Cory Stillman
Editor Maura Corey is no stranger to fan-favorite television, having cut together episodes of hit series such as Amazon’s Gen V and AMC’s Kevin Can F**k Himself, but few series over the last several years have captured audiences’ attention like Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody as the most unlikely of lovers.
“Kristen Bell and Adam Brody made that chemistry easy as their performances were dialed in from the beginning,” says Corey. “They have a natural ease with each other and know how to use the camera. So when the moments of chemistry came up, I had plenty of material to land the steamy looks.”
Bell’s Joanne is an agnostic podcaster who dishes relationship advice alongside her sister Morgan (Justine Lupe), while Brody’s Noah is a committed rabbi recovering from a recent breakup. Their values may clash, but their romance is inevitable.
As Corey points out, “they are so damn charming.”
With a background in improv comedy, Corey has always demonstrated a knack for comedic timing in her editing work, which made her a natural fit for Nobody Wants This and its humorous examination of love, sex, faith, and more. Corey’s improv training prepared her to keep up with the show’s own improvised performances as well!
“The scene in the temple at the end of the pilot where Sasha (Timothy Simons) is asleep and he’s tapped awake by his wife Ester (Jackie Tohn) was improvised,” Corey explains. “It’s a small moment but brings the scene to life. And Sherry Cola improvised a lot of lines in the party scene. So including those moments is such a treat because when they work, they really really work.”
Check out our full conversation with editor Maura Corey below!
How did you approach setting the tone for Nobody Wants This while editing the pilot?
Tone was very important to us from the very start. I wanted to make sure that Joanne and Noah came off as loveable and funny and real. So it was important not only to make the jokes land but also create chemistry with our heroes. Kristen Bell and Adam Brody made that chemistry easy as their performances were dialed in from the beginning. They have a natural ease with each other and know how to use the camera. So when the moments of chemistry came up, I had plenty of material to land the steamy looks. Also the relationships with their siblings needed to feel real. So timing the dialogue and picking the right takes was very important. And lastly music. I wanted to make sure that the music supported the scenes but didn’t take them over. Also I was very judicious with the score. This couldn’t be wall to wall music or it would feel too much and too jokey. We were very lucky to have Este Haim as our music supervisor. She provided us with some killer indie needle drops to add to the bigger songs we used as well.
What unique challenges did the pilot present, and how did you overcome them to establish the series’ style?
You know, pilots are tricky. Finding the voice of the show is a balancing act. So I would say the biggest challenge was time. Schedule is always the issue. But having such a great director in Greg Mottola was a plus for me. His footage was good and felt very verité. Almost like we were stepping into Joanne and Noah’s world so honoring the footage was important and finding those perfect gems in performances to make it feel real. So taking the time to work the scenes to the best they can be was my biggest focus. Once I had the first cut, I knew we had something special.
What kind of preparation do you typically do before editing a comedy series, and did you do anything differently for this show?
Editing comedy is very much like doing improv. There is not much you can do to prepare, but you have to be able to react. I like to let the footage tell me where it wants to go. That happens with not only the directorial choices but the performances as well. As I said before Kristen and Adam are great, but what I didn’t say is the supporting cast is phenomenal as well. Justin Lupe, Jackie Tohn, Sherry Cola and Timothy Simons brought their A game. Not only with hilarious performances but some fun improv. The scene in the temple at the end of the pilot where Sasha (Timothy Simons) is asleep and he’s tapped awake by his wife Ester (Jackie Tohn) was improvised. It’s a small moment but brings the scene to life. And Sherry Cola improvised a lot of lines in the party scene. So including those moments is such a treat because when they work, they really really work.
How do you handle moments when comedy and drama intersect in a way that could affect the pacing?
I think the best comedy is that which has a heart. So pacing the jokes just right to make someone laugh is always challenging. Then going into dramatic moments, the pacing changes to feel the weight of the moment. It’s really a gut thing. Yes comedy is generally cut fast, and drama is generally holding on shots longer. But how long? That’s the challenge. So making those timing choices is super important. I know something is working when I can watch it 100 times and still feel the sweet moments and the funny moments.
Was there a character arc you particularly enjoyed shaping through the editing choices?
I absolutely love the sister/sister relationship and the brother/brother. I really felt like I was watching siblings throughout the season. And the “loser sibling” bonding between Sasha and Morgan just slayed me. I loved their dynamic.
And of course Noah and Joanne falling in love. They are so damn charming.
How do you decide to transition to another character’s story during an episode? How do you balance multiple storylines?
Transitioning between storylines starts at the script level. So there is a basic structure put in place. That said, once the episode has been filmed, the structure is more often than not shuffled around for the perfect balance. If certain characters go away for too long, their story points do not connect. So shuffling the scenes until there is the perfect structure is paramount to a good story. And when that happens then I can create a story that is not only sweet but funny and romantic. And makes you want to watch the episode again and again.
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