Editor of Fourth Episode Portrays Abuse of Baby Reindeer
Baby Reindeer editor Peter Oliver believes that the pacing of the 11-time Emmy-nominated limited series is one of the key factors that make the dark comedy thriller work so well. However, he credits much of the success to the show’s harrowing fourth episode, which earned him his first Emmy nomination alongside Benjamin Gerstein.
“I originally tried to make it more frenetic with a jump-cut style, but director Weronika Tofilska slowed it down,” Oliver explains. He agrees that it was the right decision and mentions that one of the stylistic references given to him early on was Danny Boyle’s 1996 film Trainspotting.
While the Netflix series primarily focuses on Donny Dunn (Richard Gadd) being stalked by Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning), the fourth episode, for which Oliver and Gerstein are nominated, dives into a flashback of Dunn’s grooming, drugging, and sexual assault by a mentor.
“We put a lot of effort into the drug scenes to avoid them being too over-the-top,” Oliver recalls. “We also needed to find the right balance in the pacing of the scenes, especially during the abuse elements.”
According to Gerstein, they felt a great responsibility in portraying the traumatic part of Gadd’s story, and the rhythm of the episode was crucial in keeping the audience engaged.
Tofilska and Gadd, the show’s creator, whose real-life experience inspired Baby Reindeer, were involved in the editing process to ensure it was treated as a piece of art. Oliver emphasizes the importance of staying true to the performances and letting the natural progression of scenes unfold.
Courtesy of Netflix
Oliver also highlights the importance of audio in enhancing the narrative of Baby Reindeer, explaining how sound contributes as much as visuals to telling the story subliminally. He mentions specific instances where audio cues added depth to scenes.
Reflecting on the editing process, Oliver mentions that working on the show took longer due to the extensive exploration of Gadd’s life. Despite the challenges, he embraced the quirks of the process, making it a unique experience.
This story was first featured in a stand-alone August issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To get the magazine, click here to subscribe.