Stephanie West - Editor
Job title - Editor
Experience - 10+ years
“The hardest part of editing for me is starting. Honestly, the initial feeling I have when I sit down to start an edit is overwhelmingness. There’s usually a mountain of footage, high client and personal expectations, and only vague ideas of how I plan to do any of it. I’ve learned there’s no right or wrong way to start an edit.”
Describe your job role and the kinds of projects/clients you work with.
My job as an editor is to work closely with directors and other creatives to help bring to life the ideas and goals they have for a particular video they want to make, using media they either shot, created, or collected. I work primarily in the world of fashion and beauty advertising, editing spots for makeup, clothing, hair care, skincare, jewelry, and accessories. My clients include Revlon, MAC, Venus/Gillette, Prose, Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton, and Nike.
What does an average day look like in your post production working world?
I’m usually the first one at the office (times out that way with kid school drop off), but I like getting in early. I’ll make breakfast, get a coffee, then head into my room to start the day.
If I’m starting a job and screening footage, things are a bit more relaxed - door open, and sometimes I’ll put on music. If there’s a lot to do - multiple jobs with revisions, conforms, versioning, etc - I’ll close my door to focus better.
When I need to create a first edit, things are a little more serious. My office door is closed and the curtain drawn, and I always have a large coffee from Essen (the deli across the street) with a lot of sugar that keeps me awake and super focused.
The hardest part of editing for me is starting. Honestly, the initial feeling I have when I sit down to start an edit is overwhelmingness. There’s usually a mountain of footage, high client and personal expectations, and only vague ideas of how I plan to do any of it. I’ve learned there’s no right or wrong way to start an edit. As long as I start somewhere - even just putting two clips in an empty timeline that seem to go together - my thought processes ignite, and one idea leads to another. Usually, my entire first day is spent experimenting with different ideas for the footage, creating little modules or building blocks that will eventually be used to create the first assembly. I mainly work in Premiere Pro and occasionally use other programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, or After Effects to create graphics. Because Premiere is my primary language, I tend to do most of what I need in that program - animation, masking, rough mixes, and rough color.
How did your career in post production begin?
I met Chad, the founder and owner of Consulate, while I was a graduate student at American University, studying film (with a focus in editing). He was my mentor in a program I participated in that paired students up with working professionals in the fields they are studying. After I graduated, I emailed him asking if I could intern at Consulate (i.e., work for free doing whatever was needed). I started in June of 2009, was hired as an apprentice a few months later, transitioned to an assistant editor a couple of years later, and grew to become a roster editor.
What has been your career highlight?
Getting promoted to an editor was a big moment for me. It was achieving a dream that started 12 years before when I first visited Consulate as part of a student tour group and imagined how incredible it would be to work as an editor at a place like that someday. I don’t really have one project that stands out as a career highlight for me, so far.
Who are your role models in post?
Holle Singer (another editor here at Consulate) has had the biggest impact on my growth as an editor. I assisted her for about five years and learned almost everything I know about the commercial editing world from her.
What advice do you have for others wanting to start a career in post?
Like any industry, it’s all about who you know. Get into the scene by offering to work for free somewhere that interests you (and wait tables at night, or whatever). And in your spare time, teach yourself Premiere, Avid, After Effects, DaVinci, ProTools - any program you’re interested in learning. There are tons of online classes and tutorials on these, and learning and practicing them in your spare time will help you stay competitive and advance faster.