Editing David Fincher (section)

=== Method ===
{{quote box
| align = right
| width = 260px
| quote = Those are the moments where moviemaking is not like writing, and it's not like the theater, and it's not like performance art, and it's not like sculpting. It's truly its own discipline. There's nothing else like it in those moments where you go, wow, here's an intent that was probably never even thought of by the guy who wrote the book. And yet this person who may or may not have even read the source material has found this thing. That, for me, after the previsualization, is the most exciting part of the whole.<ref name=":10"/>
| source = —Fincher on [[serendipity]] during filmmaking.
}}

Fincher's filmmaking process always begins with extensive research and preparation, although he has said the process is different every time: "I enjoy reading a script that you can see in your head, and then I enjoy the casting and I enjoy the rehearsal, and I enjoy all the meetings about what it should be, what it could be, what it might be."<ref name=":10"/> He has admitted to having [[Autocracy|autocratic]] tendencies and prefers to [[Micromanaging|micromanage]] every aspect of a film's production.<ref name=":10"/><ref name=":11">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/apr/24/artsfeatures2|title=Film: Interview with David Fincher|last=Brooks|first=Xan|date=April 24, 2002|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=January 15, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115142240/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/apr/24/artsfeatures2|archive-date=January 15, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Icelandic film producer [[Sigurjón Sighvatsson]], with whom Fincher has collaborated for decades, has said that "[Fincher] was always a rebel ... always challenging the status quo".<ref name=":13"/>

Known for his [[Perfectionism (psychology)|perfectionism]] and meticulous eye for detail, Fincher performs thorough research when casting actors to ensure their suitability for the part. His colleague Max Daly said, "He's really good at finding the one detail that was missed. He knows more than anybody."<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0307fincher|title=The Curious Case of David Fincher|last=Mockenhaupt|first=Brian|date=March 1, 2007|website=Esquire|language=en-US|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103063604/http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0307fincher|archive-date=November 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Producer [[Laura Ziskin]] said of him, "He's just scary smart, sort of smarter than everyone else in the room."<ref name=":12"/> He approaches editing like "intricate mathematical problems".<ref name=":12"/> Long-time collaborator [[Angus Wall]] said that editing ''Zodiac'' was like "putting together a [[Swiss made|Swiss watch]] ... all the pieces are so beautifully machined". He elaborated, "[Fincher] is incredibly specific. He never settles. And there's a purity that shows in his work."<ref name=":12"/>

When working with actors, Fincher is known to demand a grueling series of takes to capture a scene perfectly.<ref name=":7"/><ref name=":14"/> For instance, the ''Zodiac'' cast members were required to do upwards of 70 takes for certain scenes, much to the displeasure of Jake Gyllenhaal.<ref name=":6"/> Rooney Mara had to endure 99 takes for a scene in ''The Social Network'' and said that Fincher enjoys challenging people.<ref name=":13"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://movieline.com/2010/04/30/rooney-mara-david-fincher-made-me-do-99-takes-of-a-single-social-network-scene/|title=Rooney Mara: David Fincher Made Me Do 99 Takes of a Single Social Network Scene|date=April 30, 2010|website=Movieline|language=en-US|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619234356/http://movieline.com/2010/04/30/rooney-mara-david-fincher-made-me-do-99-takes-of-a-single-social-network-scene/|archive-date=June 19, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Gone Girl'' averaged 50 takes per scene. In one of the episodes for ''Mindhunter'', it was reported that a nine-minute scene took 11 hours to shoot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/mindhunter-david-fincher-cast-filming-season-2-netflix-jonathan-groff-a8382251.html|title=David Fincher made Mindhunter cast shoot one nine-minute scene for 11 hours|date=June 4, 2018|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112124859/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/mindhunter-david-fincher-cast-filming-season-2-netflix-jonathan-groff-a8382251.html|archive-date=January 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> When asked about this method, Fincher said, "I hate earnestness in performance ... usually by take 17 the earnestness is gone." He added that he wants a scene to be as natural and authentic as possible.<ref name=":6"/> Some actors appreciate this approach, arguing that the subtle adjustments have a big difference in the way a scene is carried. Others have been critical, with [[R. Lee Ermey]] stating, "[Fincher] wants puppets. He doesn't want actors that are creative."<ref name=":12"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/10/producer-says-david-fincher-is-averaging-50-takes-per-scene-shooting-gone-girl-248969/|title=Producer Says David Fincher Is Averaging 50 Takes Per Scene Shooting 'Gone Girl'|last1=Jagernauth|first1=Kevin|date=October 24, 2013|website=[[IndieWire]]|language=en|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112165238/https://www.indiewire.com/2013/10/producer-says-david-fincher-is-averaging-50-takes-per-scene-shooting-gone-girl-248969/|archive-date=November 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fincher prefers shooting with [[Red Digital Cinema|Red]] digital cameras, under natural or pre-existing light conditions rather than using elaborate [[Photographic lighting|lighting setups]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theasc.com/magazine/nov99/anarchy/pg1.htm|title=Anarchy in the USA – page 1|website=theasc.com|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523000538/http://www.theasc.com/magazine/nov99/anarchy/pg1.htm|archive-date=May 23, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.diyphotography.net/cinematography-jeff-cronenweth/|title=The Cinematography of Jeff Cronenweth|date=April 11, 2014|website=DIY Photography|language=en-US|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630171103/https://www.diyphotography.net/cinematography-jeff-cronenweth/|archive-date=June 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/02/15/films-cinema-comeback-is-driven-by-nostalgia-not-logic/|title=Film's cinema comeback is driven by nostalgia, not logic|website=Engadget|date=July 19, 2019 |language=en|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808115712/http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/15/films-cinema-comeback-is-driven-by-nostalgia-not-logic/|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Fincher is known to use [[computer-generated imagery]], which is mostly unnoticeable to the viewer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/26/15701750/david-fincher-cgi-filmmaking-kaptain-kristian-watch|title=There's a surprising amount of CGI in David Fincher's films|last=Liptak|first=Andrew|date=May 26, 2017|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=January 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040354/https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/26/15701750/david-fincher-cgi-filmmaking-kaptain-kristian-watch|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> He does not normally use [[hand-held camera]]s during filming, instead preferring cameras on a [[tripod (photography)|tripod]]. He said, "Handheld has a powerful psychological stranglehold. It means something specific and I don't want to cloud what's going on with too much meaning."<ref name=":8"/> He has experimented with the disembodied camera movement, notably in ''Panic Room'', where the camera glides around the house to give the impression of surveillance by an unseen observer.<ref name=":8"/>