Nowadays, it is fashionable to be "nerdy", so I fancy myself a trendsetter. While my friends honed their athletic abilities, I occupied my time with movies, enthralled by the magic and technical prowess required to properly tell stories with motion pictures and sound.¹ On the weekends, I procured a camcorder and recruited amateur thespians² to assist in the creation of profound short films that fascinated audiences³. This may not have been the recipe for popularity, but it was the foundation for what has become a passionate career spanning two decades.
I studied film theory and history at the University of Washington before venturing north of the border to complete an intensive yearlong program at Vancouver Film School. It was here that I gravitated toward post-production⁴ and embraced an editor’s responsibility for establishing tone, pacing, and nuance while closely collaborating with producers and directors to bring the vision to fruition. Armed with valuable technical proficiencies and interpersonal communication tactics, I returned to the Pacific Northwest⁵.
My inaugural professional adventure began in Seattle, Washington at Screenplay, INC. As an editor, I assisted in the conception and execution of promotions and programming for retail environments, generating several hours of content each month with custom advertisements and playlisted music videos and movie trailers. It was an ideal scenario that allowed me to refine my capabilities while infusing entertainment into a consumer’s shopping experience.
After an acquisition by Channel M, my role expanded to include senior-level responsibilities such as producing, directing, and client management in addition to editing. The assignments involved creating a variety of segments for high profile clientele as well as event coverage and live performances for online outlets and social media. During this time, I completed two relocation tours of duty in Los Angeles⁶ prior to trekking back to the Seattle area post-merger between Channel M and PlayNetwork.
Not long after my return to the Evergreen State, I was tasked with managerial duties and became the supervisor of editors. My organizational talents proved beneficial and I seized the opportunity to streamline the post-production workflow amidst instituting a new non-linear editing process. My aptitude in this position eventually resulted in a promotion to oversee all personnel of the video department, including producers and animators. Harnessing these various personalities and talents into a cohesive unit⁷ resulted in a fluid operation; as a group, we navigated tight deadlines and high stress situations to achieve unanimous customer satisfaction.
A shift from pop culture to taxes may seem peculiar, but returning to my editing roots became a priority and Avalara afforded me such a chance. Here, I found myself deciphering the complexities of tariffs, jurisdiction codes, and exemptions to craft video segments for SaaS products, company events, and leadership announcements. During my tenure, animations became a key component of my repertoire and sound design was pivotal in communicating intricate concepts to a specific audience. As a result, I expanded my already extensive post-production knowledge and added new strategies to my visual storytelling techniques.
I am eager to share this experience in my next endeavor and to continue to grow in the post-production realm.
ANNOTATIONS
¹ Despite my lack of traditional athleticism, I am a sports enthusiast. As a Seattle Mariners fan, I am also a glutton for punishment - a characteristic that has proven beneficial during marathon feedback sessions with the most demanding clients.
² This is an exaggerated way of referring to friends and family members who had no interest in acting.
³ My first film, titled FISHSTICKS, premiered at the Narrows View Elementary talent show. Nobody walked out during the presentation. (It should also be noted that nobody talked to me afterward.)
⁴ I also gravitated toward Tim Horton’s unique combo meal comprised of stew and a glazed donut.
⁵ My return to the PNW was also influenced by Dick's Drive-In.
⁶ For the record, Dick's burgers are exponentially better than In-N-Out...unless you are a hiring manager and favor the latter. In this instance, you can consider me "Mr. Animal Style"!
