Episode Details

(Author's Note: If you'd like to submit a question for an upcoming article, don't hesitate to reach out and send me a message. I read every single email I receive.)

On a weekly basis I receive emails, Facebook messages, and tweets from people all over the world who work in creative fields. Some people send me pages worth of their life stories, others are looking for quick tips to optimize something very specific in their lives, but most often the messages I receive are from people frustrated with where they are in their career who don’t know where to go next.

The question below from Matt is a common concern many people have who are passionate about breaking into feature film editing but not sure if they're willing to pay the price necessary to achieve success. If you're not interested in feature film editing specifically, the advice below applies to just about any other creative field in the entertainment industry.

Dear Zack,

I'm Matt, 27, a video editor from England. I've been lucky enough to work as an editor for Manchester United and for brands like Adidas, but the dream inside me is big feature film editing. I've edited a couple of lower budget projects and love the creative challenge. I've been a film nerd since however long I can remember and when I see a great film I always think how awesome it would be to have had a creative part in that.

I know you address this in the podcast but...I'm wondering if pursuing this goal is worth it in terms of the sacrifice knowing the long hours involved and what it can do to your social and family life...and health. I enjoy editing and feel I have a talent in crafting edits and storytelling but I also like my social life and traveling and having adventures with friends.

Is it realistic to be able to work 6 months on 6 months off given the financial gain of working at that level and the intensity of a project like...the Avengers? It's probably only a question I can answer but any thoughts you could offer would truly be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Matt

Hi Matt,

The hard truth is that there's no right answer to this question. You already hit the nail on the head when you said, "It's probably only a question I can answer." But that having been said, I have provided three questions below that you can ask yourself that will hopefully help you clarify your true purpose and whether the cost of you pursuing your goal is worth the sacrifice.

1. Do you have a deep understand of WHY editing feature films is the right creative profession for you?

Before determining what the true sacrifices are if you want to become an A-list feature film editor of huge films like The Avengers, the first step you must take is identifying and understanding your deeper "Why's." The answer to this question might come simply to you at first, but the deeper you get, the more complex your answer becomes very quickly.

Think of this process like peeling the layers of an onion.

Start simply by asking yourself:

"Why do I love editing?"

And your answer can be as simple as:

"It's fun cutting shots together with music."

Now ask yourself, why is it fun cutting shots together with music?

"Because I get an adrenaline rush when the perfect shot comes together at the right moment with a moment in the music."

Okay...so why is that so important?

"Well I guess when I think about it, I know if I