Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1488780
Director Matthew Gentile, right, with actor Ryan Phillippe. P H OT O : N E W P O R T B E AC H F I L M F E S T I VA L 54 C I N E M O N T A G E F E A T U R E By Rob Feld M a t t A l l e n a n d M a t t h e w G e n - t i l e we re s e p a rate d by a few years while attending American Film Institute, but the two came togeth- er to collaborate on their first feature film, DRIVEN TOGETHER IN THE DEPTH OF THE PANDEMIC, THE DIRECTOR OF 'AMERICAN MURDERER' FOUND HIS PERFECT EDITOR. 'YOU HIRE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB.' "American Murderer." Gentile is a director who was finally given the opportunity to make his first commercial film on a budget that has a few zeros behind it. Sticking with a less expe- rienced editor might be a gutsy move, but it speaks to the depth of collaboration and trust that can develop between a director and editor. Allen and Gentile developed a creative partnership during the pandemic lockdown, when Allen offered to help create previsualizations of "American Murderer"