Skip to main content
Command Edit

Command Edit

By Nick Montgomery + Josh Short

Being an editor usually means constantly being busy whether it's looking for work, finishing a job and looking for more work. And let's not forget continuing to level up your skills. Then somewhere in there you need to remember to have a life.

This podcast is about life as a video editor, both at the desk and away from it. Here we discuss ways to improve both your career and maintain a healthy balance with your lifestyle.
Available on
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Two Quarantined Editors and a Baby | Season 2 Premiere! Episode 001

Command EditApr 15, 2020

00:00
38:14
Two Quarantined Editors and a Baby | Season 2 Premiere! Episode 001

Two Quarantined Editors and a Baby | Season 2 Premiere! Episode 001

Nick and Josh are back after a lengthy hiatus. They're here to discuss editing under quarantine, Korean zombie shows, and trying to find a silver lining in this whole quarantine mess.

Apr 15, 202038:14
Sexy Valentine's Day in the Edit Bay : Episode 88

Sexy Valentine's Day in the Edit Bay : Episode 88

Love is in the air! No wait...what IS that smell?...

Join us for a sultry and romantic Valentine's Day episode all about our favourite love seasons (ones that we've both watched on the big screen and worked with on our small screens).
Feb 13, 201949:57
2019 New Season Trailer

2019 New Season Trailer

Nick and Josh are on their way back for a new season of the Command+Edit Podcast. Stay tuned for brand new content including interviews with all new guests, reviews of shiny tools of our trade and LOTS MORE!

New episodes coming at you in January 2019!
Dec 22, 201801:38
All-Canadian Episode with Rhonda Thain : Episode 87

All-Canadian Episode with Rhonda Thain : Episode 87

Special guest Rhonda Thain is back on the show to help us delve into:
• How to fight burnout with 18+ hour work days on top of weekends and overtime
• Keeping the creative juices flowing when battling exhaustion
• Knowing when to turn down work for your own mental sanity
• The Art and Ethics of Digital De-Aging
• WTF is wrong with these movie remakes?!
• Bending Reality with Reality-TV
May 31, 201859:09
Finding Your Path from Student to Professional Editor with Grace Novak : Episode 86
May 01, 201828:17
How to Hustle Some Side Cash : Episode 85

How to Hustle Some Side Cash : Episode 85

In this episode we talk about some ways to create some side coin in addition to your typical bread 'n butter.

It's nice to pad the bank account with some supplementary income. Here are some ideas of how you can do that. Creating stock video/audio while simultaneously filming for another project? Utilizing a parallel skillset like photography or motion graphics? Time to think outside the box and bring in some extra cash on the side.

Here's what we talk about in this episode:

-

This episode is brought to you by Studio Network Solutions and their EVO Shared Storage unit. Every EVO includes their easy to use media management software for organizing, tagging, and finding your media across all of your storage devices—even external, local, and cloud services.

For more info check out studionetworksolutions.com/commandedit.

Song used in this episode was Casual on Soundstripe. Get royalty-free stock music from Soundstripe! Use the code COMMANDEDIT for 10% off!

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Apr 09, 201857:53
Welcome to 2018 : Episode 84
Jan 12, 201835:45
An Editor's Christmas Wishlist : Episode 83

An Editor's Christmas Wishlist : Episode 83

Dec 22, 201749:02
Take the Money and RUN! : Episode 82

Take the Money and RUN! : Episode 82

In this episode Nick and Josh discuss the most important topic when it comes to freelance video editing...how to get paid!

Topics covered include what software and services they use to invoice, how they accept payments, how long it takes to get paid and whether you need to have an LLC in order to freelance. 

Useful links:

---

This episode is brought to you by Studio Network Solutions and their EVO Shared Storage unit. Every EVO includes their easy to use media management software for organizing, tagging, and finding your media across all of your storage devices—even external, local, and cloud services.

For more info check out studionetworksolutions.com/commandedit.

Song used in this episode was 710 by Rian Ball on Soundstripe. Get royalty-free stock music from Soundstripe! Use the code COMMANDEDIT for 10% off!

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Nov 24, 201738:51
Premiere Pro Tips That'll Save You Hours : Episode 81

Premiere Pro Tips That'll Save You Hours : Episode 81

Nick and Josh are BACK!

In this episode the guys give a ton of useful, time-saving Adobe Premiere Pro tips that you may never have heard before.

Some tips that we cover:

Useful links:

---

This episode is brought to you by Studio Network Solutions and their EVO Shared Storage unit. Every EVO includes their easy to use media management software for organizing, tagging, and finding your media across all of your storage devices—even external, local, and cloud services.

For more info check out studionetworksolutions.com/commandedit.

Song used in this episode was Fountain of Youth by Stephen Keech on Soundstripe. Get royalty-free stock music from Soundstripe! Use the code COMMANDEDIT for 10% off!

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Nov 11, 201754:42
Small Business Tactics for Editors — An Interview with Editor Rachel Bastarache Bogan : Episode 80
Sep 27, 201738:54
Interview with Twain Richardson : Episode 79

Interview with Twain Richardson : Episode 79

In this episode we bring our friend Twain Richardson on to guest as he tells us all about setting up a career right in the heart of Jamaica. Establishing oneself in a market where production is pretty sparse compared to the likes of LA and NY can be immensely challenging. While most people feel the pressure to move to Hollywood to "go where the work is", there are those who thrive where they are and set themselves as a niche service provider in the TV and commercial industry.

If you are currently considering whether you need to relocate to be successful, give a listen to Twain's story.

Topic Timecodes:

Links:

Sep 06, 201743:18
The Office Life : Episode 78

The Office Life : Episode 78

Nick and Josh reunite to bring you a conversation about Nick’s life-altering, career-changing decision… his move to the office life!

Nick recently began a contract that rips him out of his spare bedroom editing bay and thrusts him into the middle of an office in busy Toronto.

In this episode Nick and Josh catch up and recap Josh’s recent visit to meet Nick IRL. You’ll learn, as Josh did, that Canadians don’t know this one basic fact about the US. 

Topic Timecodes:

  • ~12:00 Nick describing his journey into the office life
  • ~19:30 Productivity in the office vs. in the home office
  • ~25:00 Feeling the time crunch / What’s important in life / Parkinson’s Law
  • ~31:00 Nick realizes he’s an entitled millennial :)
  • ~39:00 Listener Chris’ question about the next steps to becoming a freelancer with a production company

Book Recommendations:

---

This episode is brought to you by Studio Network Solutions and their EVO Shared Storage unit. Every EVO includes their easy to use media management software for organizing, tagging, and finding your media across all of your storage devices—even external, local, and cloud services.

For more info check out studionetworksolutions.com/commandedit.

  Song used in this episode was Islands by Kevin Hutchens. Get unlimited royalty-free stock music from Soundstripe: http://soundstripe.grsm.io/joshshort
Aug 15, 201753:16
Screenwriting tools with Luke Guidici : Episode 77
Aug 01, 201738:40
Mistakes Were Made! : Episode 76

Mistakes Were Made! : Episode 76

Before you press play know that I am truly an unlucky fellow. Some problems arose during recording of this episode that may or may not have had to do with my new webcam that I bought...so that Josh could finally see me while we record.

Initially the episode was written off and scrapped, but...we decided to put it out as is.

I'll explain everything within the episode but it does reach a point where it abruptly ends, the rest was lost to the abyss. But what we did manage to record was still good stuff, including:

  • Adobe CC 2017.1 updates (yes, we're late to the party with this)
  • Projects we're currently working on
  • Using a smartphone for interview shooting
  • Facebook VR Spaces announcement
  • Listener Q&A

So consider this a bonus episode of sorts. Enjoy!

---

This episode is brought to you by Studio Network Solutions and their EVO Shared Storage unit. Every EVO includes their easy to use media management software for organizing, tagging, and finding your media across all of your storage devices—even external, local, and cloud services.

For more info check out studionetworksolutions.com/commandedit.

 

Links

  Get unlimited royalty-free stock music from Soundstripe: http://soundstripe.grsm.io/joshshort  Use the code COMMANDEDIT for 10% off!  

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Jun 23, 201739:54
Editing in Japan and Across the Globe with Norman Hollyn : Episode 75
Jun 13, 201751:25
An Interview with Mae Manning : Episode 74
Jun 01, 201701:00:35
An Interview with David Colantuoni, Senior Director of Product Management at Avid : Episode 73

An Interview with David Colantuoni, Senior Director of Product Management at Avid : Episode 73

Josh and special guest David Colantuoni, Senior Director of Product Management at Avid, discuss the upcoming release of Media Composer | First, this year's Avid Connect Conference and what's new and on the horizon for Media Composer.

PS: Josh will be doing some training around Media Composer | First once it is released. Jump on his newsletter to find out more here: http://eepurl.com/bRtxZD

 

This episode is brought to you by Studio Network Solutions and their EVO Shared Storage unit. Every EVO includes their easy to use media management software for organizing, tagging, and finding your media across all of your storage devices—even external, local, and cloud services.

For more info check out studionetworksolutions.com/commandedit.

 

Links

  Songs used in this episode were We Don't Stop by Matt Wigton and End of the Party by Jacob Walker.   Get unlimited royalty-free stock music from Soundstripe: http://soundstripe.grsm.io/joshshort  Use the code COMMANDEDIT for 10% off!  

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

May 22, 201734:56
An Interview with Niel Guilarte : Episode 72

An Interview with Niel Guilarte : Episode 72

This episode is brought to you by Studio Network Solutions and their EVO Shared Storage unit. Every EVO includes their easy to use media management software for organizing, tagging, and finding your media across all of your storage devices—even external, local, and cloud services.

For more info check out studionetworksolutions.com/commandedit.

 

In this episode we grab some face time with fellow editor and podcaster Niel Guilarte. He runs the All Things Post podcast, featuring awesome interviews with the post-production elite. As well he has directed/edited The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary that is coming out very soon.

Keep posted (ugh...please forgive me, I didn't realize what I was typing until I read that back in my head) to The Messengers FB Page for more info on how to get your copy. Or head over to the Indiegogo page and contribute to get your copy when they're ready.

Links   Song used in this episode was Savior of the Nations Come by Brique a Braq.   Get royalty-free stock music from Soundstripe: http://soundstripe.grsm.io/joshshort  Use the code COMMANDEDIT for 10% off!  

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

May 18, 201747:20
Tips for Cutting Short : Episode 71
Apr 15, 201752:18
Networking Essentials for Video Editors with Rhonda Thain
Apr 02, 201743:17
Movies for Every Video Editor : Episode 69

Movies for Every Video Editor : Episode 69

Last week we gave you some book suggestions to further improve your editing skills. But we know you are mostly visual learners so this week we'll give you some suggestions for movies that you should study, analyze and learn from.

Tired of being limited to what you can afford when licensing a music track? Soundstripe offers a full library of quality music that you pay with only a subscription. No more individual licensing costs! At $10/mth it pays itself off with your first track download. Get your account and use code COMMANDEDIT to get 10% off for the year (http://soundstripe.grsm.io/e/5Me).

Music track used in this episode: The West Lands, Matt Wigton

Unique Storytelling:

  • Memento
  • Pulp Fiction

Fast-Paced Sequences:

  • Whiplash
  • Snatch
  • Fury Road
  • Saving Private Ryan
  • City of God

Poor Examples of Fast-Paced Cutting:

  • Underworld: Blood Wars
  • Taken 3

Slow-Paced Sequences (the Slow Burn effect):

  • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
  • Once Upon a Time in the West
  • The Godfather Part II

Strange/Traumatic Sequences:

  • A Clockwork Orange
  • Requiem for a Dream
  • Pi

How to Edit Conversations/Dialogue:

  • Jaws
  • The Social Network

Our listeners suggested:

  • Paterson - Denis Velinsky
  • Side-by-Side - Patrick Boyd and Mark Kipling
  • Requiem for a Dream - Justin Richardson
  • Raging Bull, Lawrence of Arabia, Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - Liam Cairns
  • JFK - Rhonda Thain
  • Fight Club, The Innkeepers, Silent Hill - Vandrei Jaques

Subscribe, hit Like, leave a comment and generally let your other editor pals know about us. We do this podcast for you so your feedback is welcome!

---

This episode is sponsored by Soundstripe, get access to a full library of quality music with unlimited licensed downloads all for just $10/month! As a Command+Edit listener get a special 10% discount when you use code COMMANDEDIT. http://soundstripe.grsm.io/e/5Me

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Mar 15, 201752:03
Books for Every Video Editor : Episode 68

Books for Every Video Editor : Episode 68

In this episode we'll give you some suggestions for books that every editor should read (at least once) in his/her lifetime that will push you a little further in the edit bay.

But first, where do you go for your stock music? Tired of being limited to what you can afford when licensing a music track? Soundstripe is a sponsor of this episode and offers a full library of quality music that you pay with only a subscription. No more individual licensing costs! At $10/mth it pays itself off with your first track download. Get your account and use code COMMANDEDIT to get 10% off for the year (http://soundstripe.grsm.io/e/5Me).

Music track used in this episode: A New Day 2, Marshall Smith

Did you catch the Oscars? Did you cheer for Moonlight or cry over La La Land by the end? While we missed many of the noms this year, we go over some of the big wins from below the line.

Josh's Book Picks:

Nick's Book Picks:

Our listeners suggested:

Subscribe, hit Like, leave a comment and generally let your other editor pals know about us. We do this podcast for you so your feedback is welcome!

---

This episode is sponsored by Soundstripe, get access to a full library of quality music with unlimited licensed downloads all for just $10/month! As a Command+Edit listener get a special 10% discount when you use code COMMANDEDIT. http://soundstripe.grsm.io/e/5Me

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: 

Mar 09, 201753:14
Beat Depression in the Edit Bay : Episode 67

Beat Depression in the Edit Bay : Episode 67

Happy 30th Birthday, Josh! Join me in congratulating him for surviving on this earth for 30 straight years without incident. Tweet the show or leave a comment and I'll make sure he gets it. Send beer.

Long work hours. No sunlight. Dwindling social life and home time. With only the occasional interaction with a human. It can get pretty lonely in the edit bay.

Today we talk about how depressing it can be working in post (whether solo at your home office or with a team in a studio) and how you can beat those post-pro blues with just a few changes to your day.

You know what else will make you weepy? Wipster's big changes to their pricing plan. The video review service made several editors the world over shout in frustration with their 400+% price hike to their plans. Find out how this affects you and what other options there are. (psst...and if you ask us, you should be using Screenlight anyways).

Remember us gushing about how awesome Soundstripe is? (for those who didn't, listen to Episode 65 with our interview with Travis and Micah from Soundstripe). Now you can sign up for an account with them AND help out the podcast at the same time!

Soundstripe is now a proud (we assume) sponsor of the Command+Edit Podcast! Use this link to get access to Soundstripe's music library and get unlimited tracks and licences for all of your projects. One size fits all, no more worrying about those expensive licences or how many tracks the budget can afford.

Other things we mention in this episode:

Subscribe, hit Like, leave a comment and generally let your other editor pals know about us. We do this podcast for you so your feedback is welcome!

---

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Feb 18, 201749:15
Should You Charge for Exporting? : Episode 66
Feb 06, 201755:04
Interview with Travis Terrell and Micah Sannan from Soundstripe : Episode 65
Jan 30, 201747:39
Don't Be a Digital Hoarder : Episode 64
Dec 20, 201646:13
A Long Winded As F#@% Interview with Joe Vallero : Episode 63
Dec 05, 201642:38
How to be a SENSITIVE Editor : Episode 62

How to be a SENSITIVE Editor : Episode 62

Welcome on back! You may notice that we took a bit of a hiatus there for a bit. So first of all thanks for continuing to subscribe and listen to us.

What do you do when you're dealing with sensitive material at your work?

Have you ever been concerned that you're working on could offend your audience?

Should you play it safe and avoid offending your audience or is a little controversy going to benefit your project?

In this episode Josh and I talk about how to tread lightly when dealing with potentially volatile material in your work, and how it might affect any of your creative decisions.

Nick works on horror features so from his point of view a little bit of controversial material can sometimes equal "bad press". Shock value is highly sought after from horror directors when it comes to excessive gore, nudity or remarks. But how far is too far?

Josh having worked on a number of corporate/commercial videos that represent big businesses knows all too well the concern of representing a brand faithfully without sending any offensive images or messages.

This year has seen its share of controversy, especially in pop culture. Hollywood seems to offend people regularly with its advertising material:

Have you ever found yourself walking on thin ice when working on your edit? Share your stories with us so we know we're not just talking to ourselves here. We would really like to hear from you.

---

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Nov 29, 201646:28
Roll the credits! Endcrawl with Pliny : Episode 61

Roll the credits! Endcrawl with Pliny : Episode 61

Here's something you never think about until it's biting you in the tookus: creating your end credits.

Every movie needs 'em, so does yours. So why leave them as the last step before completing your film and let them look like garbage?

Enter Endcrawl, the online service that saves your time by making your credits for you.

And today we are talking with Pliny Eremic and Alan Grow, the co-founders of this service, about how it solves a problem so many films have struggled with in the past.

Credits are tedious, suck your time away and they are never...EVER...finished. There always seems to be one last change to make to them: a name missing, a mispelled credit, someone credited with the wrong job, someone to thank at the end...ad infinitum! Endcrawl solves the problem by allowing you easily make changes to your credit crawl and then it will send you a fresh, new render of it for you to drag 'n drop into your timeline.

Nick has experimented with the beta version of this service in his recent features and it IS as smooth an operation as it sounds.

It also fixes the technical issues that come with creating your own credits through Premiere, After Effects or Photoshop. Ever played your film on a big screen? Notice that ugly jitter or shudder as your credits scroll up? There's a reason for that. And Endcrawl can promise that it won't happen with yours.

And if that doesn't convince you...it's FREE to sign up and get started! Endcrawl is looking for beta users and will gladly let you jump in with your production and start making your crawl. (1K renders are free for you to preview it or as a placeholder, 2K renders belong to a pricing tier).

Check out our interview with these two gentlemen and sign up for Endcrawl for your production.

And Pliny would be pained if I didn't link to his article/rant 2k is not 2048x1152. Wait for me to trigger him on that one at the end of the episode.

---

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Nov 01, 201638:43
Talking About The Walking Dead Season 7 Premiere : Episode 60

Talking About The Walking Dead Season 7 Premiere : Episode 60

SPOILER ALERT: If you are not caught up on The Walking Dead when you listen to this then you may be very upset by what we discuss. You have been warned.

Anybody who's anybody was glued to TWD Season 7 premiere this week, so let's talk about the style of the show, how it's managed to survive 7 seasons with its story arc and also what common tools do horror films/series use often to grab their audience's attention?

The show suffered a drop in ratings during season 6 and the writers pulled an H-bomb out of their pocket by teasing the death of an important character. This left fans biting their nails while they waited for the answer: Who bit the bullet?

Cliffhangers and teases like this are used very often, especially in horror movies. Jason Voorhees jumping out of the water at the end of Friday the 13th, Freddy's last jumpscare at the end of the first Nightmare on Elm Street, the ending of every Saw movie...in fact, now that I think of it pretty much ALL of the horror films out there end with a cliffhanger.

Was the use of it here appropriate and smart for TWD series?

And what about how they upped the ante when it came to gore and violence in this episode? Did it serve the story well to communicate the brutality of these deaths? Or was it excessive and took away from the show?

How about the pacing? We still waited 20 minutes to get our answer finally and the whole episode was told with a lot of jumps through time back and forth. Was it the right way to unfold the horror of this chapter in TWD?

These are the questions we will discuss herein in Episode 60. Press play, listen on and let us know what you also thought of it.

---

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Oct 27, 201651:27
Back to School...Year 2 : Episode 59

Back to School...Year 2 : Episode 59

 

Oh man...so the benefit of batch recording episodes is that you always have one to put out even when you fall behind in recording. The downside is whatever the topic is may not be as timely as it was when you first covered it.

Thus, we present to you our Back to School episode that was originally recorded in early September.

We congratulate one of our listeners, Katie Green, who is currently kicking ass in her first semester in her broadcasting program at Sheridan.

There are a number of news updates that we discuss, including hot feature updates for Adobe CC 2015, determining whether GoPro's latest video is legit or sorcery, and BlackMagic continues to assimilate other software into itself by purchasing Ultimatte and Fairlight plugins.

Then just wait for it...because we discuss some news ways for you to add to your bag of editing tricks. When you first open a program that is completely foreign to you, where do you start? Nick has some insight from when he made the leap from After Effects to Nuke as a compositor.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Episode 30 of Cmd+Edit where we listed off a number of helpful ways for you to boost your knowledge of editing. There are some suggestions of brick and mortar institutions as well as a number of online resources you can use immediately. (http://www.commandeditpodcast.com/blog/take-yourself-back-to-school-cmdedit-030)

• GoPro's Karma Drone Footage - Real or Fake? (http://petapixel.com/2016/09/09/gopros-latest-karma-drone-footage-real-faked/)

• BlackMagic purchases Ultimatte and Fairlight (http://www.redsharknews.com/business/item/3768-blackmagic-buys-both-ultimatte-and-fairlight)

• Avid release notes for version 8.6.3 (http://resources.avid.com/SupportFiles/attach/README_Avid_Editor_v8.6.3.pdf)

• A Full Roundup of Adobe’s Late 2016 Creative Cloud Updates (http://postline.co/2016/09/a-full-roundup-of-adobes-late-2016-creative-cloud-updates/)

---

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Oct 13, 201648:44
Talking About Stranger Things: Episode 58

Talking About Stranger Things: Episode 58

Nick is tired because of a wrap party on his recent feature and Josh has been off of caffeine for a while...but it doesn't matter because we're so excited to talk about Stranger Things!

...

Okay so we are a little late to the party with this one but it was recorded so long ago and Nick kind of dropped the ball on posting new episodes in the last couple of weeks (and he's sorry!).

But we have a number of good episodes ready to go for the next while so strap in and press play.

Stranger Things was an instant game-changer when it came out, playing to viewers' nostalgia of the 80's and delivering a smattering of well-written characters with a good mystery adventure to take us on.

We chat about our experience with the series, why we felt it was hyped up as much as it was, and also what this could mean for any trends the filmmaking world will see as a result of its success.

This includes an increase in directors requesting that 80's style synth score and the title font for their own film. Not joking, within 2 days of the series premiering Nick got a request from his director to use the Stranger Things score as a temp track for their movie. *facepalm*

We have our favourite moments and our notes on the overall editing style and pace of the story.

But we want to hear from you! Leave us a comment over on CommandEditPodcast.com or tweet us @CommandEdit with what you loved/hated about the series. And what would you do if a director asked you to replicate something from it simply because audiences loved the show?

 

---

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Oct 03, 201650:44
What happened to the summer blockbuster? : Episode 56

What happened to the summer blockbuster? : Episode 56

 

We have a BUNCH of stuff to share with you! Let's see how much we can cram into this episode.

Throughout the week we collect links, useful tips and eyebrow-raising articles that we come across to discuss and now it's time to give them all to you. It's an AKS (All Kinds o' Shit) episode this week!

Are you using Instagram Stories or do you prefer Snapchat? There are people in either camp using these tools to provide video to their followers. I've been trying both out to see the differences and what kind of value can be provided to his followers. I like to show glimpses of my timeline progress, behind-the-scenes of sets that I'm on and of course multiple images of #CoffeePorn.

You can follow Nick on Snapchat (merc_media) or on Instagram (mercmedia) to see shots of his work and coffee. You can follow Josh (joshort) on Snapchat to see pics of how his vacation is going right now. Let us know which ones you use regularly and help us decide which one to stick with.

Sierra OS for Mac users is coming this fall and the announced features range from the mildly interesting to the "meh". One update worth mentioning is that Siri is coming to the MacOS now. Click here to watch a breakdown of new features from a beta tester (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1un9d8ociyk).

Ever search for an Adobe Premiere tutorial only to find ones that have way more talking to them than you'd like? Done With Dylan features a set of Premiere tutorials that get right to the point. No intro. No chit-chat. He just jumps right into the meat of the tutorial, gives you what you need and ends it. Go check it out (http://www.premierebro.com/blog/done-with-dylan-premiere-pro-tutorials-for-intermediate-editors).

*Thanks to PremiereBro for the link.

Suicide Squad has been getting a lashing from both fans and critics alike. I watched it this past weekend, further adding fuel to the fire that Hollywood is losing its touch when it comes to making summer blockbusters. There is one theory being posited as to why this could be happening. It's referred to as the "Second Act Problem" because most of the scenes that end up on the cutting room floor for this already-lengthy films come from the 2nd act. The 2nd act of the story is arguably where most of the story and character development resides. Read up more on this theory and let us know if you agree with it. (http://www.vox.com/2016/6/29/12046656/independence-day-resurgence-bad-review-no-second-act-problem)

Sven Pape (aka This Guy Edits) posted a video that demonstrates the power of the editor when it comes to shaping the actor's performance. He breaks down how to approach editing a scene between two characters and gives 9 tips for how you can reshape an actor's performance. Just remember that with great power comes great responsibility. You can greatly alter how an actor behaves in a scene but that doesn't mean you always have to. Only if it will improve the scene (in your humble opinion).

---

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Sep 01, 201659:13
Rise of the Sufferfests - Interview with the editor Erik Swanson: Episode 57

Rise of the Sufferfests - Interview with the editor Erik Swanson: Episode 57

We welcome editor Erik Swanson on the show, who recently completed work on his first feature length credit: Rise of the Sufferfests, a documentary that explores the rising trend of OCR (Obstacle Course Racing).

You may have heard me talk about OCR occasionally as it's become an obsession of mine in the past year. If you've heard of Tough Mudder, Spartan races or anything similar then you've probably thought one of two things: 1) "That sounds like fun!" or 2) "Why do people actually do this??"

Rise of the Sufferfests sets out to answer that latter question, as director Scott Keneally investigates the world of OCR using himself as a guinea pig and interviews with multiple racers.

Erik Swanson got started in filmmaking working mostly with sports editorial footage for 11 years before jumping into the world of freelancing and becoming attached to RotS with Scott and his group.

Documentary filmmaking is not for the faint of heart. It can involve insanely large amounts of dedicated time, endless hours of footage to sift through and a story to find. It's not like scripted content where you always start the timeline with some semblance of a story prepared. The editor has a lot of creative control when it comes to crafting the story of a doc, but it's also a huge responsibility.

In this episode Erik and I discussed:

  • how he rose to the challenge of editing Rise of the Sufferfests
  • how he looks for the story in the footage
  • how does documentary editing differ from scripted content
  • will he continue pursuing documentaries
  • and also will he be signing up for an obstacle course race in the future?

You can watch Rise of the Sufferfests right now (as of Sept 1st, 2016) on iTunes. Click the link here to purchase a digital copy instantly on iTunes for $14.99 or visit the store on the RotS website to purchase a t-shirt/movie bundle.

Watch the movie already? Let us know what you thought of it. Leave a comment below or tweet us @CommandEdit.

---

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Sep 01, 201636:52
Can You Be Fired For Being Sick?: Episode 55
Aug 23, 201637:58
Quitting the business! : Cmd+Edit 054
Aug 01, 201648:33
How much does a video cost? : Cmd+Edit 053

How much does a video cost? : Cmd+Edit 053

We are often asked the question "How much does a video cost?" The short answer: It depends.

As a comparison you could ask "How much does a house cost?" and then point out the many factors that affect the cost of a house: location, size, materials, how quickly it needs to be built, etc.

You want to ask specifics from the client early on to determine what kind of video they are expecting to receive, but you also don't want to scare them off with an overwhelming inquisition. You want to ask the right questions to just get the information you need to produce an accurate quote or estimate. That way you ensure that you are giving an accurate number for your services and your client can rest easy that that number won't change (much) during production.

Some standard questions that you can ask a client are:

  • Who is the audience?
  • Will a script be provided?
  • What materials are already produced and available (graphics, stock footage...)?
  • Will we require actors or spokespersons from the company on-screen?
  • Will their be voiceover or narration needed?
  • Do we have to licence music?

In building your quote there are two ways to go about it: create a flat rate for the entire project or list off line items (similar to ordering off a menu). Each freelancer develops their own way of building a quote and you will have to, as well.

---

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Jul 18, 201639:46
Codecs, Containers and Compression : Cmd+Edit 052

Codecs, Containers and Compression : Cmd+Edit 052

After the briefest of hiatuses we are BACK! Did you miss us?

This episode Josh and Nick get into the topic of codecs:

  • When to use which ones?
  • How to optimize your encoding settings for faster exports/higher quality videos.
  • How to establish delivery specs with clients early on
  • And some other goodie topics for you

As well there a number of links you should click on this week.

---

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Jul 11, 201641:53
Can A Monkey Learn To Edit? : Cmd+Edit 051
Jun 24, 201636:25
Interview with Zack Arnold from Fitness in Post : Cmd+Edit 050

Interview with Zack Arnold from Fitness in Post : Cmd+Edit 050

Zack Arnold is a film and TV editor (Burn Notice, Empire) and the host of the Fitness in Post podcast (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2094093/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1).

The podcast focuses on how to make healthier changes to your lifestyle while setting yourself up for success as an editor. It's a great resource for finding ways to keep good upkeep on your body and mind so that you can stay creative and do your best work.

Zack started the Fitness in Post podcast once he recognized that the work environment of the editor can be detrimental, especially when taking into account long stretches of hours spent sitting at a desk and not getting proper rest or nutrition.

Nick has been a listener of this podcast for some time and credits it with helping make healthier lifestyle changes in his own life, including not feeling guilty about taking the time you need to take care of yourself (admit it, you've felt this way before, too).

We talk about the origin story of Fitness in Post, why editors seem more prone to neglecting their own health than other trades and what can you do to fix this for yourself.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL...

Zack talks about a new program he's rolling out called Optimize Yourself (http://optimizeyourself.me/) where you can learn all about how to do what he's talking about in this episode. Be more active at work, eliminate procrastination and manage your time better so you can have a life outside of work. It's in beta right now and he's looking for more editors JUST LIKE YOU to sign up for it and chime in with your thoughts on it. As a Command+Edit listener you can use the link fitnessinpost.com/commandedit to get started with a discount of 25% of the current price. So go check it out and give him your feedback.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

 

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Jun 13, 201656:53
Keep Your BRAIN Happy and Sharp - Health Episode Part 2 : Cmd+Edit 049
Jun 06, 201654:20
Why are editors out of shape? Health Episode Part 1 : Cmd+Edit 048
May 31, 201655:07
Taking the leap into FREELANCING : Cmd+Edit 047
May 25, 201640:54
Todd Wolfe and the FroKnowsPhoto Video Editing Guide : Cmd+Edit 046

Todd Wolfe and the FroKnowsPhoto Video Editing Guide : Cmd+Edit 046

This episode comes with a BIG gift for you!

We are joined by Todd Wolfe from CheeseSteak Media and FroKnowsPhoto. The latter of which just released the FroKnowsPhoto Video Editing Guide. This 16GB guide is jam-packed with the knowledge needed for beginners to get started with the basics and plenty of advanced techniques for the veteran editors, as well.

Todd shares his story about how he fell into filmmaking, running his business CheeseSteak Media and how he first encountered Jared Polin (the Fro) and formed an excellent business relationship that has become one of the biggest online resources for photography and filmmaking.

The guide also includes the footage featured in the guide itself so you can get hands-on experience trying your own cut of a music video, commercial or short film. If you do your own cut, go ahead and share it with us and the FroKnowsPhoto crew.

This was a killer episode and we want to thank Todd for being on the show and chatting with us.

He also wanted to share an EXCLUSIVE gift for the Command+Edit listeners. Use the promo code "cmdedit" (all lower case) to get a whopping 25% off of the FroKnowsPhoto Video Editing Guide (normally $279). Click the link below to get the guide now.

http://froknowsphoto.com/video-editing-guide/

 

Check out CheeseSteak Media for more of Todd's shiny work. (http://www.cheesesteakmedia.com/)

And of course you should check out FroKnowsPhoto for their podcast, YouTube channel and their assortment of handy guides that they have available. (froknowsphoto.com)

 

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

 

May 16, 201655:35
BONUS EP The Benefits of a 7-Day Sugar Detox : Cmd+Edit 044.5
May 14, 201625:05
Breaking into TV Editing with Mark Hartzell : Cmd+Edit 045
May 09, 201601:02:31
Holistic healing and nutrition for editors : Cmd+Edit 044
May 04, 201601:02:30
No, I Do Not Work in Porn : Cmd+Edit 043

No, I Do Not Work in Porn : Cmd+Edit 043

So we may have had a brief hiatus there. Life gets in the way, work piles up, but we've still got episode that we want to give to you. (Besides you're probably still keeping busy paying attention to NAB announcements, right?)

Thanks for waiting! Here is Episode 43 for you.

In this episode we address that question that every filmmaker gets asked at some point: "So do you make porn movies?"

For some reason often when you tell people that you are involved in the film industry they will associate your work with that of the adult, risqué type of cinema. It's annoying and it may be a simple misunderstanding or it could be potentially harmful for your career...or it could be entirely true. We're not here to judge.

To be completely honest I've worked with filmmakers who have experience in the adult film industry and they have been pretty open to discussing it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that line of work in my opinion. And it shouldn't prevent you from getting work in commercials, TV or feature films. Unfortunately not everybody will share this view so we should spend some time talking about how to deal with these situations when it comes up.

This opens to the door to discussing a load of other misconceptions about our work that we should be ready to correct:

  • You're an animator? So you do cel/3D/motion graphics/every form of animation there is then?
  • How much time does it take you to do your work? Why did it take you 1 hour to perform a task last time but then a full day another time?
  • How specialized your skillset is: you may know how to edit, but you may not know how to produce
  • And more

 

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CommandEdit

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommandEdit/

Get more of the podcast at http://www.CommandEditPodcast.com

Apr 25, 201643:60
The Editing of Daredevil Season 2 : Cmd+Edit 042
Apr 04, 201644:26