Quintessential Studios' Weblog

I am studying Coling and Samir’s “50 in 5: Generate 50 High Viewership Video Ideas in 5 Days”.

Doing this, I wondered, “What platform would I want my community to be on?” This made me think, “What was that one platform that I thought would be cool? Oh yeah, Patreon.”

Going there to look it over, I found and was reminded that I am a member of Sven Pape’s “This Guy Edits” community there and I used to pay monthly to be a part of it. (I am also one of his first students on his “The Go-To Editor” course. Six years ago this May 1st (May 1, 2019), I wrote Sven a lengthy email about how I thought the obstacles were quite insurmountable in trying to become an editor but that he’d “inspired me to be a go-to editor.” I will have to say that everything I wrote in the letter is still true for me today and in fact, besides a few cool points of progress, I’d say it’s even harder today, six years later. (I know I’m not the only one in this boat.)

I noticed, as part of his higher Patreon membership tier, one of the bonuses was a “CASEY NEISTAT BONUS STORY”. On a whim, I decided to search Google for it and found this one on YouTube: “CASEY NEISTAT UNMASKED: His Editing & Storytelling“.

On the side suggestions, I saw and went to: “How Casey Neistat Turns ANYTHING Into a Movie Idea“.

On the side suggestions for that one, I saw: “Casey Neistat Studio Tour!”

Which reminded me that I liked this video by Dan Mace: “How to Master the Art of Filmmaking”

Scrolling down to try to find my comment I left on that video, I was distracted by this video suggestion: Tom Cruise challenges his cocky rookies for 10 Minutes | Top Gun 2: Maverick Best Scenes because who can’t get enough of Eddie Hamilton, ACE BFE ‘s editing!

And it’s not even noon yet. I’m sure I’ll have more rabbit hole’s today….

Today, I sent in three applications for Premiere Pro classes through Contract Services.

PR101 Adobe Premiere Pro I, PR201 Adobe Premiere Pro II and ED201P Assistant Editor Essentials: Premiere Pro.

Hope I get to take those classes. I’ve taken the last one before but it was taught by a different person than I am hoping will teach this one. Hoping for John Knowles on this one.

Really want to tighten my PP skills, as I really feel there is a lot of opportunity out there with the program.

Today is all about learning storytelling and The Hero’s Journey or The Hero’s Two Journeys.

Started off with Russell Brunson talking about Story Selling, videos from his “free” lessons. Sprinkled in a bit of Tom Pardo’s Shambala The Hero’s Journey video from this Storytelling class. And adding in The Hero’s Two Journeys, Audible book recommended by Russell.

Realizing I need to “sell” on the counter-stories that people have come up with. AKA, people have come to Hollywood to make it. Some do, some don’t. The ones that don’t have run into obstacles and now need stories on how to defeat those dragons.

Last night, I went to the Key Code Media’s annual Pre-NAB event called Editor’s Lounge.

It was a chilly night in Burbank but Key Code keep us warm with Tacos, Street Dogs, Chips, Beans and Rice, Beer and Margaritas (and an assortment of non-alcoholic drinks).

Besides editors and AEs coming out, I also like that this event brings fellow ACSRs out and it always seems like at least one of them knows about some upcoming job somewhere. Which was just the case last night. So, luckily, I got a lead on a possible job.

Also, that day, I had someone reach out on LinkedIn about a possible support role. Today, I did talk to someone from MrBeast, so that makes three potential job contacts in two days. That’s the outer journey, eh? What about the inner journey. What am I actually struggling with these days? I am out of work. I am having problems at home. I am having struggles. I am massively in debt.

How was the presentation at Key Code? Here’s a link to the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdBnTqaD290

*Clickbait Alert

While technically true, let me explain.

March 20, I went to one of the last LACPUG meetings ever.

At the meeting, there were presentations by Toj Mora, a deaf editor and assistant editor; Philip Hodgetts, about captionAnimator; and the post on Beast Games.

On stage for the MrBeast presentation was Kara McCloud, Jeff Greenberg, Joshua Kulic and they also brought up one of the editors.

Beast Games Post Team

They were there on a recruit mission for more editors and assistant editors. Feastables with a QR code for setting up a Calendy meeting were given out at the break.

After the show, I did what I always do and that is go with the team to pizza afterwards. It was bittersweet as Philip and Greg are moving back to AUS and this was their last LACPUG meeting.

Since some of the MrBeast team was there, they were generous enough to pay the whole bill, which we normally split. And thus, MrBeast “bought me dinner”.

Yesterday, I got the opportunity to hang out with Bella Roberts and her brother Cam for a little bit in L.A. A couple other people (3) came by also and we just talked about living in California, different projects we’d been doing and just life in general.

It was really great to just chill out and make friends, be IRL and, for me, “act like humans” for a bit. By that, I mean isn’t that what we’re supposed to do, meet people and talk and exchange ideas? No agendas, just meeting new people and enjoying each others’ company.

It was really quite pleasant. We also got a sneak preview of the short film they’d been making and I must say, I’m really impressed with their skills as filmmakers.

They’re from England and are just visiting, which is a shame because I’d like to hang out more often. But I guess we have technology to help with that.

After that, I went and hung out with Joaquin Elizondo and some fellow Hollywood Editing Mentor peers at a “post-Eddies” meetup. This was very casual too. Just having a beer and talking about film and TV stuff. These folks, most are L.A. locals and a couple east coasters who come to town a couple times a year, it seems. At least I get to see them more often.

Traveling to and from LA, I listened to a couple podcasts and between those and the conversations I had, I came up with a theme for the day and that was, “Give yourself permission to just create”.

The commonality of both groups of meetup attendees and the podcasters I listened to was that we were all creators of some sort.

Heck even today, I re-listened to an interview of Bella from last year and when she was asked if she had any advice for up-and-coming creators, it was basically to just do it. Don’t wait for having the right tools, just go out and make ten videos. They’re gonna suck but just do them and learn. This is something that Chase Jarvis talks about all the time. “Go make crappy art”. The interview of his I listened to yesterday was with Amee Mcnee, called “Stop Waiting for Permission to Create”. It occurred to me that the thing in common with successful people is that they are doing it. Just doing it. They are out there doing it and talking about what they’ve done, not talking about what they “will do” or “might do”. They DO first.

Links:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stop-waiting-for-permission-to-create-heres-how-to-start/id1127915772?i=1000698892787

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/editing-obsessed-content-creator-bella-roberts/id1598151770?i=1000656916821

https://hollywoodeditingmentor.com/

3/15/25

Last night was the Eddies. I ended up not going so I caught the livestream of the ceremony and tried to look at as many social media posts from people that went as I could.

I had planned on catching the party or after-party but it turned out that I had to help construct a science Olympiad project for one of my kids who is doing that today. Overall, I’m glad I was there for my kid. In the end, that’s more important to me. It sure looked like a good time people were having though! Lol

Today, I am going to meetup with HEM friends at a post-Eddies meetup and before that with Bella Roberts of IG “Let’s get cracking” fame. She’s visiting America and specifically LA this week and I am such a fan of her work and journey, that I just have to meet her!

Today, like many days before, I have applied for a number of positions. Today, the positions I applied for were all different. Similar in nature but all different and cover different aspects of what I feel are my working strengths.

Today. I reached out to different friends and contacts.

Today, I worked on some other different tasks: editing some screen recording projects, posting on This Post Life. I did some laundry, I made and ate lunch and breakfast. I cleaned up a little. I took my son to school. But still haven’t finished my trailer project that is due in a couple days.

Maybe I need to review some trailer courses…

I’m procrastinating by having a lot of things to do.

Actually, I have a weakness, in using the program I have decided to edit it with. I realize I am not particularly strong in this NLE, so I start to do something, wonder how I do something basic and spend more time off trying to figure that out and then, oh yeah, some other stuff comes up. I’m finding it hard to “get into the zone” these days.

In looking at these jobs I applied for, a Community Engagement Specialist, an Assistant Editor position and a Technical Assistant. They are all things I do in my spare time, just for fun. Wouldn’t it be great to get paid to do them! I am looking at different positions because my direct path is no longer direct and really, kinda, not available anymore. This is a bad time for post.

Speaking of post, I have to go review those Post-Super classes I went through last month. I want to take the certification exams this month.

Today is much like any other day. I am just hoping that as I cycle through these days, that something will crystalize and come more into focus.

ACE’s 25th IAVA.

This was my 17th (15th live) attendance.

My first was in 2009:
https://quintessentialstudios.blogspot.com/2009/02/aces-9th-annual-invisible-art-visible.html

As I mentioned on my Instagram post, I was as excited to attend this one as I was to attend my first. It is really thrilling to be there with all the Hollywood editors and take it all in. From my first time opening an NLE, I’ve dreamed of being on stage getting an Oscar for editing.

The nominated editors were:

Sean Baker – Anora
David Jancso, HSE – The Brutalist
Myron Keratin, ACE – Wicked: Part 1
Nick Emerson – Conclave
Juliette Welfling – Emilia Pérez

Sometimes, editors can not make it or have to leave early (to attend other award shows, for example) and today, Sean Baker (Anora) and Juliette Welfling (Emilia Pérez) could’t attend. “Juliette Well is currently on a flight from L.A. to L.A. from Paris. It will not be here. And Sean Baker was also unable to come this morning.” Sean’s Assistant Editor (Matt Miller) was called out during the presentation, as in attendance but was not asked to speak at all (bummer).

Sean, who won the Oscar, also did not call out his assistant in his acceptance speech but acknowledged his own dog, as giving him good notes.

So, I don’t know where I stand on this but I am disappointed that Matt wasn’t asked to at least give some comments about the editing process of the film.

Note: Matt has since spoken on social media that he had a great time on the film and he understands the nervousness of being on stage and all is right in his mind.

Juliette was given some time via some pre-recorded Zoom interview clips that Sabrina Plisco, ACE had done with her, so that was nice.

Ironically, David Jancso, HSE, said that the editors gave Sean crap for not hiring an editor at the awards luncheon. “Just so you all know, we gave him shit at the lunch and for editing his own films, and congratulated him because he does a really good job and I hate him for it. But yeah.”

After the panel, the lobby was crowded for some time as everyone was busy talking. This is a great time to meet your favorite editors or catch up with your editing peers.

There is usually one or more get-togethers after that too.

I went to the Bar Magnolia meetup and had some lovely conversations.

Walter Murch at LACPUG via Zoom Feb 2025

Last night, I went to the 4th-to-the-last-ever LACPUG meeting.

It was great to see some old friends, meet some new people, win some raffle prizes and watch the documentary that I donated to the crowdfunding for: Her Name Was Moviola and to listen to the Q&A with Walter Murch (via Zoom) on the big screen at the Barnsdale Art Theater in Hollywood.

One thing that stuck out in my mind is that he has been editing for sixty years. Sixty years! Thirty on film and thirty on digital formats. Unbelievable! That’s dedication and that’s love and commitment and passion.

I’ve recently become obsessed with MrBeast, well, at least interviews with him. He’s someone that’s number one in his field, many fields actually, but for sure mainly YouTube. He’s been obsessed from an early age with it and has conquered it.

I really think obsession and passion are the ultimate keys to success.