Editing Back to the Future (section)

===Filming with Stoltz===
[[File:The house of MсFly family 02.jpg|thumb|alt=bungalow with an attached garage, with a tower and power lines in the background|A house in [[Arleta, Los Angeles]], served as the McFlys' home.]]

[[Principal photography]] began on November{{spaces}}26, 1984, on a 14-week schedule set to conclude on February{{spaces}}28, 1985, with an estimated $14{{spaces}}million budget.{{sfn|Klastorin|Atamaniuk|2015|pp=47, 61}}{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=2, 32}} Filming took place mainly at the Universal Studios lot and on location in [[California]].<ref name="TheGuardianHowWeMade" /> [[Dean Cundey]] served as the cinematographer; he and Zemeckis had collaborated on ''Romancing the Stone''.<ref name="TheGuardianHowWeMade" /> Editor [[Arthur Schmidt (film editor)|Arthur Schmidt]] was hired after Zemeckis saw his work on ''[[Firstborn (1984 film)|Firstborn]]'' (1984); Schmidt recommended hiring [[Harry Keramidas]] as co-editor.{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=2–3, 23}} Frank Marshall also served as a second unit director.{{sfn|Gaines|2015|p=87}}

Owing to the tight schedule, editing occurred concurrently with filming.{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=1–2}} On December{{spaces}}30, 1984, Zemeckis reviewed the existing scenes with Schmidt and Keramidas.{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=21–22, 27}} Zemeckis was reluctant to review the footage because he would be self-critical,{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=21, 22}} but he believed Stoltz's acting was not working and had already listed several scenes he wanted to reshoot.<ref name="BOMGaleInterview" /><ref name="TheGuardianHowWeMade" />{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=21, 22}} Zemeckis called in Gale and the producers to show them the footage; they agreed Stoltz was not right for the part.<ref name="BOMGaleInterview" /> Stoltz was performing the role with an intense and serious tone, not the "[[Screwball comedy|screwball]]" energy they desired.<ref name="NYTimesFoxInterview" /><ref name="VultureStoltz" /> Gale characterized Stoltz as a good actor in the wrong role.<ref name="NYTDateMovedUp" />

Stoltz utilized [[method acting]] and stayed in character as Marty when not filming, refusing to answer to his own name. This resulted in feuding with some of the cast and crew, including Wilson. Stoltz put his full strength into pushing Wilson rather than imitating doing so, despite Wilson's protests.<ref name="VultureStoltz"/> Spielberg said Zemeckis needed a replacement in place before firing Stoltz, or he risked the production being canceled.{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=28–29}} Zemeckis and the producers asked Sheinberg for permission to do whatever was necessary to accommodate Fox's participation;<ref name="VultureStoltz"/> Spielberg made another call to Goldberg. On January{{spaces}}3, 1985, Goldberg told Fox about withholding the ''Back to the Future'' script from him, and the filmmakers wanted to know if he was interested. Baxter had returned to the show, and they could be more flexible with Fox as long as ''Family Ties'' took priority. Fox agreed to join without reading the script.{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=31–33}} The transition could not take place immediately and filming continued with Stoltz in the lead role, unaware he was to be replaced.<ref name="VultureStoltz"/>

On January 10, 1985, Zemeckis informed Stoltz that he was being fired.<ref name="EsquireDidntGetMade" /><ref name="VultureStoltz" />{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=35–36}} Zemeckis described it as "the hardest meeting I've ever had in my life and it was all my fault. I broke [Stoltz's] heart."<ref name="EsquireDidntGetMade" /> Stoltz was reported to have told his makeup artist he was not a [[comedian]] and did not understand why he was cast.{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=25–26}} The producers informed the principal cast and the rest of the crew much of the film would be re-shot.<ref name="VultureStoltz" />{{sfn|Klastorin|Atamaniuk|2015|pp=61, 66}} Cundey said most of the crew saw Stoltz's removal as "good news".<ref name="TheGuardianHowWeMade" /> Crew members later said there were obvious signs Stoltz would be replaced; the set designers were told to not change the 1955 set, and a scene involving a discussion between Marty and Doc was filmed showing only Doc.<ref name="VultureStoltz" /> Stoltz had shot numerous key scenes including Marty traveling to 1955 in the DeLorean, its breaking down as he prepares to return to 1985, and his final scene was Marty's return to 1985.<ref name="AVClubGlover" /><ref name="VultureStoltz" /> Filming fell behind schedule, with 34{{spaces}}days of filming lost and an additional cost of $3.5–$4.0{{spaces}}million, including Stoltz receiving his salary in full.<ref name="EsquireDidntGetMade" /><ref name="NYTDateMovedUp" />{{sfn|Gaines|2015|pp=33, 52}} Universal Pictures' marketing team was tasked with mitigating the negative publicity from a project replacing its main star.{{sfn|Gaines|2015|p=52}}