Evan Ahlgren takes us through his process in the editing bay. Jason HellermanJul 22, 2025This new Dora film from Nickelodeon may have been made with younger audiences in mind, but editor Evan Ahlgren took inspiration from one of the most iconic adult adventurers in film history: Indiana Jones.Raiders of the Lost Ark played on loop in Ahlgren's head as he set the pacing and tone of this spectacular live-action Dora adaptation, which marks Ahlgren's second collaboration with director Alberto Belli. Today, I'm excited to sit down with Ahlgren to talk about all this and more.Let's dive into the interview. - YouTubeNFS: Hey Evan! Congrats on Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado. Can you describe your overall creative approach to the edit for this latest entry in the Dora franchise? Evan Ahlgren: Thank you! Once I read the script, I always have several ideas of what a scene is going to look or feel like, but that usually goes out the window once I get dailies, because the footage usually dictates what is possible. So, once I start to review dailies, I immediately start pulling selects to begin building scenes into a sequence. For this film, I wanted to capture the essence of Dora’s innocence, charm, and humor, but also give the film a tension in the moments of the trials she was facing.NFS: Considering the storied history of Dora and her many onscreen incarnations, what kind of inspiration did you take from the animated series and previous live-action adaptations? EA: I am older than the generation of animated Dora and actually have never watched the live-action film. I obviously knew of the character and got to know her better because my daughter, who is 3, is a huge fan of the animated series and watches it often. When you watch an episode of animated Dora, you really get a sense of her humor, positivity, and need for discovery and adventure. So I really tried to lean into those aspects while cutting the movie. Also, Samantha Lorraine really exudes all of those qualities and more while playing Dora, so that made my job very easy.NFS: I understand you also referred to the Indiana Jones films while working on the film. How did your love for those films manifest itself in the edit? EA: Indiana Jones, to me, is the definition of action and adventure. I have worked with director Alberto Belli prior to this film and understand his directing style and aesthetics. Before I began dailies, we had spoken about concepts of Indiana Jones, The Goonies, and Jurassic Park, and how elements of those films can fit into our film. I approached a lot of the trial scenes in this film thinking about Indiana Jones, and would actually leave the films on loop some days while I was cutting in my office. So if I went to grab a snack or a drink, Indiana Jones would be playing. 'Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado' Credit: Nickelodeon NFS: Sol Dorado maintains an infectious sense of positivity throughout. How did you work to achieve the film's cheery tone in the edit?EA: I would have to give this one to the cast: Samantha, Jacob, Mariana, Acston, and Daniella for bringing all the energy and upbeat demeanor. They were non-stop and always had smiles on their faces. Watching dailies, I would literally be laughing out loud. But on my end, I just wanted it to be punchy and non-stop, whether it was timing for jokes or action. I wanted it to move to match the energy of the cast and story.NFS: Of course, the film also finds our titular hero in peril throughout her adventures. How did you navigate the tonal changes throughout the film? EA: It was tricky at times, but lots of fun to switch moods from cheery to suspenseful. I tend to go darker in tone and lean into suspense and scares, but with a film like this, I had to pull some of the tension back. My first cuts almost felt like a different film at times – a horror Dora film. I think I was able to tone it back for all audiences. I hope so. Because you don’t want to scar kids for life watching a Dora movie. Although Map burns to his death in the first 15 minutes, so maybe we did.NFS: How do you think about pacing when cutting together a film for young viewers, knowing they are likely to be watching alongside their parents as well? EA: I honestly didn’t take that into consideration. I cut for the script and emotional beats of the story. I think kids are pretty intelligent and don’t need things dumbed down as much. My thoughts were just to make it as fun and exciting as possible.NFS: Thanks, Evan! Is there anything else you would like to share about Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado or any other upcoming projects? EA: Be sure to check out , and also the incredible score soundtrack by Kenny Wood.Keep ReadingShow less, If you want to get into filmmaking, you need to learn the three-point lighting setup and techniques., The Setup The setup for the Rokoko Smartsuit is extremely simple. First, you download Rokoko Studio from their website. Then you plug the suit into your computer and follow the prompts to connect it to your wifi router (for best results, you’re supposed to connect your computer directly to the router via an ethernet cable)..