Video Editing
From a broadcast feature to a 6 second YouTube teaser: every great edit demands a compelling story arc, a gripping cadence, and a satisfying conclusion.
I can edit, I think you get that with my background, instead of boring you with tech specs, programs, and systems, I thought I’d share a few of the more challenging or interesting edits I’ve had over the years. I’ve edited thousands of spots, shows, promos, and other types of videos. Searched through tens of thousands of hours of raw footage to find the right shot or soundbite. I enjoy the process of taking a huge pile of assets and refining them to a video that can bring smiles or tears to someone's eyes. Here are a few of the more unique ones.
Technology changes
Great stories do not
19 +
editing systems mastered and cut on
Some interesting edits over the years
01. Editing Blazing Saddles for Broadcast
Yes, I had the opportunity to edit Blazing Saddles for television. Now, if you’ve just seen the almost-anything-goes culture of streaming on the internet, broadcast television has been far from that. With strict federal regulations in place if something is offensive, vulgar, or nudity is shown. Well, that pretty much sums up Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles. To edit it for television was pretty hilarious, resulting in lots of bleeps or empty air time.
02. Editing Deathly Hollows and similar VNRs
There are some VNRs that are pre-packaged news stories that can sit on a shelf until there’s available airtime. Then, there are VNRs that are needed right now after an event, launch, or other timely matter. While they are usually fairly easy to cut together, not many effects or graphics to contend with, the process can be daunting, since many events take place at night. So, you’re left juggling incoming assets throughout the evening, cutting them together, and getting new assets that may disrupt the flow. All the time, checking in when this interview will be coming, this b-roll is missing, and so many other moving parts. It’s actually very similar to live sports production; the adrenaline rush, the very little room for error, and the constant pivots to reach your goals. Layer on top of that, brand stewards, legal teams, and opposing voices on what is actually needed all mixes to create a challenging, but rewarding experience in the end.
03. Editing Larry the cable guy interstitials
Okay, this one was very fun, but very painful at the same time. I got to work with Larry the Cable Guy on a series of interstitials I was putting together for a broadcast. Scripts were locked, the set was dressed, extras were ready, and Larry the Cable Guy just pulled up in the biggest pickup truck I had ever seen.
Rewind one day before: talking with the promotions person I was working with, they warned me that Larry might not stay on script. I thought that meant some ad-libbing here or there. To my surprise, it meant ignoring the script! And this might sound like a rant, but it's not. He was funny, he knew his strengths, and he hit home run after home run. He was also very friendly and professional; if something absolutely needed to be said, he would work it in, but in his own way.
It was fun, funny, and a great production. But post-production was a challenge. In the end, it all worked out.
04. Editing Video Game Assets
I had the awesome opportunity to edit in-game assets for popular video games. Since I enjoy tech and storytelling, this was an amazing journey to be able to be part of, but it was challenging. Not because of the stories, cadence and flow are universal, it was more the technology and the amount of teams you have to coordinate with to get the assets completed.
First off, the technology was usually proprietary to the game itself or some sort of video engine for video games, not your typical broadcast standards. Sometimes we even had to get coders to come and write lines of code to compress the files. Then, the sheer amount of teams to get and build assets was a challenge: working with multiple groups to ensure we got that perfect shot, models were cleaned up and pristine, all artwork was final, and all the settings were correct.
Plus, like many large-scale projects, there were legal teams and brand stewards who needed to review videos before they went final, sometimes forcing us back to the drawing board because of cut features, new marketing angles, or even lawsuits. All of those challenges made it that much more rewarding to see the final product put together and know that you had a hand in creating it.
Client work & Case Studies
Take a peek at the past, then let's focus on your next goal
I combine creative flair with business goals