Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/790371
45 Q1 2017 / CINEMONTAGE 45 Q1 2017 / CINEMONTAGE the requirements of the artists who were contributing songs. "There can be whole scenes that go in, come out, go in, come out, which is obviously tricky for our plans for a song," Abbott explains. "There were times when we were really proud of transitions we did from score to song or song to score, and then, it turns out we scored to a song that no longer is in the movie; it got replaced. That's just how it works, so you jump on your Pro Tools and look for a solution." Rubin notes that other types of challenges required innovative solutions as well. "A similar puzzle in both films were the main title songs," she says. "Once again, wanting to honor many masters, we decided on another 'Easter egg' from the book series — either an artist or a song that was mentioned in the book. In the first film, we got the amazing Annie Lennox to cover Screamin' Jay Hawkins' 'I Put a Spell on You', and in Darker, we got Corinne Bailey Rae to cover Coldplay's 'The Scientist.' Neither were easy feats." Abbott continues, "This is where Angie and I got to work creatively, hand-in-hand, with the blessings of the filmmakers, the artists and the studio. We got to structure the songs in both cases, and have Danny add orchestra for even more cinematic flourishes, while Richard worked with us to make sure everything hit where it needed to — sometimes adding, sometimes losing seconds of picture. It truly was a team effort in every sense of the term." Both editors repeatedly emphasized that sense of team, or "family" as Rubin put it, when talking about the musical achievements of the first two Fifty Shades movies. "This is definitely not a family film," Rubin chuckles. "But I think the team that made the movie really is a great family. In fact, getting to work with Bill kind of reminded me of the old days of the Gershwins — one writes the music and one writes the lyrics. Not that we did that literally; we are music editors. But we are that kind of a team, and that felt really good." f