Xavier Russell BFE | Editor
OFTA TELEVISION AWARD NOMINEE BEST EDITING, EMMY NOMINATION OUTSTANDING SINGLE CAMERA EDITING
Xavier has film in his blood; his father Ken was a director and mother Shirley a costume designer. His introduction to the cutting rooms came as a trainee assistant for Jeremy Thomas when Jeremy was an editor!
Xavier then began using his musical background to effect (having been a freelance journalist for ‘Sounds’, ‘Kerrang!’ and currently ‘Rock Candy Magazine’) and started editing musical documentaries winning a ‘Prix Italia’ for VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: A SYMPHONIC PORTRAIT and a BAFTA for Howard Godhall’s BIG BANGS, a musical documentaryseries.
Xavier’s move from documentary into drama came on the ground-breaking BBC 2 series THIS LIFE shot on just one side of the line, and the use of handheld cameras gave the drama a more realistic edge. Since then, he has edited a wide range of dramas including DRACULA, KILLING JESUS, STRIKE BACK, THREE PINES and KILLING EVE for which Xavier won the ‘Bulldog Award for Best Editing’. More recently, Xavier changed gear again and moved into the Drama Documentary genre editing the highly praised TRUE HAUNTING for Netflix and Raw TV and MYSTERY OF THE TERRACOTTA WARRIORS for which Xavier was nominated an ‘Emmy’ for ‘Outstanding single camera Editing’, and ‘The International Peace Award’ at the 2024 Asian Film Festival.’
"I’ve always had a great experience working with Xavier, particularly on The Red King. For a show that mixed genres, it was invaluable to have an editor with his experience, full of ideas and enthusiasm, with a great handle on both the horror and the humour. He works fast, whether that’s at assembly stage, in the fine cut or dealing with notes, so you’re never waiting. A great collaborator, it’s always fun to work with him."
Director Daniel O’Hara.
“Xavier, thank you so much for your boundless enthusiasm and all the hard work you've put into our new cuts on ‘True Haunting’, which are such a success. It's been a delight to work with you. Thank you for your conscientiousness, good humour and being the vital liaison for music and gfx. We couldn't have done it without you. Hoping to work with you again.”
Executive Producer, Lindsay Shapero, Raw TV