Up Close with Film Editor Revaz-Giorgi Arveladze

Movie Marker Magazine got up close with film editor Revaz-Giorgi Arveladze to chat about editing some of Hollywood’s latest movies.  

Thank you for chatting with us today. Can you tell us about life growing up?

I was born and raised in Turkey, Trabzon, but at age 4, I moved to my home country of Georgia, where I eventually attended Givi Zaldastanishvili’s American Academy in Tbilisi.

In 2015, I moved to Granville, Ohio to study at Denison University. Originally, I was to complete my Pre-Med track, majoring in chemistry and English literature but eventually substituted the former for cinema after having a change of heart. In 2018 I wrote an anthology book about Georgian mythological creatures, “Takes from Kartli.”

Having completed and received my bachelor’s degree in 2019, I moved to Los Angeles, California in order to pursue my dream of storytelling, and enrolled at the New York Film Academy where I completed my master’s at the end of 2021.

What got you into editing over every other film making discipline?

The visual aspect of life has always fascinated me, which is why I’m drawn so heavily to the visual medium. After all, that’s what movies are all about – presenting a different, visual alternative to our own.

Every single film is a unique spin on life. Creating a story is an exceptional experience for me, which is why I constantly write to broaden my horizons and improve my writing skills. It’s why I’ve narrowed down my vocation to writing, directing, and editing because in a roundabout way – these are three ways I get to alter and showcase my own reality. Editing in particular is always fun because you get to see your decisions reflected visually across a specific medium.

In essence, if you strip me down to absolutely nothing, all I’m left with is my imagination and a penchant for perfecting my craft.

What was your first ever editing gig?

I’ve always tinkered with pictures and videos on my own time, but I guess my real brush with editing came from when I went to Denison University. In our elementary production class, we had to make a 10-minute short with a cool premise. While the film wasn’t shot well because of old equipment and my own inexperience, I did end up editing the short well enough that my professor, Marc Wiskemann, was convinced that I had an eye for filmmaking. In truth, that’s where it all started. So, you see, editing was my first companion when I undertook my journey into filmmaking.

How would you describe the projects that you typically prefer?

Thriller, film noir, horror, and occasionally comedy. I like weird stuff.

Tell us about your recent project “Red Hollow”

“Red Hollow” it is a horror film about a Ukrainian soldier who confronts a reoccurring reality. This project I actually directed as well as edited. We filmed in Los Angeles.

Did you have a smooth filming schedule?

Everything ran smoothly for this one, though I do regret the lack of a budget (said every filmmaker ever), since I had to convincingly turn my apartment and patio into a Ukrainian warzone. A little fun behind the scenes story is that I was performing as the main monster, and while you can’t see it in the movie, because I’m a great editor, my pants had completely ripped apart!

Did you put the project through the festival circuit?

Actually yes, and it has done very well. So far, “Red Hollow” has scooped up Gold Award for Best Microfilm and Silver for Best Action Short at the Independent Short Film Awards. It won at the Indie Short Fest and was picked up Best Microfilm at the Indie X Film Fest.

Have you set any 2023 goals to achieve?

Yes. I have an entire TV show mapped out that I Intend to completely finish, and a backup plan to turn it into a comic book for Dark Horse. 

What’s the best way to follow you online?

https://rophaki.myportfolio.com/work/ and Instagram. Also, all my projects are listed on IMDb.