Hana Mitchell - Film/TV Editor
Editor
Experience 15+ years
“Make sure that you have patience. A lot of work in post-production involves fine-tuning and paying attention to detail, and that requires a lot of patience.”
Describe your job role and the kinds of projects/clients you work with.
My job is essentially to make sense of hours and hours of footage which may include sound and motion graphics. To me it's like putting a puzzle together. I assemble it into a coherent piece with a clear message or story that fulfills the clients vision. I work on a variety of projects from feature films, music videos, documentaries and commercials and industrial videos. If it needs editing I can do it. My work has been seen on platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, BET, BET+, Aspire, Tubi and more.
What does an average day look like in your post-production working world?
An average day for me in post-production begins with reviewing either a script or footage, along with any notes from the director. This is probably the most time consuming process. Sometimes I will drag all the clips on a timeline and just let it play out without any audio first, then again with audio. I need to see everything. That's usually when I start marking my selects onto a duplicate timeline. Then I get creative and start assembling the footage. Music is such a motivator for me so during this process there is definetly something playing in the background while I work :).
How did your career in post production begin?
My career began by manually logging footage in the old analog days. Having to write notes trying to describe the clip and the best takes. It was a very tedious process that would prepare me for a future as an editor. My first edit job was an actual music video for a Chicago artist. I literally taught myself to edit while editing the video, it was pretty cool.
What has been your career highlight?
There are so many highlights and milestones that I could list. But one in particular that I had the absolute pleasure of being apart of, was editing promotional videos for professional boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and supremely talented Jamie Foxx. Receiving a Telly award for editing the documentary "From Horns to House" would also be another highlight that I am proud to have. In addition to that, having several films that I have edited premiere on BET.
Who are your role models in post?
I tend to gather my inspiration from other artists in the same field, who's work that I respect and admire. Having said that there are two women that come to mind, and that's Thelma Schoonmaker and Sally Menke. They both have contributed to my creativity and even how I will approach a film during the post process.
What advice do you have for others wanting to start a career in post?
Make sure that you have patience. A lot of work in post-production involves fine-tuning and paying attention to detail, and that requires a lot of patience. Also learn to embrace long hours.
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