
The premier Post and Production event series Sight, Sound & Story continues!
Sight, Sound & Story Halloween Edition: Cutting Chaos, Crime & Cult Classics
Inside Episode XLVIII: This Halloween, Sight, Sound & Story gathers a powerhouse lineup of editors to showcase the art of cutting across genres, from crime thrillers to outrageous cult horror.
Josh Ethier, ACE, will discuss shaping character and comedy in "Jimmy & Stiggs."
Geofrey Hildrew, ACE, BFE, will break down his approach to tension and grit in "The Bondsman." Rounding out the panel, Brett W. Bachman, ACE, and James Thomas, ACE, will share their collaborative process on the wild reimagining of "The Toxic Avenger," exploring how editing can heighten chaos, absurdity, and shock value.
Moderated by Chad Anderson, the evening will feature scenes from all three films, offering an inside look at how editors build tone, craft rhythm, and keep audiences hooked.
Moderator: Chad Anderson (Manhattan Edit Workshop & Brookdale Community College)
Panelists: Editors Brett W. Bachman, ACE ("The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Toxic Avenger"), Josh Ethier, ACE ("Don't Move," "Jimmy & Stiggs"), Geofrey Hildrew, ACE, BFE ("Pacific Rim," "The Bondsman"), and James Thomas, ACE ("A Minecraft Movie," "The Toxic Avenger")
When: Thursday, October 30th, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
General Admission: FREE!
All attendees who register for this event will receive a link and password before the start of the event. This will gain free access for attendees. This will also give free replays for 48 hours.
MASTER STORYTELLER SPONSORS
TECHNOLOGY SPONSORS
Panelists*:
Brett W. Bachman, ACE, is an editor of film & television with acclaimed titles such as "Mandy," "Pig," and "The Fall of the House of Usher." He has worked with leading voices in genre film, such as Panos Cosmatos, Mike Flanagan, Josh Ruben, and Elijah Wood. Several of his feature films have premiered at renowned international festivals, including Sundance, TIFF, SXSW, and Cannes. He's also brought his talents to the small screen with numerous television and commercial projects.
Recent and upcoming titles include: "The Fall of the House of Usher," a Netflix original series from Mike Flanagan; "Companion," a thriller from writer/director Drew Hancock and New Line Cinema; and "Rabbit Trap," a supernatural mystery starring Dev Patel.
Additional titles include "Werewolves Within," "Color Out of Space," "The Toxic Avenger," "The Vigil," "Cooties," and many more.
Bachman found his love of editing in his formative years, developing a passion for storytelling through three self-produced documentaries when he was just 19. At 22 years old, he was one of the youngest members of his AFI Conservatory editing program. Since then, he's nurtured his love of filmmaking with an array of eclectic projects as an Editor, Associate Producer, and Executive Producer. He is a member of IATSE 700 and is represented by UTA.
Originally from Rhode Island, Josh Ethier, ACE, is a renowned Los Angeles-based film editor who has left a lasting mark on the horror, thriller, and action genres; he literally wears his passion for the genres on his sleeve. His works have premiered at esteemed film festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Tribeca Film Festival, Beyond Fest, and Fantastic Fest. Most recently, Ethier edited Netflix’s horror feature “Don’t Move” – produced by Sam Raimi and starring Kelsey Asbille and Finn Wittrock – and, in collaboration with editor Brett W. Bachman, the Warner Bros. film “Companion” – starring Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, and Harvey Guillén.
Ethier is most well known for his frequent collaborations with director Joe Begos, with whom he has crafted a unique, Loud, and impactful cinematic style. Their partnership has resulted in several acclaimed films, including "Bliss," a psychedelic horror film that explores the descent of an artist into madness; "VFW," a gritty, action-packed thriller about war veterans defending their local VFW post from a drug-addled gang; and most recently, "Christmas Bloody Christmas," a festive yet terrifying holiday horror film that's streaming on Shudder. These collaborations have resonated with audiences and critics alike, showcasing Ethier's ability to enhance Begos' visionary storytelling through his editing.
Ethier's impressive filmography includes notable titles such as Oz Perkins' "Gretel & Hansel" for Orion Pictures and MGM, a dark reimagining of the classic fairy tale; William Brent Bell's "Orphan: First Kill," the prequel to the cult horror favorite for Paramount Pictures; Henry Dunham's "The Standoff at Sparrow Creek," a tense, dialogue-driven thriller about a mass shooting at a police funeral; and "Mayhem," a high-octane action horror film starring Steven Yeun that highlights his versatility as an editor of action and comedy.
In 2021, Ethier's contributions to film editing were formally recognized when he was invited to join American Cinema Editors (ACE), an honor that signifies his standing in the industry amongst his peers. His career is marked by a commitment to excellence and a passion for storytelling, making him one of the most respected and sought-after editors in independent genre cinema.
Geofrey Hildrew ACE, BFE, is a highly accomplished film and television editor/director who hails from Hershey, Pennsylvania. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Columbia University and a Master’s degree in Film and TV Production from the University of Southern California.
During his time in New York, Geofrey worked as a development intern at Cappa Productions, under the mentorship of Barbara DeFina and Martin Scorsese. Subsequently, he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue his graduate studies and continued to excel in development at The Steve Tisch Company. As part of his studies at USC, Geofrey directed and edited his thesis film, "Big Time," which made its debut at USC's First Look Film Festival in 2004 and garnered recognition throughout the festival circuit.
In 2014, Geofrey was honored with admission into the prestigious American Cinema Editors (ACE). Recently, he achieved a remarkable milestone in his career by completing his 100th hour of scripted television editing. Noteworthy credits in his portfolio encompass a diverse range of projects, including "Dirty Sexy Money" (ABC), "V"(WB/ABC), "Extant" (Amblin/CBS), "The Tick" (Amazon), "For the People" (Shondaland/ABC), "Amazing Stories" (Amblin/AppleTV+), "Carnival Row "(Amazon), "The Walking Dead" (AMC), "True Story" (Netflix), and "Painkiller" (Netflix). Notably, Geofrey played a pivotal role in editing all seven seasons of ABC's popular fantasy drama, "Once Upon a Time," and also showcased his directorial talent in three acclaimed episodes.
While Geofrey thrives in the realm of television, he also finds great satisfaction in working on independent feature films. He served as editor and executive producer for the film "Things Never Said," collaborating with the esteemed Writer/Director Charles Murray. Additionally, he edited the gripping thrillers "Careful What You Wish For" and his second collaboration with Charles Murray, "The Devil You Know."
James Thomas, ACE, is a London-born editor who now lives and works in Los Angeles. His most recent credit includes "A Minecraft Movie." The cultural phenomenon was directed by Jared Hess and stars Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastian Hansen. His first feature credit was "Borat - Cultural Learning of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." After the worldwide success of that movie, he continued his 20-year collaboration with Sacha Baron Cohen, cutting all of the British comedian's subsequent films. He has also edited "The Muppets, Muppets Most Wanted," "Pokémon: Detective Pikachu," and the upcoming "The Toxic Avenger."
Chad Anderson is a college professor, animation geek, poet, video editor & skateboarder from the Jersey Shore. He has worked on various editing and visual FX projects for corporate, educational, broadcast, non-profit, and military organizations all over the country (and once in Korea). Previous clients have included E! Entertainment, "The Charlie Rose Show," the WB, The Count Basie Theatre, and a film that went straight to video with John Stamos in it. He holds a Master’s in Education from NJCU and has been teaching for over 18 years. His favorite movie is "Joe Versus the Volcano."