Dody Jane Dorn (born April 20, 1955) is an American

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

and sound editor. She is best known for working with director

Christopher Nolan Sir Christopher Edward Nolan (born 30 July 1970) is a British and American filmmaker. Known for his Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters with complex storytelling, he is considered a leading filmma ...

on several films including '' Memento'' (2000), for which she was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

.Nesselson, Lisa (2000)
"Reviews: ''Memento''"
''Variety'' September 14, 2000. Dorn has also worked multiple times with director

Ridley Scott Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is an English film director and producer. He directs films in the Science fiction film, science fiction, Crime film, crime, and historical drama, historical epic genres, with an atmospheric and highly co ...

Life and career

Dorn was born into a film industry family, her father having worked as a

set designer Scenic design, also known as stage design or set design, is the creation of scenery for theatrical productions including plays and musicals. The term can also be applied to film and television productions, where it may be referred to as prod ...

and film producer.Wood, Jennifer M. (2004). , ''

MovieMaker Magazine ''MovieMaker'' is a magazine, website and podcast network focused on the art and business of filmmaking with a special emphasis on independent film and film festivals. The magazine is published on a quarterly basis, and is known for the annual l ...

'' February 3, 2007. Webpage archived at WebCite fro
this original URL
on March 6, 2008. Dorn attended

Hollywood High School Hollywood High School is a four-year public secondary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California. His ...

and it was there that she decided to pursue a career as a math teacher.Kaufman, Debra (2004)
"A Memento from Dody Dorn"
''Studio Daily'' July 1, 2004. Webpage archived at WebCite fro

on March 6, 2008. A job behind the scenes at a movie

sound stage A sound stage (also written soundstage) is a large, soundproof structure, building or room with large doors and high ceilings, used for the production of theatrical film-making and television productions, usually located on a secured movie or te ...

led her towards working in the film industry. Dorn appeared in two films as an actress (including a nude "Archbishop" in the 1976 satire ''

Tunnel Vision Tunnel vision is the loss of peripheral vision with retention of central vision, resulting in a constricted circular tunnel-like field of vision. Causes Tunnel vision can be caused by: Eyeglass users Eyeglass users experience tunnel vision ...

''), before moving behind the camera. She worked her way up the food chain (working as a production assistant,

script supervisor A script supervisor (also called continuity supervisor or script) is a member of a film crew who oversees the continuity of the motion picture including dialogue and action during a scene. The script supervisor may also be called upon to ensure wa ...

, assistant

location manager The location manager is a member of the film crew responsible for finding and securing locations to be used, obtaining all fire, police and other governmental permits, and coordinating the logistics for the production to complete its work. They a ...

, and several other freelance jobs), before attaining the position of assistant film editor, which she held until 1982. Finding it unusually difficult to move up to picture editing, Dorn made a lateral move to sound editing. Her work as a sound editor on

James Cameron James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is a Canadian filmmaker, who resides in New Zealand. He is a major figure in the post-New Hollywood era and often uses novel technologies with a Classical Hollywood cinema, classical filmmaking styl ...

's ''

The Abyss ''The Abyss'' is a 1989 American science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron and starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. When an American submarine sinks in the Caribbean, a US search and recovery tea ...

'' (1989) won the Golden Reel Award and was nominated for a best sound

. In 1986, she started her own sound company, Sonic Kitchen, but with time, got more and more disenchanted and distracted with the daily business grind. Dorn had begun to lose interest and was compelled to get back to her passion, feature film picture editing. It was the editing of '' Memento'' which brought Dody Dorn's picture editing to the attention of the rest of the world. She has since continued to work with director

on several films and has repeatedly worked with noted film director

. In addition to her credited editing on Scott's films, Dorn worked on the 2003 DVD releases of '' Alien'' (the "Director's Cut"). Dorn was selected for membership in the

American Cinema Editors Founded in 1950, American Cinema Editors (ACE) is an honorary society of film editing, film editors who are voted in based on the qualities of professional achievements, their education of others, and their dedication to editing. Members use the ...

Selected filmography

As film editor

As sound editor / assistant sound editor

*'' Max Dugan Returns'' (1983) (assistant sound editor) *''

Class Class, Classes, or The Class may refer to: Common uses not otherwise categorized * Class (biology), a taxonomic rank * Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects * Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used d ...

'' (1983) (sound editor) *'' The Big Chill'' (1983) (assistant sound editor) (uncredited) *'' Racing with the Moon'' (1984) ( Foley editor) *'' Silverado'' (1985) (Foley editor) *'' Children of a Lesser God'' (1986) (sound editor) *'' The Big Easy'' (1987) (sound editor) *'' Tapeheads'' (1988) (supervising sound editor) *''Powwow Highway'' (1989) (supervising sound editor) *''

'' (1989) (supervising sound editor) *'' The Big Picture'' (1989) (supervising sound editor) *'' State of Grace'' (1990) (supervising sound editor)

Accolades

*1990 ''

'' (won) Motion Picture Sound Editors MPSE Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing - Sound Effects w/ co-editor Blake Leyh *2001 - '' Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows'' (nominated) Emmy Award *2002 - '' Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows'' (nominated) ACE Eddie Award Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special *2002 - '' Memento'' (nominated)

Best Editing *2002 - '' Memento'' (nominated)

ACE Eddie Award Best Edited Feature Film - Dramatic *2002 - '' Memento'' (nominated) The

American Film Institute The American Film Institute (AFI) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors the heritage of the History of cinema in the United States, motion picture arts in the United States. AFI is supported by private fu ...

AFI Film Award AFI Editor of the Year *2002 - '' Memento'' (nominated) Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards PFCS Award Best Film Editing *2002 - '' Memento'' (won) Las Vegas Film Critics Society Film Awards - Sierra Award Best Editing *2003 - ''

Insomnia Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder where people have difficulty sleeping. They may have difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep for as long as desired. Insomnia is typically followed by daytime sleepiness, low ene ...

'' (nominated)

Satellite Awards The Satellite Awards are annual awards given by the International Press Academy that are commonly noted in entertainment industry journals and blogs. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards. The award ceremonies take place ...

Golden Satellite Award Best Film Editing In 2012, the

Motion Picture Editors Guild The Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG; IATSE Local 700) is the guild that represents freelance and staff motion picture and television editors and other post-production professionals and story analysts throughout the United States. The Motion Pi ...

listed ''Memento'' as the fourteenth best-edited film of all time based on a survey of its membership.

References

External links

*
New York Times: "Dody Dorn: Film Editor" credits
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dorn, Dody American film editors American women film editors 1955 births Living people American Cinema Editors Film people from Santa Monica, California 21st-century American women