“Narcos” editor challenged by bilingual script

“Narcos” editor challenged by bilingual script

By April Newell originally written for webn.tv. 

Leo Trombetta, Editor of Netflix Original Series "Narcos". 

“After working on two seasons of ‘Narcos,’ I still only know one word in Spanish,” said Emmy nominated editor Leo Trombetta. “Listo. I’ve come to understand that it means ‘ready’.”

“Narcos” producers handpicked Trombetta because of his excellence in single-camera editing.  According to Trombetta, this method of photography is more time consuming, but gives the director much more control of the shot.  Trombetta has worked in single-camera style editing for over 20 years.

“I loved the challenge of “Narcos.”  I do not speak Spanish, so I had to have a translator help me understand the lines while I was editing.  The actors also ad-libbed on set instead of following a precise script. Overall, this was a one of a kind piece for me to work on,” said Trombetta.

The video editor said that one of his favorite movies inspired his interest in “Narcos” and also influenced his editing choices. In 1990, Trombetta worked on the mob film Good Fellas.He compared the helicopter chase scene to a similar one in “Narcos.”

“You just get that anticipation of a chase scene going, and it all starts to make sense. The paranoia, the gunshots, the helicopter whirls, all of it,” said Trombetta.  “I loved Good Fellas, and it felt good to feel that way again about ‘Narcos’.”

Although Trombetta has been nominated for several Emmys in the past, he said he is always surprised and extremely grateful to be selected.

“I never believe they’ve got the right guy,” said Trombetta. “I love my job and what I do, but I’ve never expected to win anything for my work.  I’m just happy to collaborate with such amazing artists everyday.”

Trombetta is now working on “13 Reasons Why.” It is a Netflix series adapted from the best selling novel by Jay Asher. “13 Reasons Why” is expected to premiere next year.