Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1061972
57 Q4 2018 / CINEMONTAGE film. Was it in the script that way or did you guys add it? NS: That was 100 percent Joi. JM: At one point, Barry was e-mailing one of our producers about the language of the movie and exactly what the film represents. To sum up his e-mail, Barry included a quote from James Baldwin at the end. I remember upon reading it how the quote really stuck with me, so I suggested, "What about opening the film with that quote?" And he said, "Let's do it." And that's how the quote at the beginning came about. CM: Joi, you were the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Oscar for editing. Can you talk about diversity in post-production — and how it is changing? JM: I recently spoke at a panel at the LA Film Festival called Below the Line and Buried. It was made up of different ethnicities currently working as heads of their below-the-line departments. When asked why there is a lack of diversity below the line, I replied, "Access and education." If young people aren't exposed to what these departments are, then how are they to know that pursuing a career in these fields is possible for them? I believe my nomination shined a light on the lack of diversity in the cutting room and, after the Moonlight exposure, I did get a lot of e-mails from people inquiring, "Do you know any black female editors who you would recommend?" CM: How did you handle that? JM: Some of my friends joke and call me "the agent for assistant editors," due to the fact that if someone reaches out to me, I try to help them find a job. I know what it was like job-hunting with no one returning your calls, so I like to be of assistance any way I can. I do know quite a few black female editors and I'm getting to know more and more each day. There is also a group of women that I help to mentor with my own editing mentor, Terilyn Shropshire. We try to get together at least three or four times a year and have brunch, make contacts and support each other. There are people who are passionate about getting into this area of the industry but they lack access to the jobs. This industry can be isolating at times, so my goal is to bring these females together in order for them to have a sense of community. I think it's helpful to realize that it's not just you out there trying to forge If Beale Street Could Talk. Annapurna Pictures