Behind the Edits: Critical Mess Podcast

Sometimes the best creative collaborations come from people you've known for years.

I've known Andrew Griswold for more than 20 years, and when he recently reached out about helping edit a few episodes of his podcast, Critical Mess, I was intrigued. I've always enjoyed movies and a good conversation about them, so combining those interests with video editing sounded like a fun opportunity.

And just like that, Media Buff Productions found itself stepping into another corner of the podcasting world!

What's Critical Mess Podcast?

Critical Mess is a movie podcast with an entertaining concept: What happens when movie critics and everyday audiences completely disagree?

Hosted by three friends with backgrounds in copywriting, creative direction, and web development, the podcast explores polarizing movies from just about any era or genre. Whether critics loved a movie that audiences hated, or audiences embraced something critics couldn't stand, the guys dive into what makes those films so divisive.

It's part movie review, part friendly debate, and plenty of humor along the way.

They've also created The Mess Hall, an interactive space where fans can explore the hosts' movie ratings, share their own opinions, and suggest films for future episodes. It's a fun way to keep the conversation going long after an episode ends.

Check out the show at criticalmesspodcast.com.

Giving the Editor a Helping Hand

Andrew originally reached out because their regular editor, Ben, had a lot on his plate. Between recording new episodes, editing existing ones, and maintaining their every-other-week release schedule, the team had developed a bit of a backlog.

Ben had already established the show's editing style, complete with camera punch-ins, occasional slow zooms, sound effects, and comedic moments. The goal wasn't to reinvent the podcast, but to help lighten his workload while keeping the familiar feel viewers already enjoyed.

While I've never personally gotten into listening to podcasts regularly, I've helped film and edit a podcast at Conner Prairie. That production involved switching between two camera angles, while Critical Mess takes a different approach with a single camera recording the entire conversation.

Fortunately, the guys record in 4K, giving me the flexibility to crop into individual speakers, highlight reactions, and create visual variety without needing multiple cameras.

The challenge was learning the show's rhythm and making my edits feel like they belonged alongside the previous 70-plus episodes.

First Up: Pearl Harbor and Taken

My first assignment was Episode 75, a discussion of the 2001 film Pearl Harbor.

And wouldn't you know it, my first episode turned out to be one of their longest!

The conversation ran about two and a half hours, giving me plenty of time to get familiar with the hosts, their personalities, and how they bounce ideas off one another. I also reviewed previous episodes to understand Ben's editing approach and the show's established style.

Thankfully, Andrew and the team liked the first edit, and Episode 75 was ready to go!

Next came Episode 76, featuring the 2008 action thriller Taken. By then, I had a much better feel for the show's pacing, humor, and editing style.

Two very different movies, two entertaining conversations, and two more projects under the Media Buff Productions umbrella.

Finding the Story Within the Conversation

One thing I've learned is that podcast editing isn't necessarily about cutting a conversation down to its shortest possible length.

For Critical Mess, the conversation itself is the experience.

The hosts aren't delivering scripted movie reviews. They're reacting to one another, making jokes, sharing opinions, and occasionally heading down unexpected conversational paths. Those moments are part of what makes the show entertaining.

My job is to help everything flow naturally, keep the visuals engaging, and recognize when a well-timed edit can make a funny moment even better.

There's also an opportunity to find great moments for social media. As someone who regularly works with short-form video, I know how valuable a funny exchange, surprising opinion, or passionate movie argument can be for attracting new viewers.

Andrew and I have already discussed the possibility of identifying and pulling those moments during future edits, helping the team turn longer conversations into bite-sized social content.

Good Friends, Good Movies, and New Opportunities

One thing I've always enjoyed about running Media Buff Productions is the variety of projects that come my way.

From weddings and family videos to promotional projects and now podcast editing, every opportunity brings something different.

This one is especially fun because it started with a longtime acquaintance turned friend reaching out to see if I could help.

I'm glad Andrew thought of me, and I'm happy to help Ben and the rest of the Critical Mess crew keep their episodes moving. It's been a fun experience getting to know the show from behind the scenes, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the collaboration goes.

If you enjoy movies, especially the ones that spark a good argument, give Critical Mess a listen or watch!

Watch, listen, and join the debate: Critical Mess Podcast

And if you're producing a podcast, video series, or another creative project and could use an extra hand with editing, Media Buff Productions would love to help bring your content together.

- The Media Buff