Edgar Wright on How He Writes and Directs His Movies | The Director's Chair

Edgar Wright explains how he writes, directs, edits and soundtracks movies like Baby Driver and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
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Chapters:
00:00 Who is Edgar Wright?
03:45 Flipping Genre
06:18 Script Roadmaps
07:58 Music & Visuals
10:09 Storyboard Everything
12:28 Transitions & Quick Cuts
13:56 Advice for Filmmakers
14:54 What's Next for Edgar?
Edgar Wright has only directed 6 feature films. Take a moment to let that sink in. A Fistful of Fingers, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, The World’s End, Baby Driver - each an instant classic in their respective genres. Few filmmakers have been able to create such an impression so quickly and this is not an accident. In this video, our latest installment in The Director’s Chair series, we’ve collected Edgar Wright interviews from throughout his career that collectively explain his filmmaking process.
Long before his beloved Cornetto Trilogy, Edgar Wright movies exhibited a unique visual comedy with his trademark "Edgar Wright Transitions" (aka quick cuts), and a sophisticated approach to flipping genres at the writing stage. Even his short films like A Fistful of Fingers have that “Edgar Wright directing style” written all over them. In his screenwriting, Edgar Wright is openly drawn to genre films, and, as he explains, the formulas they provide become road maps to creativity. Consider the effortless blend of the zombie and romantic comedy subgenres in Shaun of the Dead, or the glowing homage to action films in Hot Fuzz.
Music is also a major element in Edgar Wright movies. In Baby Driver, he wrote the screenplay with specific songs in mind with the plan to edit the scenes to match the music. In fact, he reveals that they created a feature-length animatic, timed to the beat, before shooting even began. But again, this is nothing new - you’ll recall the thrilling execution of the barkeep beatdown set to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” in Shaun of the Dead.
In these Edgar Wright interviews, it becomes immediately apparent that this is a filmmaker in love with his medium. With his visual comedy, trademark "Edgar Wright transitions" (quick cuts), detailed screenwriting methods, and precise storyboarding, Wright is in complete control of his filmmaking. And this gives us, the audience, the ability to just sit back and watch a master at work.
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