Golden Time with Cut+Run Editor Julian Redpath
Music and mushrooms. It’s just a couple of takeaways from our recent back-and-forth with Cut+Run Editor Julian Redpath. A native South African who’s based in Cape Town, Julian joined the international post production company in February of 2026 and is now being represented in the US for the first time.
Julian started editing as a teenager, creating free-flowing skateboard films with friends. While studying TV and film he moved into documentary-style sports projects, always drawn, he explains, to stories that felt real. Over the past decade, he’s worked on everything from high-energy VFX spots to lighthearted comedies. On the commercial side, he’s worked with brands like Swarovski, Volkswagen and Gatorade, and is widely known for his work on the delightfully surreal “Let There Be Cake for KFC, which won a Cannes Gold Lion in the Film category. To see more of his work, go here.
With a deep passion for the craft of editing, Julian says he embraces the challenge of each new project, as well as the journey of the offline process, which he describes as “discovering the perfect performance, or the most captivating moment in a shot, finding creative solutions, collaborating with others, and striving to tell a story in the most impactful way possible.”
The Howler reached out to him recently from across the sea, to find out how he spends those universally cherished hours known as the weekend. Here’s what he had to share:
Where do you live? What do you like best about where you live?
Julian: I live in Cape Town, South Africa. It’s a famously beautiful place. The city is kind of smooshed into and around natural wonderment. The ocean is around every corner, and the mountains feel like they’re pressed up right against the buildings. Like any place, though, the best parts are the people that you surround yourself with, and we have some really close friends that are like family.
So how did you get into editing? How long have you been in your current role?
Julian: Like any coming-of-age story, you eventually arrive at a crossroads — and for me, it was the conundrum of financial constraint versus the desire for self-expression. Two roads that seemed painfully divergent at first, but somehow, I found that editing was an opportunity to contribute in the most meaningful way I could. I found it to be a space where many of my interests converge, and I found my own little path. I've been doing it for almost 20 years now, and so far, I’m still alive, so I think it's working out.
How often do you end up working on the weekend? How much time do you spend on work-related stuff from Friday night to Sunday night?
Julian: I spend quite a lot of weekends working, but there’s usually a gap to sneak in a little forest mission with my wife, Robyn, and our dog Philly.
What’s your favorite weekend decompression activity? How often do you get to do it?
Julian: I tend to obsess over activities. It’s maybe the reason for, or possibly a symptom of, obsessing over timelines, pressing play over and over again, searching for solutions and improvements that lead to that nice feeling where everything feels like it was always meant to be that way. I've found I just enjoy repetition. My longest-running obsessions are skateboarding and playing music, and recently I’ve also taken up surfing, as we’ve moved close to the beach. It’s autumn here now, so we’re also enjoying one of my favorite obsessions: looking for porcini mushrooms.
It’s a three-day weekend. How do you spend that bonus day?
Julian: When we get the chance, we like to visit an area in KwaZulu-Natal called the Midlands, where I was born. It’s a magical place, and some of my favorite people are there.
How much time do you spend on your phone/tablet/laptop on a typical weekend?
Julian: Let’s just say that I know in my heart that knowing more about guitars, synthesizers and microphones does not equal more music-making in my life. I know that searching for a better wetsuit and a new board does not equal a finer surfing experience. I know that the fanciest mouse and keyboard in all the land will not necessarily make me a better editor. I have the wisdom that watching countless reviews and insights into all these things will not bring me peace of mind, and that, in fact, the inverse is usually true. I have not yet found the strength to act upon that wisdom.
What have you been watching lately?
Julian: I've had “One Battle After Another” on heavy rotation, which makes you want to go back and watch all those incredible Paul Thomas Anderson films. We just finished watching “Legends,” which I really enjoyed. Steve Coogan is so good. I've started watching “Maniac” again. That's right up there with the first “True Detective” for me. Last night, I watched this hilarious YouTube documentary called “Listers.” Another thing I enjoy is this dude, Mat Armstrong, on YouTube. I found his channel by chance and got hooked. He fixes crash-damaged cars with his dad and friends. I’m not really into cars, but it’s just super entertaining. His viewership is completely insane, like 35 to 40 million views a month.
What’s on your playlist?
Julian: I love music, and the playlists are endless, but right at this very moment, it’s “Countour” by Blake Mills and Pino Paladino.
Best weekend live experience of the past year: concert, sporting event, gallery visit, movie? What made it special?
Julian: The first thing that comes to mind wasn’t this year; it was a long time ago now, but we saw a retrospective of Tino Sehgal at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. I would describe it as all kinds of live performances and experiences. It was absolutely mind-blowing. More recently, we went to the Cape Town jazz festival. Jasmine Myra and her band were incredible.
So it’s Sunday night already! How do you get ready for Monday morning? What’s your routine?
Julian: I usually just hang with Robyn and Philly, play a bit of guitar. Nothing special.
