Inventions and Intentions – an Interview with American Inventor Editor Paul Coyne

Paul Coyne is an Emmy-nominated editor on ABC's American Inventor. He’s produced Big Brother and Invasion Iowa and has worked as an editor on Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, Average Joe and dozens more shows. He has also recently produced The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green, a feature film scheduled for release June 16. RealityNewsOnline’s Mary Hart got the interview.

RealityNewsOnline: Thanks for taking the time, as Inventor's first season had to be an intense experience - not to mention the pressure of working with Simon Cowell whose Idol reputation is on the line.

Paul: It has indeed been an intense but rewarding experience. The schedule has been a tight one, but I do love a challenge and I think we met that challenge. Simon has had a clear view of what he wants for the show and I’m sure he’s happy with the result. And he really seems to appreciate what editing brings to a show and people like that are always good to work with.

RNO: Are only the most seasoned veterans tapped for a brand new reality show which is so dependent on good editing to engage viewers?

Paul: I think in a perfect world, you’d love to have everyone be a seasoned pro but that isn’t always the case. We did get pretty lucky on this show though. A lot of this clan comes from Big Brother, or as we refer to it, “summer camp”. Inventor fit nicely into their schedule in that Inventor ends just as Big Brother is about to start up again.

I personally love working on brand new shows because there is no template and it’s a real challenge to find the right voice for the show. When you work on an established series, there’s a set way of doing things and that’s fine but it’s not always easy or required to stray into uncharted creative waters. Mostly, I love the challenge of building something new.

RNO: As an experienced editor with credits on Big Brother, The Amazing Race, Survivor, The Bachelor, and Average Joe, is this background the reason you were selected to edit Inventor?

Paul: I had just finished up as supervising editor on a CBS show and some of those editors were moving on to American Inventor. I got a call from Dan Sameha, the best post-production supervisor in the reality biz, asking if I was interested in coming to Inventor.

I’ve worked with Dan on several shows and when he listed the cutters and producers on Inventor, I knew it would be a fun ride. All good people and talented people.

I guess I’m known for adding heart and humor to a show. That being said, I’m just one of a team of great editors and producers. We really do rely on each other to make our deadlines. It’s teamwork that gets it all done, and this has been one of the toughest schedules I’ve ever had.

RNO: Given Simon Cowell's mega-success with Idol, was this a risk for him to venture from musical talent to business entrepreneurs with Inventor?

Paul: I’ve said it a million times but I really do believe that everyone is an epic waiting to be unveiled. All they need is an opportunity for their story to be heard. Point a camera at any part of this country, at any person, ask the right questions, and eventually you’ll have a great tale to tell.

Every show is a risk. You never know what people are going to respond to. I think one of the best shows I’ve worked on was an ABC show called The Family. It just didn’t catch on. Of course, we went to war just as we premiered so that could have something to do with it.

RNO: What do you see as the similarities and differences between Idol and Inventor?

Paul: First, they both use the word “American” in their title. Also, they’re both on television and my mother’s a fan of both.

Both “American” shows share similar themes, I think. There’s something glorious in an unknown finally being recognized for what they can bring to the world. Both shows also demonstrate the variety of characters and abilities of the ordinary guy. And both shows offer the chance for a dream to finally come true.

RNO: And the differences?

Paul: The main difference between the two is that whereas Idol stresses talent in a shot for fame and pop culture glory, Inventor is ultimately a celebration of creativity, passion and intellect. Our inventors really do live and breathe these inventions. Their emotions are tied to what they’ve created, which is why the tears seem to flow so freely. You can’t fake that kind of passion.

One never knows what people will like. I’m an ardent reader of internet forums and reality websites because I like to see what the audience is responding to, or what they could do without. Unfortunately, once a format has been established, it’s much easier to add something they like than take away something they don’t.

My guess is that next time around the show will have all of the bugs worked out. Or should I say space beetles?

RNO: What has it been like working with Simon Cowell?

Paul: He’ll probably kill me for saying this, but Simon’s great to work for. He’s so enthusiastic about the show and he really loves our cast of characters. His changes and ideas are always “spot on” as the Brits say.

It’s a wonderful feeling when a scene ends and the American Idol judge turns to you and says he likes it. It’s not every day a guy like me gets to feel like Kelly Clarkson.

RNO: Were there any pieces you edited that he particularly liked?

Paul: Every editor on the show had pieces he liked, but in my case, there are a few that stand out.

I edited “Mr. Know-It-All.” (Note: the subject was Judge Doug Hall - who else?) It was pieced together and built using the graphic feature in my Avid (the computer we edit with). I knew it was something he’d either love or hate. I’ve never been one to edit with fear. I’d rather try something crazy and be told no, than wonder if it could have made it on the air.

I also edited the “Car Armor” piece, which had been a bit of a struggle for us to put together. We had tried various approaches to the story and nothing was that successful. It almost didn’t make the show.