Cut to the Monkey: A Hollywood Editor’s Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Making Hit Comedies

by Roger Nygard

Cut to the Monkey is the story of a filmmaker’s journey through Hollywood—revealing the secrets behind how the experts find the funny in any project—by a filmmaker who has worked with some of the funniest people in the business and has edited Emmy-nominated episodes from series such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Veep, and Who Is America?

Nobody knows who first said, “Dying is easy, comedy is hard,” but almost everyone in the film business agrees it’s true. Roger Nygard shares his anecdotal experiences in television, features, and documentaries as a filmmaker and editor—struggles and successes any filmmaker can identify with. Nygard also includes tips for Hollywood professionals and fans alike on how to successfully navigate the business of being funny.

Along with a major focus on film editing, Nygard shares filmmaking stories that will leave readers feeling inspired and better prepared to deal with their own struggles. This book also features contributions about writing, creating, and editing comedy from some of the biggest names in the comedy business, including Judd Apatow (Girls, The 40-Year-Old Virgin), Alec Berg (Silicon Valley, Barry), Mike Binder (The Upside of Anger, Black or White), Larry David (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld, Veep), David Mandel (Veep, The White House Plumbers), Jeff Schaffer (The League, Dave), Krista Vernoff (Shameless, Grey’s Anatomy), and others.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Roger Nygard is probably most notorious for his acclaimed documentary Trekkies, about the most obsessive fans in the universe. Nygard’s other documentary work includes Six Days in Roswell, a profile of UFO fanatics, The Nature of Existence, which investigates the world’s philosophies, religions, and belief systems, The Truth About Marriage, covering an even more challenging subject than existence itself, and The Comedy Store, a documentary series about the world-famous Los Angeles comedy club. Nygard has also directed television series such as The Office and The Bernie Mac Show. His work as a film editor includes Grey’s Anatomy, The League, and Emmy-nominated episodes of Who Is America?, Veep, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Nygard’s previous book is Cut to the Monkey—A Hollywood Editor’s Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Making Hit Comedies. His new book is the ultimate go-to source for documentary filmmakers, The Documentarian—The Way to a Successful and Creative Life in the Documentary Business.

Reviews

[Bakunin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Most of the stuff in here is self-evident for those who have actually worked as a filmmaker.

[Shriviyas R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book is more about first hand experience with modern television comedy directors and getting into their brain rather than a book about editing as the title suggests. It's refreshing to see a book on filmmaking written by a person who has actually worked in Recognizable shows/movie instead of authors with a single movie which have like 4.6 in Imdb. Surprisingly it is very engaging and filled with facts in almost every other page.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The introduction states clearly that “...this book is about learning to find the funny in any project” and “a practical guide on how to prosper as an editor in the film business.” It hit those marks, bullseye, with a lot of fun quotes and interactions with Hollywood's top comedy writers, actors and directors.

However, “Cut to the Monkey” is about so much more than editing. It’s a book about everything editing, but also about pursuing excellence as a human being, no matter where we are or what we do. A sincere tip of the hat to you, sir.

Discussion about so much, practical tips, small picture and big picture are contained throughout: Live with your eyes open, have confidence, create, create, create, be loyal, be grateful, start now, show up prepared, become an expert, be insouciant, listen more than you speak, bring discipline if you want talent. Smell good, don't take things personally, be cognizant of others’ blood sugar in group settings.

The Peon section on pages 247 and 248 should be read everyday by everyone. We would have better editing bays and a better world.

Such depth and of course, delivered with the light touch of one with his eye always on the funny.

Life is short, we only have so many books we will be able to get to. The time spent reading and digesting your book was very well spent. A red letter book. It’s not just a treasure trove on editing, but a treasure trove on living. Well played, sir. You, are the monkey.

[MookNana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a combination of industry memoir and technical guide to film and television editing and storytelling. Film students and others aspiring to work in the industry will probably find both parts quite compelling.

As an interested outsider, I much preferred the nerdy details. Reading about the theory of comedy, the structure of storytelling, and even the mechanical aspects of how to mix sound was absolutely fascinating! For me this was at its best not when we were discussing Larry David again (not that he doesn't have plenty of expertise and insight to offer) but when concepts were illustrated by a wonderfully wide-ranging list of films and TV shows (references to the Iranian film A Separation happily coexisted with wisdom mined from Adam Sandler's The Waterboy). The thoughtful variety of works cited underscores the universality of the core concepts of what makes a joke funny or a story watchable.

Anyone wanting to pursue a creative aspect of film or television production would do well to give this a close read. Those who merely find the subject interesting will find a lot to enjoy, but should feel free to skim without remorse when it starts getting very "inside".

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Alexandra Venne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually when I read a reference book like this one, I try to take notes to make sure I don’t forget the informations I thought were relevant, but as I was reading Roger Nygard words I realised I had notes to take at every page so I had to stop myself and accept that I would have to open it again. It’s not only about how to make an edit funny. It’s about how to be a good editor, how to have a good workflow, how to have a good work ethic and how to make yourself a place in the industry. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who thinks about making a career in post-production.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read for the first 2/3. Last 1/3 was more 'how to network' or stuff like that, which I get would be valuable for lots of other people. It just wasn't something I was interested in. Reading about Nygard's experiences and hearing from Larry David, Judd Apatow, Julia-Louis Dreyfuss, etc, was great though. Worth a read to anyone in the TV/film industry.

[The Warped One · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Lots of anecdotes and great tips and a bit of redundant information for more experienced editors. Overall I loved the in-depth focused bit and felt sluggish reading the more basic info- that is a me thing not the book’s thing.

[John Upham · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new editing bible. I’m currently in film school, and this made me want to pursue editing as my career, when before I simply wanted to direct. If I succeed, it will undoubtedly be in part due to the know-how I acquired from this book.

[Sebastian Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has some actually very good tips for editors in comedy, as well as the whole comedy genre in general.

[Andrew Bourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of good nuts and bolts advice. Some stuff u “know” but good to read and remember