Yesterday I showed the latest assembly cut to someone for the first time. This person knew next to nothing about the movie. I’d specifically kept him in the dark about it because I wanted an absolutely direct reaction, uncontaminated by any backstories.

It was terrifying, in a way at least; he’s someone whose opinion I respect greatly, having helped to create one of my all-time favorite movies. And though we’re pretty good friends, I knew he absolutely wasn’t going to mince words afterwards. I also hadn’t watched this cut all the way through myself, so of course I knew I was going to see a lot of cringeworthy stuff.

I’m not going to go into his specific reactions or feedback right now (I took a bunch of notes and honestly I’m still digesting it all) but the point is, I survived it, and I have at least an inkling of what’s working and what isn’t. That first screening is the toughest. If you can face the facts and learn from that, you can find a way ahead.