to answer this as I have such a broad appreciation of music. It’s like being given 100 hours of rushes and asked to make a 30-second film with no script. OK I’ll start with Gabriel, Bowie, Michael and Verdi, and I’ll get back to you