Go inside the cutting room of Pluribus, the highly anticipated series from Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. In this exclusive Sight, Sound & Story conversation, moderator Josh Apter sits down with editors Skip Macdonald, ACE, Chris McCaleb, ACE, and Joey Liew to explore the creative editorial process behind one of television's most intriguing new dramas.
Set in a world transformed by a mysterious event that links nearly all of humanity into a shared consciousness, Pluribus blends thriller, mystery, science fiction, and dark humor into a unique storytelling experience. The editorial team discusses how they crafted the show's distinctive tone, balanced suspense with humor, and shaped the emotional journeys that drive the series.
Drawing on years of collaboration with Vince Gilligan, the editors reveal how their creative partnership influences story structure, pacing, character development, and visual storytelling. Through exclusive scene breakdowns and behind-the-scenes insights, they discuss the challenges of editing complex narrative sequences, maintaining tension, and delivering the cinematic style audiences have come to expect from Gilligan's productions.
Whether you're a film editor, filmmaker, television professional, student, or fan of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and Pluribus, this episode offers a rare look at the art and craft of editing prestige television.
Moderator: Josh Apter (Founder & Owner, Manhattan Edit Workshop)
Panelists:
Skip Macdonald, ACE (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul)
Chris McCaleb, ACE (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul)
Joey Liew (Better Call Saul, Rabbit Hole)
Topics Covered
Editing Vince Gilligan's Pluribus
Television editing techniques
Story structure and pacing
Balancing thriller, mystery, and dark comedy
Character-driven storytelling
Collaboration between editors and showrunners
Scene breakdowns and editorial workflows
Visual storytelling and narrative tension
Post-production for prestige television
Behind-the-scenes insights from Pluribus
