"Hello Anna!" was my first documentary project at university, and it was during this project that I fell in love with editing and its power to shape a narrative. After directing the production, I encountered issues with the original editor, who was inconsistent and didn’t deliver any cuts until the day before the deadline. Concerned about the project’s completion, I created a backup director’s cut.

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As I edited, I found myself completely immersed in the process. I loved listening to the interview clips, uncovering the story within the answers, and shaping a narrative as a journey from Anna’s early days as an illustrator to her collaborations with Jane Godwin and her recent work as a writer-illustrator. I enjoyed celebrating her visual process and exploring the tonal shift in her work from whimsical subjects to more emotionally complex themes within the children’s book format. I created a rhythm throughout the documentary, using the B-roll and the interview to shift between reflective, humorous, and descriptive moments to keep the story emotionally engaging and dynamic.

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Although the jump cuts and resolution of the film could be improved, I’m incredibly grateful for this project. What began as trying to save my own ass led me to realise how naturally I connect with the editing process. The director’s cut of Hello Anna! went on to win the Women Transforming Media award and the Emerging Artist award at the MY HERO International Film Festival, and I couldn’t be more proud.