"At the first screening, there were a lot of areas that we went around and around about. Then we had our second screening. It played better. It's almost a reasonable length film now!"

Terry Gilliam's quote offers a glance into the iterative and complex nature of movie modifying and production. As a well-known director known for his distinct visual style and storytelling, Gilliam frequently undertakes tasks that blend creativity with precise workmanship. His statement shows the typically challenging journey from preliminary movie cuts to a refined, coherent final product.

In the quote, when Gilliam mentions the "very first screening", he is most likely referring to an initial watching of a rough cut, which is an early version of a movie, assembled in an initial way. At this stage, it's typical for filmmakers to recognize several issues, whether they be pacing issues, narrative clearness, or scene shifts. The expression "a great deal of locations that we walked around and around about" suggests conversations and disputes among the filmmaking team on how to fix these challenges. It records the trial-and-error process, where scenes may be modified, reduced, or even got rid of completely to enhance the movie's circulation and coherence.

The "second screening" represents a subsequent version of the film, incorporating changes made based on feedback and insights from the preliminary screening. Gilliam observes that it "played much better", indicating that these modifications resulted in a more efficient or engaging cinematic experience for the audience. His use of the expression "played much better" denotes an improved story rhythm or an emotional impact that is more detailed to the wanted outcome.

Finally, Gilliam's comment that the movie is "practically a reasonable length" humorously highlights the continuous battle in filmmaking to stabilize innovative vision with useful constraints such as runtime. Films frequently go through numerous models before reaching a form that stabilizes directorial intent with audience expectations. His tone suggests complete satisfaction tempered with an awareness that the procedure is not yet complete.

Overall, the quote shows the collaborative, iterative, and detailed process of movie editing, capturing the determination and versatility needed to transform an initial vision into a refined cinematic work.