Brent White


Brent White is an American film editor with credits on feature films dating from 1993. White has worked on comedy films produced by Judd Apatow, and directed by Apatow, Adam McKay or Paul Feig.

Education

White received his bachelor's degree in film production from the BYU [College of Fine Arts and Communications] in 1983.

Editing techniques

White's work as an editor on the films directed by Apatow and McKay is unusual because of the importance of the actors' improvisations. Eric Melin's review of the film Talladega Nights focuses on this aspect of White's editing,
the MVP of the movie is most definitely editor Brent White. Just as he did with 2004's Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, White had to choose the best scenes from hours and hours of wildly different takes to fashion together something with a narrative arc that resembles a movie. It can't be easy work, but he had a little more story to work with than he did in the uneven Anchorman. Minor continuity errors be damned, Talladega Nights is one funny film.

The editing of Knocked Up was described in a feature article by Stephen Rodrick in The New York Times. Rodrick emphasizes the many different versions of the film that were created before deciding on the version that was released, "By the end of last month, when the final edit was done, I had seen five or six versions of Knocked Up. While the arc of the film remained the same, seemingly every line had been traded in and out".

Personal life

White is married and has four children. He lives in the Los Angeles area.

Selected filmography

YearFilmDirectorRoleNotes
1988The Milagro Beanfield WarRobert RedfordApprentice editorFirst collaboration with Robert Redford
1989GloryEdward ZwickAssistant editor
1991Virgin HighRichard GabaiAssistant editor
1991Double ImpactSheldon LettichAdditional editing
1992Stop! Or My Mom Will ShootRoger SpottiswoodeAssociate film editor
1992A River Runs Through ItRobert RedfordAdditional editorSecond collaboration with Robert Redford
1993FlashfireElliot SilversteinAssociate film editor
1995Home for [the Holidays (1995 film)|Home for the Holidays]Jodie FosterFirst assistant editor
2005Steal MeMelissa PainterConsulting editorSecond collaboration with Melissa Painter
2008The Great Buck HowardSean McGinlyAdditional editor
2010She's Out of My LeagueJim Field SmithAdditional editing

YearFilmDirectorRole
2008Step BrothersAdam McKayTherapy Patient

YearFilmDirectorRole
2012Ben BanksBryce ClarkVery special thanks
2021FinchMiguel SapochnikThe filmmakers gratefully thank

;Direct-to-video films
YearFilmDirector
2004Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost MovieAdam McKay

;Shorts
YearFilmDirectorRole
2006The ShowdownSpecial thanks
2014The VisitantNicholas PetersonSpecial thanks

;TV movies
YearFilmDirector
1996Critical ChoicesClaudia Weill
1996Dojo KidsSusan Rohrer
1998The Patron Saint of LiarsStephen Gyllenhaal
1998Mr. MurderDick Lowry
1999Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' [First 100 Years (film)|Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years]Lynne Littman

YearFilmDirectorRole
1990Johnny RyanRobert L. CollinsAssistant editor
1993And [the Band Played On (film)|And the Band Played On]Roger SpottiswoodeAdditional editor

;TV series
YearTitleNotes
1998Mr. Murder2 episodes
2000Freaks and Geeks5 episodes
2001All Souls1 episode
2002Undeclared2 episodes
2002The Job1 episode
2004−05Desperate Housewives5 episodes
2017SMILF1 episode
2017Future Man5 episodes
2020Love Life1 episode
2021The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers3 episodes

YearTitleRoleNotes
2022Welcome to FlatchAdditional editor1 episode

;TV shorts
YearFilmDirector
2003Life on ParoleJon Favreau

;TV specials