Episode Details

For those who work in the filmmaking industry, ‘Below the Line’ is a pretty common term, but in case you’re not familiar with it, it originated as an accounting term to separate the fixed costs of a film’s budget (actors, director, writers, and producers, etc) from the variable hourly, daily, and weekly costs of those working in various crafts such as editing, costumes, or the art department, just to name a few examples. Unfortunately ‘Below the Line’ has become much more of a social status symbol rather than just a simple accounting term.

Today’s interview is one of my favorites from way back in the ‘Fitness In Post’ archives where I had an in-depth chat with editor Mike J. Nichols, otherwise known as the ‘Edit Doctor’ about an article he wrote titled “Is the Term Below the Line Hitting Below the Belt?” In this very candid conversation we talk about the rampant idea that creative workers, film editors like myself being the perfect example, have simply become an extension of our workstations and how this affects the way we are treated by others, as well as our emotional involvement in our work. We also talk about what we need to do collectively to start standing up for ourselves.

If you feel as if you’re being treated like a pair of hands chained to your desk and you want to know what you can do about it, this episode provides plenty of action steps.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• The rampant idea that we are a pair of hands chained to our desks
• Mike’s first encounter with the phrase “below the line”
• What is “below the line”?
• How the term went from an accounting term to a status term
• On getting emotionally involved in a project you have a limited say in
• On how the “below the line” status is felt differently in each subset of editing
• The feeling of your contributions being undervalued
• What do we do about this status term?
• Most people don't even know what editors do!
• Technology as a driving factor in our dwindling status as filmmakers
• The editor as the final writer -- especially in reality and documentary
• Where we can start with eliminating this “status” -- we need to stand up for ourselves and our health
• Search for the cause not just the symptoms
• We need to have a better perception of ourselves

Useful Resources Mentioned:

From Rehab to Ultra Marathon with Wes Plate

Whiteboard Discussion - Avid Editors of Facebook Group

Whiteboard Discussion - Post Chat

Kuleshov Effect

Our Generous Sponsors:

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