2018 Film & Digital Media (B.S.) Graduate
What Are You Doing Professionally Now?
In a broad sense, it would be film data management and post production. I work three main roles that go hand-in-hand and overlap quite a bit depending on the production size.
On set, I work as a digital imaging technician where I organize, sort, clone, and playback footage for the director, makeup, lighting, and camera crews. If the production is bigger or moving around a lot, I work as a data wrangler. It’s almost the same job, but as a data wrangler, the focus is more on keeping the footage safe rather than making it look pretty.
Off-set I work mostly as an assistant editor where I take footage and sound from set, and sort, label, sync sound, and so on. I assist the editor with anything they need, so they can focus on the creative work.
How did you get your job?
It started off as helping other students with their productions and getting people who wanted to get into editing started off and organized. It wasn't till "Dead Winter" and a few other films that I realized that there is a job for that. As for assistant editor, I interned with Moonshine Post Production and learned a lot. I now do both jobs professionally.
On a typical day in your position, what do you do?
As a digital imaging technician, I store all the footage, watch it for any issues, apply color packets called LUTs, and prep the material to become dailies for the assistant editors.
As an assistant editor, I do everything as stated above along with creating dailies for the crew to watch so they can see their progress. I also prepare the film for the editor to take over.
What special advice would you give someone entering your field of work?
Be organized, know your software, hardware, mental, and physical limits. Also, keep a record of everything; it might save your job and the film.
If you were in the position to hire new graduates, what would you look for in them?
I would look for a willingness to learn and listen to others and a willingness to work a position that they are not used to. I’ve ended up working as a stunt double, a sound mixer, and even a boat operator for the camera crew.
Was there anything specific that you learned while attending UNG that has been especially beneficial in your career?
Understanding cinematography, the mechanics and digital side of sound and film recording, and post-production. I basically work with on-site post production, but I’m constantly in contact with the camera crew. I think it is best to know as much as you can about the people you work with and what they do on set.