I am a picture editor.
I have over two decades experience in network television, independent features, shorts, commercials and music videos. My work has aired on BBC, CBC, Hallmark, Lifetime, OWN, Tubi and many other well-known outlets.
I became a full-fledged picture editor in 2018. I grew into the profession through years of experience in adjacent and complimentary positions.
I first started cutting stories I shot for a local news network. A few years later, I joined IATSE as a steadicam/B camera operator. Along side this union shooter’s career I continued to edit non-union projects: commercials, music videos and a few short films.
I believe this diverse career path reveals something about who I am as a creative. I remain curious about related fields, ideas and am always keen to adopt technological advancements or modifications to my workflow that help me edit smarter, faster and with passion for each new project.
As an editor I am downstream from many key creatives. As a keen collaborator I build on their excellence. However, when things don’t go as planned and production issues are left to “fix in post”, I bring a problem-solving attitude to them. I was a goalie in minor league hockey and as an editor often feel the same sense of being the last line of defence for a troubled production or a steady hand backstopping my directors’ and producers’ creative choices.
As an editor I want to demonstrate expertise in the technical aspects of the craft, from the choice of shot size, length and what character we are on when. I also like to find moments in the footage that might not have been scripted or directed. Those emotional gems that draw a viewer in; give characters more depth and dimension. It is nuanced and painstakingly detailed work. And, yes, sometimes tedious and frustrating. However, I have yet to grow tired of this process and firmly believe the details make all the difference in what an audience experiences.
There are many ways an editor can navigate the footage. When it works, it is thrilling.