Skip Macdonald

This article is about the editor. For the musician, see Little Axe.

Skip Macdonald is an American film and television editor known for his work on Breaking Bad (2008–2013), its spin-off series Better Call Saul (2015–2022), and the 2019 sequel film El Camino. He also edited several episodes for Fargo. Macdonald has earned a total of ten Emmy Award nominations. In 2014, he won an Emmy for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for the series finale of Breaking Bad.

Skip Macdonald
Nationality	American
Occupation	Editor
Years active	1980–present

Career

Skip Macdonald began his career as an assistant sound editor in the 1980s. During this time, he worked on Heaven's Gate (1980),^[1] Things Are Tough All Over,^[2] and the Carl Reiner-directed Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) and The Man with Two Brains (1983).^[3][4] After completing Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers in 1984,^[5] Macdonald made his second collaboration with filmmaker Michael Cimino, after Heaven's Gate, with Year of the Dragon in 1985.^[6]

Macdonald's first project serving as an assistant film editor was in 1988's television film Little Girl Lost. In the following years, he assisted with the editing of Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991), the Perry Mason film The Case of the Killer Kiss (1993),^[7] White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf and Nell (1994),^[8] Kansas and In Pursuit of Honor (1995), and Primal Fear (1996). In 1997, Macdonald had his "big break" after becoming an editor for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.^[9]

Macdonald has collaborated with Vince Gilligan (pictured) three times

In 2008, Macdonald began editing the Vince Gilligan-created series Breaking Bad, a show that received universal acclaim and earned Macdonald (following three other nominations) the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series in 2014 for his work on the series finale.^[10][11] That same year, he worked on the drama series Fargo and earned three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie. Macdonald made his second collaboration with Gilligan on the Breaking Bad spin-off series Better Call Saul, which earned him two more Emmy Award nominations.^[12] In 2019, he made his third collaboration with Gilligan on the Netflix film El Camino, a sequel to Breaking Bad centered on the character of Jesse Pinkman.^[9] The film, which also received universal acclaim from critics, earned Macdonald his tenth and most recent Primetime Emmy Award nomination.^[13][14]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Director	Credited as
1980	Heaven's Gate	Michael Cimino	Assistant sound editor
1982	Things Are Tough All Over	Thomas K. Avildsen	Assistant sound editor
	Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid	Carl Reiner	Assistant sound editor
1983	The Man with Two Brains	Carl Reiner	Assistant sound editor
1984	Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers	Tommy Chong	Assistant sound editor
1985	Year of the Dragon	Michael Cimino	Assistant sound editor
1991	Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man	Simon Wincer	Assistant film editor
1994	White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf	Ken Olin	Assistant editor
	Nell	Michael Apted	Lightworks assistant editor
1996	Primal Fear	Gregory Hoblit	Assistant film editor
	A Very Brady Sequel	Arlene Sanford	Assistant film editor
2006	Drake & Josh Go Hollywood	Steve Hoefer	Assistant editor
2007	Super Sweet 16: The Movie	Neema Barnette	Editor
2011	Low Fidelity	Devon Gummersall	Editor
2013	Over/Under	Bronwen Hughes	Editor
2019	El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie	Vince Gilligan	Editor

Television

Year	Title	Notes
1988	Little Girl Lost	Assistant film editor; television film
	Police Story: Cop Killer	Assistant film editor; television film
1993	Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss	Assistant editor; television film
1995	Kansas	Associate editor; television film
	In Pursuit of Honor	Co-editor; television film
1997–1999	Buffy the Vampire Slayer	Also assistant editor
2000	2gether: The Series
2001	The Chronicle	1 episode
2001–2002	Special Unit 2	2 episodes
2003	Hunter: Back in Force	Television film
2005–2007	Las Vegas	Also assistant editor
2006	Weeds	Episode: "Crush Girl Love Panic"
2007	Big Shots	2 episodes
2008–2013	Breaking Bad	Episodes Season 1: "Crazy Handful of Nothin'" Season 2: "Grilled", "Bit by a Dead Bee", "Better Call Saul", "Mandala" Season 3: "No Más", "I.F.T.", "Más", "One Minute", "Kafkaesque", "Abiquiu", "Full Measure" Season 4: "Box Cutter", "Open House", "Shotgun", "Problem Dog", "Bug", "Crawl Space", "Face Off" Season 5: "Live Free or Die", "Hazard Pay", "Dead Freight", "Say My Name", "Buried", "Rabid Dog", "Ozymandias", "Felina"
2011	Glory Daze	1 episode
	Hell on Wheels	Episode: "Hell on Wheels"
2013	Low Winter Sun	4 episodes
2014–2015	Fargo	Episodes Season 1: "The Crocodile's Dilemma", "Eating the Blame", "Who Shaves the Barber?", "Morton's Fork" Season 2: "Waiting for Dutch", "Fear and Trembling", "Did You Do This? No, You Did It!", "Palindrome"
2015–2022	Better Call Saul	Episodes Season 1: "Uno", "Nacho", "Alpine Shepherd Boy", "Bingo", "Pimento" Season 2: "Fifi", "Klick" Season 3: "Mabel", "Witness", "Sunk Costs", "Chicanery", "Expenses", "Fall" Season 4: "Smoke", "Something Beautiful", "Quite a Ride", "Something Stupid", "Wiedersehen" Season 5: "50% Off", "Namaste", "Wexler v. Goodman", "Bagman", "Something Unforgivable" Season 6: "Carrot and Stick", "Black and Blue", "Plan and Execution", "Fun and Games", "Breaking Bad", "Saul Gone"
2016	American Gothic	1 episode
2017	A Series of Unfortunate Events	4 episodes
2018	Here and Now	3 episodes
2019	Chambers	3 episodes
2021	Foundation	2 episodes

Accolades

Awards and nominations received by Skip Macdonald

Award	Year[lower-alpha 1]	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
Eddie Awards	2012	Best Edited Drama Series for Commercial Television	"Face Off" (Breaking Bad)	Won	[15] [16]
	2013	Best Edited Drama Series for Commercial Television	"Dead Freight" (Breaking Bad)	Won	[17] [18]
	2014	Best Edited Drama Series for Commercial Television	"Felina" (Breaking Bad)	Won	[19] [20]
			"Buried" (Breaking Bad)	Nominated[lower-alpha 2]
			"Ozymandias" (Breaking Bad)	Nominated
	2016	Best Edited Drama Series for Commercial Television	"Uno" (Better Call Saul)	Nominated	[21]
			"Did You Do This? No, You Did It!" (Fargo)	Nominated[lower-alpha 3]
	2017	Best Edited Drama Series for Commercial Television	"Fifi" (Better Call Saul)	Nominated	[22]
			"Klick" (Better Call Saul)	Nominated[lower-alpha 4]
	2018	Best Edited Drama Series for Commercial Television	"Chicanery" (Better Call Saul)	Nominated	[23]
			"Witness" (Better Call Saul)	Nominated[lower-alpha 5]
	2019	Best Edited Drama Series for Commercial Television	"Something Stupid" (Better Call Saul)	Nominated[lower-alpha 5]	[24]
Primetime Emmy Awards	2010	Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series	"No Más" (Breaking Bad)	Nominated	[25]
	2012	Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series	"Face Off" (Breaking Bad)	Nominated	[26]
	2013	Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series	"Dead Freight" (Breaking Bad)	Nominated	[27]
	2014	Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series	"Felina" (Breaking Bad)	Won	[10] [28]
		Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie	"The Crocodile's Dilemma (Fargo)	Nominated
	2016	Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie	"Did You Do This? No, You Did It!" (Fargo)	Nominated[lower-alpha 6]	[29]
			"Waiting for Dutch" (Fargo)	Nominated
	2017	Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series	"Chicanery" (Better Call Saul)	Nominated	[30]
			"Witness" (Better Call Saul)	Nominated
	2020	Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie	El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie	Nominated	[31]
Peabody Awards	2022	Enterntainment	Better Call Saul	Won	[32]

References

Notes

1. The listed year refers to the date of the ceremony, not necessarily the year in which the corresponding season or episode aired.
2. Nominated with Sharidan Williams-Sotelo
3. Nominated with Curtis Thurber
4. Nominated with Chris McCaleb
5. Nominated with Kelley Dixon
6. Nominated with Curtis Thurber

Citations

1. "Heaven's Gate (1980)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
2. "Things Are Tough All Over (1982)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
3. "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
4. "The Man with Two Brains (1983)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
5. "Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
6. "Year of the Dragon (1985)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
7. "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
8. "Skip Macdonald". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
9. Grobar, Matt (August 20, 2020). "'El Camino' Editor Skip Macdonald On His 'Great Ride' With The 'Breaking Bad' Universe & Seeing It Come To An End — Production Value Video Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
10. Giardina, Carolyn (August 16, 2014). "Creative Arts Emmys: Editor Skip MacDonald Wins First Emmy for 'Breaking Bad' Series Finale". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
11. "Breaking Bad". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
12. "Better Call Saul". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
13. "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
14. Turchiano, Danielle (September 16, 2020). "Disney Plus and 'The Mandalorian' Win First Emmys on Night Three of Creative Arts Ceremonies (Full Winners List)". Variety. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
15. Fischer, Russ (January 16, 2012). "American Cinema Editors Release Nominees For Achievement in Editing in 2011". /Film. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
16. King, Susan (February 18, 2012). "'The Descendants,' 'The Artist' and 'Rango' win editing awards". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
17. King, Susan (January 11, 2013). "'Argo,' 'Lincoln,' 'Ted' among ACE Eddie film-editing nominees". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
18. Giardina, Carolyn (February 16, 2013). "'Argo,' 'Silver Linings Playbook' Win ACE Eddie Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
19. Giardina, Carolyn (January 10, 2014). "'12 Years a Slave,' 'Captain Phillips,' 'Gravity' Among ACE Eddie Award Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
20. "64th Annual ACE Eddie Awards: 'Captain Phillips' Wins Drama Feature Prize; 'American Hustle' Top Comedy; 'Frozen' Wins Animation Trophy; 'Breaking Bad' & 'The Office' Take Top TV Prizes". Deadline Hollywood. February 7, 2014. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
21. Gerard, Jeremy (January 4, 2016). "'The Revenant', 'Star Wars' & Amy Schumer Among ACE Editors' Noms". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
22. Hipes, Patrick (January 3, 2017). "ACE Eddie Awards Nominations: 'Moonlight', 'La La Land' & 'Deadpool' Make Cut". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
23. Giardina, Carolyn (January 3, 2018). "'Dunkirk,' 'Shape of Water,' 'Baby Driver' Among ACE Eddie Awards Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
24. Evans, Greg (January 7, 2019). "'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Roma', 'Atlanta' Among ACE Editing Award Nominees – Complete Eddies List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
25. "62nd Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Picture Editing for a Series – 2010". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
26. "64th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series – 2012". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
27. "65th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series – 2013". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
28. "66th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series – 2014". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
29. "Skip Macdonald, ACE". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
30. Hammond, Pete; Hipes, Patrick (July 13, 2017). "Emmy Awards Nominations: 'Westworld', 'This Is Us', 'Stranger Things', 'Atlanta' Lead Diverse List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
31. Greene, Steve (September 20, 2020). "Emmys 2020: All of This Year's Winners and Nominees". IndieWire. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
32. Voyles, Blake (September 14, 2023). "83rd Peabody Award Winners". Retrieved September 14, 2023.

External links

• Skip Macdonald at IMDb