We have the power to draw our dreams to us. This month’s guest was given the chanced to make movies from his home in Nebraska. Turning this gift into a glittering Hollywood career, he now edits and directs films with some of the great creatives of our time.

Join us this Monday, August 8th via Zoom to hear how his creativity led him from one open door to another. See you then!
TOM ELKINS is now an accomplished Editor and Director, who started out making dozens of 8mm films as a kid in Nebraska. Some of those movies were horror, with titles like THE KILLER TRIKE. His professional career began when he was hired by Herman Cain, then-president of the national restaurant chain Godfather’s Pizza, to make humor-based training videos and TV commercials in Omaha, NE.

He later broke into feature films, initially as a production assistant (GATTACA), then as a production coordinator, with credits that include Mel Gibson’s PAYBACK, and THE BIG LEBOWSKI for the Coen Brothers.

Tom eventually moved into feature editing as an assistant, and had the good fortune of working with — and learning from — Oscar-winning editors such as Mike Hill and Dan Hanley on THE DA VINCI CODE and THE MISSING, and David Brenner on WANTED. He was later hired by Wes Craven’s editor, Patrick Lussier, for Wes’s CURSED and RED EYE, and continued moving up the ladder. Lussier went on to direct WHITE NOISE II for Gold Circle Films, on which he gave Elkins his first opportunity as a feature film editor.

Among other credits, Elkins edited 2009’s thriller, THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, the success of which helped earn him the opportunity to direct (and edit) the sequel, released by Lionsgate in 2013. Soon after, he edited the box-office hit ANNABELLE for New Line Cinema, as well as INFERNO for Ron Howard, and FLATLINERS for Sony Pictures.

More recently, Tom served as editor on the MGM thriller THE PRODIGY, Orion Pictures well-received reboot of CHILD’S PLAY and WRONG TURN for Constantin. His two latest films, PREY FOR THE DEVIL for Lionsgate and THE INVITATION, for Sony Pictures, are scheduled for theatrical release in the coming months.

   NCCers, Mark Your Calendars for Monday, August 8th!

•    – How did he turn Godfather’s commercials into a Hollywood career?
•    – But he’s in Omaha now! How does he does that work?
•    – If he has the opportunity to direct, does he prefer to also edit?

   Hear his answers and more this Monday!

The Hollywood Salon

with Editor & Director Tom Elkins

7:00-9:30 PM PST | Monday, August 8th