How Minnesota Natives, The Coen Brothers, Fooled Hollywood

Minnesota’s own Coen Brothers, Joel and Ethan, are two of America’s favorite movie creators. The St. Louis Park Minnesota natives have brought to life some of our favorite movies that include: 

Raising Arizona 

Fargo 

The Big Lebowski 

O Brother Where Art Thou 

No Country for Old Men 

True Grit  

and many others. The brothers worked together for many years. They would write, direct, and produce all their work, but one important aspect of making movies the Coen Brothers trusted with someone else. That’s the editing. 

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They have employed Roderick Jaynes for years to be their editor. Jaynes had never edited for anyone else before, which means he’s been a masterful find for the Coen’s. So where did they find him? 

They didn’t. They made him up. The brothers created the “editor” for a couple of reasons. First, because they do so much of the work, they didn’t want their name splattered all over a film. 

Secondly, and maybe most importantly, due to rules within some of the Guilds, the labor groups that are connected to the movie industry. There are guidelines on how members are credited.  

Hence Roderick Jaynes was born. He is one of their regular pseudonyms, they’ve also used Reginald Jaynes and Mike Zoss.  

Roderick Jaynes has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards for his role in putting the Coen Brothers movies together. For years there was a mystique around Jaynes, because he wasn’t seen publicly.  

Then it became known that Jaynes was just another masterful Coen Brothers Creation.