What do you want to see happen in your career?

If you fast forwarded 30 years, what would you be editing?

Would it be something that excited you? That made you excited to sit in the chair and lose track of time?

Admittedly, joy in your work is a question of privilege. When bills need to be paid and you or family has needs, you don’t have the luxury to say, “I’m waiting for a job I love.”

That reality doesn’t make the question any less valid. 

Life is about more than survival. Or more precisely, survival does not give life meaning. Joy, love, hope, connection—these are signs of a fruitful life. 

What do you want to see happen in your career?

I was blessed to attend film school. Through every short film, the goal was always, “Next year in Hollywood.”

After college, I moved to… Missouri. It started as a 6-month apprenticeship and turned into a 5-year staff editing job.

When people asked what I worked on I’d say, “Well, promos, but one day I want to do films.”

Then our staff was offered a feature documentary. I became a manager and created video content for 20,000-attendee conferences.  

What do you want to see happen?

I changed jobs, shot a 30-minute documentary in Brazil, and edited another doc which Netflix picked up. 

I still said I wanted to edit scripted films, when all the while I had been a working editor for years.

What do you want to see happen?

In 2021, I met with a director about editing his independent film. But after reading the script, the story didn’t feel like a good fit. If I was going to edit my first scripted feature, I wanted it to be one I’d be proud of. 

An editing career is equally singular focus and flexibility to accept what comes your way. 

Set a goal on the horizon. Have something to aim for.

Then be flexible as you travel toward it.

What do you want to see happen in your career?

Let me know and I'll reply with one way you can move that direction this week.

Keep cutting,

– Jesse