Gabby Swenson - Editor
Job title - Editor
Experience - 5+ years
“Sometimes I’ll cut end to beginning instead of beginning to end, I think that can help create a better story if the piece calls for it.”
Describe your job role and the kinds of projects/clients you work with.
I currently work as a video editor for a creative company based in Nashville, TN. We have a large variety of clients - from social media pros like 615 House to country music artists like Walker Hayes. Since our clients span across the board, I find my day to day consists of jumping around social media assets, advertisements, music videos, motion graphics, and more! I also do freelance work from time to time with local independent artists to help them get their foot in the door. My long term goal is to get more into documentary work - especially adventure sports like climbing, skiing, biking, etc.
What does an average day look like in your post-production working world?
My day always starts with creating a to-do list by client. I go name by name, and write out each thing, big or small, that I need to accomplish for them for the day. Once my list is fleshed out, I’ll usually check my email to see if there are any new projects incoming or any edits from yesterday’s work. Then I get going!
When it comes to starting a new project, I usually compile any notes given to me by the writers, camera operators, director, etc. I’ll organize all of my footage in whichever way makes the most sense for the project. As I look through footage, ideas will usually begin to develop on how to piece everything together. After that, I let my flow take me! Sometimes I’ll cut end to beginning instead of beginning to end, I think that can help create a better story if the piece calls for it.
How did your career in post-production begin?
Like many in the film industry, I started making videos when I was young. I was 12 when I first discovered Windows Movie Maker. It happened by chance - I was trying to think of ideas for my mom’s birthday present. I found a huge box of old pictures in our storage closet, and I had no clue how to scan them, so I got out a camera and started taking pictures of the pictures. I got them onto my computer, stuck them into Windows Movie Maker, threw in a few of her favorite songs, and voila - a video slideshow! On our family beach trip about a year later, I found out you could upload videos into the program as well, and after that it was game over. I became the go-to filmmaker for my friends and family all throughout high school, whether it was for a friend’s Student Government campaign or the next-door elementary school’s coupon book sale.
I went on to study film & video production in college, and worked my way up to where I am now! I pursued and held roles such as Assistant Content Creator for my local climbing gym and Video Editor for Channel5 throughout college.
What has been your career highlight?
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to edit a music video for an artist here in Nashville, Mary Heather Hickman. She was a client of our company, so I was able to assist in writing and filming, and then doing all of the editing for the video. Since it was a music video with a storyline, it was a little different than some of the acoustic style music videos I had done in the past. After many hours of staring at my computer screen and making my friends watch it over and over, I finally finished. It got sent off to CMT and was broadcast on their show as well as featured on their website! The feeling of seeing something you meticulously cut up and put back together on TV is an awesome feeling.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your career;
My last year of college I worked on a short documentary about a local rock climber. I had two different classes going on at the time - Documentary Screenwriting and Post Production 2. My final in the screenwriting class was to compile interviews, transcribe them, and turn in a 10-15 page script. My final in Post Production 2 was to create a 10-15 minute film in any genre I wanted. I decided to make a documentary that could count for both classes and allow me much more time to work on it. I spent months creating the film, and I did everything from writing, filming, interviewing, editing, and coloring. Once all was said and done, I submitted it to the MTSU film festival. I ended up winning first place! Looking back on the actual film itself, it wasn’t my best piece of work, especially because I had to do it all myself and I was still in school learning. But winning first place and seeing my film on a movie screen for the viewing was so cool! I definitely knew at that point I wanted to continue in this field post-graduation.
Women in post you admire?
I admire any editor in the field, male or female. I think anyone who can provide support to others in post-production and inspiration through video editing is someone to admire. But - I really like Sophie Danison’s work - she is an editor in the outdoor documentary genre.
What advice do you have for other women wanting to start a career in post?
I may be stealing from a professor I had in college, but he told me once - if there isn’t a job for you, make one. Figure out what it is you enjoy doing, and figure out a way to do it. For some reason this really resonated with me, and after class that day I went to the manager at the climbing gym I worked at and asked if they needed any help with photography or videography. This prompted them to create a position for me, which eventually led into the other roles I’ve held. The time to start doing work that you love is now.