From Set Life to Storytelling – My Journey Before Editing

Before I found my passion in the editing suite, my journey through the film and television industry was anything but linear. I started from the ground up, working on film sets across the country, bouncing between different departments, and experiencing every facet of production firsthand. Those years gave me an invaluable education in how stories are made—before I ever sat down to shape them myself.

Wilmington Beginnings

I started my career in Wilmington, NC, working as a production assistant on various film and television productions. Wilmington was an exciting hub for filmmaking in the ‘90s, and I quickly found myself immersed in the industry, learning the ins and outs of set life.

In 1996, I landed a job on Adrian Lyne’s adaptation of Lolita—a project that took me across the United States and ultimately led me to Los Angeles. That move opened up new opportunities, and over the next five years, I worked across multiple departments, gaining an in-depth understanding of how a film comes together.

A Crash Course in Production

During those early years, I worked on an eclectic mix of projects, each providing unique experiences:

• Camera assistant on the 1996 Olympic documentary by Bud Greenspan, where I witnessed Kerri Strug’s legendary vault firsthand

• Layoutboard guy on TNT movies like The George Wallace Story

• Producer’s assistant on The Day Lincoln Was Shot (TNT)

• Produciton Secretary and Coordinator on TV Movies and Commercials.

• Production Manager on Music Videos and Commercials.

• Video camera assistant on a History Channel documentary about Chuck Yeager, which involved flying in a gutted B-29 Superfortress bomber and later in a retired Navy jet with Yeager himself

Beyond the hands-on production work, I also gained experience on the business side of filmmaking. As a producer’s assistant and production manager, I was responsible for creating budgets and managing schedules for various projects in development. This gave me a strong foundation in the logistical and financial aspects of production—knowledge that would later prove invaluable as I moved into post-production.

Finding My True Calling

Despite the excitement of being on set and working in production, I found myself drawn more and more to storytelling—not just capturing the footage but shaping it into something meaningful.

In 2000, I directed and edited my own short film, and that was my turning point. Sitting in the edit bay, piecing together footage to create a cohesive, emotionally engaging story, I realized where I truly belonged. Editing was where the magic happened.

This realization led me to pivot toward post-production, setting the stage for the next chapter of my career.