An editor is not simply someone who sits in a dark room by themselves and is void of personal communication skills. Just as a cinematographer or director possesses a style and sensibility, an editor is often chosen for what they can contribute. Consider the fact that Thelma Schoonmaker has worked with Martin Scorsese on his films for over four decades as one of his most trusted colleagues. Director/writer Stephen Thomas knew Perumal’s work as well as his affinity for both comedy and horror (a unique cocktail). For this quirky and edgy series, Thomas needed someone who inherently brought a biting wit and outlook. The director notes, “I’m a fan of comedy and horror films. When I discovered that Vishnu enjoyed the same types of movies I did, I knew instantly that he would be a great person to work with. He is an awesome comedic editor. What makes him so effective in this is his love for all things comedy. He loves writing comedy, watching comedy films, shows, etc. and you can really see this in his edits. He was a great asset on Sexcapades, helping to elevate the comedy further through his edits and selective use of footage. We were initially having problems with the first few episodes, because when cut to script, the pacing and the comedic lines didn't really pay off. When Vishnu was brought in, he suggested trimming moments and certain dialogues in order to make the scene and the jokes flow better. He also picked out certain actions and moments that were seemingly mundane and repeated them throughout the sequence, creating a comedic bit that wasn't in the script in the first place. “
Everything about the storyline seems “wrong” but everything about the way it is told and presented is exceedingly right. At its worst, “Sexcapades’ may make you wince while at its best you’ll find yourself laughing embarrassingly loud. It is obvious but, “Sexcapades” is a prime example of the type of production that goes too far for network safety hours but proves that there is exceptional merit in web-based productions (many of which often find a home on platforms such as Hulu, Netflix, etc.). To illustrate, Vishun gives a summary of the first two episodes; the ones which made it clear that his editing was having a profound effect.
Episode 1: The first episode opens with James and Julia returning from a function, both voraciously passionate about the prospect of having sex with one another. They begin to engage in sexual intercourse, but are disrupted and distracted several times throughout the night due to James’ supposed “performance issues.” James tries to defend himself and the two begin to bicker about each other others sexual prowess. Dejected, James leaves Julia’s room, but not before revealing that their parents would be marrying one another in a few months and that they would soon become brother and sister. The next morning, they start a bet, challenging which one of them can get laid the most before their parents wedding, thus starting the series.
Episode 2: The second episode follows James and Julia’s first foray into the online dating scene. Julia is invited to a blind date by a handsome gentleman at his house, while James plans on conducting his date in their apartment. Julia’s date goes swimmingly at first until her date reveals to her his fetish…to have her wear a furry dog costume while they run around pretending to be animals. Julia becomes uncomfortable by the prospect but goes through with it anyways. Meanwhile James’ date starts off poorly with little to no connection being established between him and his date. Both are shown equally bored of one another. The date makes an even darker turn when out of the blue, James is attacked by his date’s boyfriend and robbed. Julia and James end their first attempt in online dating somewhat unremarkably, but with Julia ahead by a point.
These first two episodes are indicative of the humorous and dark attitude found throughout the series. This tone is precisely what the show’s creators wanted. It could easily sway towards overly pessimistic or cheesy if not surgically crafted. Validating the choosing of Perumal as the proper professional for this project, he approached the creators about combining what was originally the first two episodes into a single one. Stating his case that the emotional and comic vibe would be more congruent with other episodes if this approach were taken, and preparing a cut to exhibit this, the cornerstone of “Sexcapades” was accurately presented in this first episode. Rather than a stroke of genius, Vishnu considers this second nature. He comments, “Comedy is all about timing and knowing when to deliver the punchline. I learned that the same sort of principle can be employed through editing. It’s easy to know if a scene isn’t well edited if the jokes don’t land. When editing comedy, it is important to build up to the punchline and not make the edits too distracting. When the punchline is delivered, a beat in the edit should happen, in order to let everyone register the punchline, followed by the reaction shots. In shows like “Louie” and “The Office”, sometimes the reactions in themselves are the punchline and milking that awkwardness is key in generating the comedy in the moment. I also learned a lot about rhythm in comedy. when the pace of a scene seems down, unless intentional, the comedy will also suffer. Every comedic moment needs to be delivered with as much attention to the timing as possible in order to make it all come together.”
Perumal had a significant role in crafting “Sexcapades” into what became an award-winning series (Outstanding Achievement Award at LA Web Fest 2015 as well as three nominations). The close working relationship he shared with Stephen Thomas was an incredibly mutually creative opportunity for both. Vishnu relates, “I like to milk comedic moments from awkward silence and reactions. It’s a great tool for a comedy editor because reactions aren’t usually written in the script and will easily fit in any moment without putting much strain on the continuity of the story. Because the director trusted me in my ability to create comedy, he allowed me to add comedy wherever I saw fit. In the first episode I saw a great opportunity to employ this during the sex scene where little pockets of silence adds to the awkwardness and comedy of the scene. Brevity also adds to the comedy. If a delivery of a joke seems too wordy, taking out a few words usually helps.” The filming fortuitously gave Vishnu many different angles to work with which helped him to create a style that became part of the pacing of “Sexcapades.” It’s ironic that the desire to work together with a shared vision is what enabled Vishnu and Thomas to create this series which portrays a couple’s darker need to drive a wedge between their bond.