In this student case study, not only will you learn about the important mindset and relevant skills you need that goes beyond the technical aspect of your resume.
Ep192: [CASE STUDY] How a Single Outreach Email Led to a Dream Job at Marvel | with Matthew Farrugia
My interview with Matthew will cover the exact cold outreach email networking steps he learned in the Optimizer program that took him from working in a paint store to, as he calls it, “working jobs he thought would be his endgame.” (pun intended Marvel fans)
Ep172: [CASE STUDY] Landing Your Dream Job Isn’t About “Luck,” It’s About Strategy | with Fabian Corrado & Nick Towle
When Optimizer students Nick Towle and Fabian Corrado originally came to me, neither one of them knew each other. But they both knew they were tired of the jobs they had, they felt stuck after trying for years to make a seemingly impossible career change, and they were ready to do anything to get on the right path.
Ep159: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs (and Lack of Experience) to Break Into Scripted Television | with Marcella Garcia
Learn how Mexican-American editor Marcella Garcia overcame her limiting beliefs (and lack of experience in long form) to break into the world of scripted television.
Ep157: What Every Recent Graduate Needs to Know About the Realities of Working In Hollywood Pt2 | with Zack Arnold (interviewed by Austin Coburn)
In part 2 of this conversation recent college graduate Austin Coburn interviews me about how he can develop the proper habits early in his career to maintain work-life balance and avoid burnout.
Ep156: What Every Recent Graduate Needs to Know About the Realities of Working In Hollywood Pt1 | with Austin Coburn
In part 1 of this conversation I interview graduate-to-be Austin Coburn about what it really takes to break into and make it in the entertainment industry (and then in part 2 he interviews me!).
Ep154: Using Humility to Cultivate Relationships and Land Your Dream Gig In Network TV | with Scott Powell, ACE
Learn from award winning TV editor Scott Powell, ACE (24, The Chi, The Orville) the importance of using humility to build relationships and climb the career ladder to the top.
Ep145: [CASE STUDY] Navigating a Difficult Career Transition | with Sam Lavin
Learn how writer/director Sam Lavin made the transition from 2nd to 1st AD, and how she’s developed laser-sharp focus to make sure her next step is landing in the director’s chair.
Ep141: Michelle Tesoro (ACE) On Playing Chess With Your Career (Pt1)
Award-winning editor Michelle Tesoro discusses how to strategically apply the chess mentality to take the right steps in your career (instead of jumping from one gig to the next playing a game of checkers).
Ep138: On Hiring Editors & AE’s, Fostering Creative Collaboration, and Managing Happy Post Teams | with Paul Leonard
Paul Leonard is one of those rare species of producers that has both editors and show runners alike wanting to work with him again and again. In today’s conversation Paul candidly shares his thoughts on what gets editors and AE’s hired, and what qualities he likes his editors to possess in the bay. He combines a winning charm with a no BS approach that has earned him the well-deserved reputation for making great shows while also keeping his team happy and sane. Paul has worked in television post production for 23 years and is best known for Co-producing Battlestar Galactica which earned 15 Emmy nominations (with three collective wins). He recently wrapped up a job at Marvel where he was one of the vice presidents of TV Post Production before deciding to go back to freelance producing.
Ep137: How to Negotiate Your Real Value (and Advocate For Yourself) As an Assistant Editor | with Scott Jacobs
When it comes to working the brutal hours that have become the norm in entertainment, negotiating for better pay, and fighting to make changes in industry standards, most of us feel helpless (and hopeless) about where to even begin. What if we were paid for the value we bring to a project rather than the number of hours we clock in each day? Today’s guest Scott Jacobs, a longtime editor, AE, and MPEG board member, tackles this question with me. If you’re interested in having a little bit more ammunition to advocate for a job that is more focused on value than hours, and most importantly working smarter (and not harder), my conversation with Scott is a must-listen.
Ep135: The “Playbook” For Building a Successful Career in Scripted TV | with Steve Lang, ACE (pt2)
ACE Editor Steven Lang has helped countless numbers of his assistants get into the editing chair and move on to successful careers. In this part two is Steve’s philosophy on mentoring his assistants, how he approaches his editor’s cuts, and his best advice for making the transition from assistant to editor. We also dive into Steve’s work habits, his lifestyle choices, and how he has learned to balance his intense focus abilities to avoid wreaking havoc on his health and relationships.
Ep134: Leveraging Your Skills to Get Hired (When You Don’t Have the Experience) | with Steve Lang, ACE (pt1)
Many of the students in my coaching & mentorship program come to me hoping to make a transition in their career where they have the skills already but they don’t have the specific experience. I was in that very same position when I landed my dream job editing Burn Notice. Here to lend a unique perspective to my “Burn Notice story” is ACE Editor Steve Lang, the catalyst for getting that job. Steve has cut over 120 hours of television in the past 24 years and worked on such shows as The Practice, The Gifted, Preacher, Rectify, and Manifest, to name just a select few. He took an unusual path to becoming an editor having held every role in the post-production department at one point or another. This experience gives him a well-rounded point of view of hiring editors and assistants and best practices for advancing your career…without getting pigeonholed. In this first part, you’ll hear how I got the job on Burn Notice from Steve’s perspective while also hearing the skills vs experience argument from someone on the hiring side.
How to Go From Cold Contact to Your Ideal Mentor In Seven Simple Steps
In this article I’d like to take a much deeper dive down the rabbit hole to help you better understand the seven simple (not to be confused with easy) steps that can help you turn a cold contact into a connection, then a relationship, and potentially even your ideal mentor.
Ep127: Chasing After the Next Gig vs. Building Your Career | with Kabir Ahktar, ACE
Kabir Ahktar, ACE feels very strongly that:
“It’s really important to stay networking…However much you’re doing, it’s probably not enough.”