Theodora Penciu - Film Editor
Job title - Editor
Experience - 20+ years
“This editor job is going through big changes right now - we have to expand from being just editors to also becoming graphic designers, colourists and covering more creative departments.”
Describe your job role and the kinds of projects/clients you work with.
I work mostly in advertising (local/international brands), but also corporate films and feature films.
What does an average day look like in your post production working world?
My working days are all very different, depending on the project type and format, if I have to sit with director or agency, or work in my own office or remote. On early stages of projects it starts with organising footage, syncing sound and selecting takes (most of the time I work without assistants or help - I do all the organising myself), then building an assembly edit (even for movies, the first stage is still an assembly only it takes longer - weeks usually), then I start trying things, different timelines, ways to tell the scripted story or try to build a story when it's not the typical scripted stuff, getting the flow. There are days of sessions with the director, usually the fun creative part, days of sessions with agency and clients - these can be either fun or a bit stressful when there are problems with telling a story about a product in 30-20 seconds or less. I can have projects with a lot of post - and these need a special handling from the edit stage...so, there is actually no average day - this is the beauty of this job.
How did your career in post production begin?
I studied multimedia at the Academy of Theatre and Film in Bucharest, worked as a 16mm film editor for student films while in film school, had the chance to edit film on an editing flat table which was amazing, then I worked for a short period of time at the Romanian National TV in the news department - it's when I realised TV News type of editing is not for me. Then, while in the last year at film school, I was hired by a big post house in Bucharest - Abis Studio - it was the early 2000s, advertising in Romania was picking up after years of communist dictatorship (including censorship of any visual arts) so I had the great chance to grow and develop within a growing industry. Abis Studio was part of a bigger enterprise together with Castel Films - they were also filming American movie productions (Beowulf, Highlander series, Cold Mountain, Chucky) so i had the chance to be involved as an assistant editor - even if not always credited. Since then I was in a continuous collaboration with Abis Studio - but also with other post houses from abroad.
What has been your career highlight?
I wouldn't say there is a highlight - or maybe it still out there, didn't get to it yet - it was a steady developing career on many levels. Most complicated and challenging though (and I loved working on it because of this) - the movie Queen Marie of Romania.
Who are your role models in post?
I don't have any - I just watch lot of films, I am up to date with new visual trends, I watch editing vlogs, trying to learn as much as I can and improve creative and technical skills. This editor job is going through big changes right now - we have to expand from being just editors to becoming also graphic designers, colorists, covering more creative departments. I am looking for the right balance between all these, according to my skills. I rely a lot on my instincts in the process. And I simply think there are too many talented people out there, to just follow a few models.
What advice do you have for others wanting to start a career in post?
Be like a sponge - absorb as much visual stuff as possible, be in touch with your feelings related to the project to edit, do a lot of networking, be nice, have patience, educate and trust instincts, work hard. Listen to the director :)