Many people assume that career goals and health goals have to be mutually exclusive (waiting for the next hiatus to start a diet or exercise program? That’s what I thought). What I have found through years of coaching students in the Optimizer coaching & mentorship program is that once a general baseline of health and good habits are set, lifestyle and career goals can absolutely work hand in hand.

Today's guest, editor Vashi Nedomansky, ACE lends a unique perspective on this topic. Before he was editing and consulting on projects such as Sharknado 2, Deadpool, House of Cards, and Gone Girl, he was playing professional hockey in the NHL for the New York Islanders and the Los Angeles Kings. This unusual career path has taught him the skills and mindsets to keep his body and mind in top condition while also honing his creative and mental faculties to meet the demands of working in Hollywood editing bays.

This conversation reveals the similarities in maintaining a balanced life in two seemingly disparate professional careers while highlighting the common habits and routines necessary for that balance. If you are tired of sacrificing your health every time you are on a job, this episode is going to give you some easy tools and tips for building fitness into your workday. And if you are hoping to increase your value as an editor, gain speed to get the job done faster, and improve your mental energy so you have more time outside of work, Vashi is a wealth of information. That’s why despite this being an older interview pulled from the Fitness In Post archives I chose to share it with you because it provides just as much (if not even more) value today.

Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?

» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode

Here's What You'll Learn:

• Why he likes editing all different types of projects, formats, and genres.
• Vashi's background of how he defected from Czech Republic with his parents as a kid and grew up watching movies with his mom.
• How he simultaneously played hockey in high school and college while making short films with a VHS camera that weighed 40 pounds.
• The uncanny similarities in Vashi's introduction to editing to my own personal story.
• He always had the mindset that he had to train physically and mentally to expand his horizons and give himself options.
• Vashi's process of consciously living with his footage before he even starts editing.
• How the demands of professional hockey compare to film editing.
• The one word that makes the difference in being successful in your career (HINT: it's not talent).
• Ways to systematize your editing workflow to gain efficiency and speed.
• Exercise is a way of life for Vashi and he prioritizes it every day.
• The different ways he exercises his brain and keeps his mental skills up to task.
• His role on Deadpool and Gone Girl helping to set up the Adobe Premiere Pro work flow.
• He values sharing and showing things with no agenda.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: You only need to focus on the NEXT most important thing to do.
• How inner confidence plays a role in your career and your well being.
• Fitness tools he keeps in his office to keep in shape during the day.
• PRO TIP: 'Greasing the groove' by doing small bouts of exercise during the day will eliminate the guilt of not having time to do a "workout" after a long day of editing.

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Vashivisuals.com

VHS player

FiP Podcast Ep60: Legendary Film Editor Walter Murch on Surviving 50+ Years In Post

How to Establish a Morning Routine

TED Talk: Amy Cuddy – Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are

‘Captain of Crush’ grip strengthener set

IRON GYM

Healthy You® Spiky Massage Ball 3.15" / 8cm - Orange

Ep123: The Solution to Your Sedentary Lifestyle | with Ben Greenfield

Pavel Tsatsouline - Wikipedia

TopoMat

The Naked Warrior

Amazon.com : power tower pull up bar

What Happened When I Replaced Coffee With 30 Seconds of Exercise

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Ep128: How to Have a Successful Career Without Sacrificing Family | with Farrel Levy

Ep55: How Tiny Changes Can Create Remarkable Results | with James Clear

Ep98: P90X Creator Tony Horton on Covid-19, Staying Healthy During Quarantine, Boosting Immunity, & More

Ep03: The Science Behind Success and Creative Burnout (And Why You’re Approaching Both Mostly Wrong) | with Eric Barker

Ep117: Carol Littleton, ACE on The Secret to Surviving 40+ Years Working In Hollywood

Ep120: It’s Never Too Late to Get Stronger (and Become a Ninja) | with Ginny MacColl, ANW

Ep121: Breaking Down Impossible Obstacles to Make (Almost) Anything Achievable | with Jessie Graff, ANW

Our Generous Sponsors:

Struggling With Real-Time Remote Collaboration? Meet Evercast

As work begins to slowly trickle in again, perhaps the most pressing challenge we as creative professionals face in our post-pandemic reality is real-time collaboration. Zoom is great for meetings, but it sure doesn't work for streaming video. Luckily this problem has now been solved for all of us. If you haven't heard of Evercast, it's time to become acquainted. Because Evercast's real-time remote collaboration technology is CHANGING. THE. GAME.

→ Click here to see a free demo of Evercast in action!

This episode was brought to you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat (my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation) and now their latest product. New Standard Whole Protein is a blend of both whey and collagen, sourced from the highest quality ingredients without any of the unnecessary filler or garbage. Not only will you get more energy and focus from this protein powder, you will notice improvements in your skin, hair, nails, joints and muscles. And because they don’t spend a lot on excessive marketing and advertising expenses, the savings gets passed on to you.

[optin-monster slug="u1u6n4yv97rxxz4icynf"]

Guest Bio:

Vashi Nedomansky is the first professional hockey player to become a Hollywood film editor with 9 feature films to date. Owner of VashiVisuals.com he shares his filmmaking experiences from the trenches and his love of cinema. Editor of Sharknado 2 and worked on Gone Girl, Deadpool and lover of exercise and potato vodka.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

I was an early adopter using Evercast to collaborate remotely as early as September 2019 while cutting Cobra Kai season 3, well before any of us could have predicted the impending doom of the pandemic and the demise of in-person collaboration. At the time Evercast was in its infancy (an early build of version 2). The idea was there, and it was more than usable as a streaming collaboration platform in a pinch while I worked remotely with producers & directors on set in Atlanta. But admittedly there were latency issues, lagging, and the interface was a struggle for non-tech savvy producers to adopt pre-pandemic before we were all used to living on video chats all day long. To be perfectly honest it had tremendous promise, but it wasn’t quite ready for primetime.

This extensive Evercast review is frankly a long-time coming for that specific reason - I wanted to wait until Evercast had not only been through the ringer and was ready for game time but also had addressed many of the issues it experienced as an early startup. Let’s just say my hesitations experienced with the version 2 build have been addressed (and then some). Since the pandemic Evercast has experienced over 1400% growth, and that growth is not just evident on their balance sheets - it’s clear they’ve invested a tremendous amount of time, energy, and attention to their product with their focus not only on the present of remote collaboration but more importantly on the future.

» Continue Reading & Listening

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Where I give you an insider’s glimpse into the world of my Optimizer coaching & mentorship program and what we call the ‘Hot Seat.’ What you’ll hear today is a recording of an actual live session with an Optimizer student where on the Hot Seat we tackle various questions about career transitions, productivity, workflows, networking, burnout, habit formation, resumes and websites, and any number of other work or life challenges that students bring to the table as they navigate their own path towards success.

In the following hot seat session, community member Jesus Silva and I discuss different strategies for communicating with his director while working from home. Jesus has found that he’s feeling burned out after a long day of editing and feeling obligated to write a lengthy email to his director relaying the work he did for the day. We discuss setting expectations and finding out what the director really wants rather than working off assumptions. For anyone who is dealing with work from home communication issues, this conversation will shed new light on how to handle it effectively. One quick caveat: The sound quality for this session is less than optimal because of a microphone malfunction on my end. My apologies for that, but I thought this session was so good and could be helpful to you that I decided to listen to the same advice I often give to my students: Don’t pursue perfect at the expense of good enough.

Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!

→ Click here to let us know what you think of this format

Want to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?

→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship program

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

The quality of your life often comes down to the quality of your relationships. Whether it's at work or at home, how you interact with those around you plays a huge role in how you rate your well being.

Are you running around putting out fires, reacting to whatever pops up in the moment, while never finding time for the important things?

Or are you calmly observing the situation and circumstances around you and responding in a thoughtful, constructive way and prioritizing your top values?

If you find yourself in the former camp - reacting rather than responding - then today's guest is going to help you flip that script and improve the way you work and live.

Jason Barger is a globally celebrated Author/Speaker/Consultant and thought leader. He was a tremendous asset to me while I was directing and producing my documentary GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story, and he is committed to strengthening leadership, culture, vision, and values using his 6 step framework he calls “The 6 A's.” In our conversation we talk all about how to develop collaborative teams and positive work cultures, as well as fostering deeper professional and personal relationships using his “Thermostat Culture” approach.

If you’re tired of working for a company or a team that values “busy work” above being productive and actually getting things done, this episode is a must-listen.

If you’re exhausted by constant disagreements either with your co-workers (or your spouse or partner) and you want a simple framework to find common ground and move forwards with purpose, this episode is a must-listen.

Though this conversation is taken from the Fitness in Post archives, the information is still valuable and relevant to the challenges we face today in our post-pandemic working reality.

Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?

» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode

Here's What You'll Learn:

• How airports are a metaphor for how we move in the world and respond to adversity.
• The difference between thermometers and thermostats and how it applies to our lives.
• Whether we react or respond often has to do with the clarity (or lack of) around what we are trying to achieve.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: "Busy-ness" does not equal effectiveness.
• BETTER QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF: Am I doing the right things? (instead of: Am I doing enough?)
• Teams that take the time to clarify and align their goals are more effective at accomplishing their highest priorities.
• COMMON MISTAKE: Not getting a baseline assessment of where you or your team is starting from.
• How to set expectations by debriefing the schedule at the start of projects.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: Knowing the mission and understanding the deeper whys are the most important questions to answer. This applies to work and life.
• My personal story of how my family had to create our deeper whys.
• How the word attention can change the quality of your work, your relationships and your life.
• The difference between rules and standards and why standards are more important.
• The importance of finding language around your aspirations.
• What the checklist manifesto is and how it can automate your to do list to free up your mind for creative thinking.

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Motivational Keynote Speaker: Jason Barger

Jason Barger (@JasonvBarger) / Twitter

Jason Barger (@jasonvbarger) • Instagram photos and videos

Jason Barger | Facebook

Jason Barger | LinkedIn

Continue to Listen & Learn

Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar

Ep128: How to Have a Successful Career Without Sacrificing Family | with Farrel Levy

Ep55: How Tiny Changes Can Create Remarkable Results | with James Clear

Ep03: The Science Behind Success and Creative Burnout (And Why You’re Approaching Both Mostly Wrong) | with Eric Barker

How Total Burnout Led to the Most Productive Year of My Life

How to Overcome Post-Production Burnout

A Classic Case of Post-Production Burnout

Our Generous Sponsors:

Struggling With Real-Time Remote Collaboration? Meet Evercast

As work begins to slowly trickle in again, perhaps the most pressing challenge we as creative professionals face in our post-pandemic reality is real-time collaboration. Zoom is great for meetings, but it sure doesn't work for streaming video. Luckily this problem has now been solved for all of us. If you haven't heard of Evercast, it's time to become acquainted. Because Evercast's real-time remote collaboration technology is CHANGING. THE. GAME.

→ Click here to see a free demo of Evercast in action!

This episode was brought to you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat (my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation) and now their latest product. New Standard Whole Protein is a blend of both whey and collagen, sourced from the highest quality ingredients without any of the unnecessary filler or garbage. Not only will you get more energy and focus from this protein powder, you will notice improvements in your skin, hair, nails, joints and muscles. And because they don’t spend a lot on excessive marketing and advertising expenses, the savings gets passed on to you.

[optin-monster slug="u1u6n4yv97rxxz4icynf"]

Guest Bio:

Jason Barger is committed to engaging the minds and hearts of people in order to strengthen leadership, culture, and clarity of mission, vision and values.

He is a globally celebrated Author/Speaker/Consultant and creator of the “Step Back from the Baggage Claim” Movement – featured in the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Kiplinger, Book TV, and many other spots worldwide. His most recent books “Remember” and “Thermostat Cultures” have been widely-celebrated around the globe and he’s the host of “The Thermostat” podcast.

Prior to sleeping in airports and observing human behavior, Barger led over 1700 people to construct 125 houses internationally for families living in poverty as well as implemented the Streets Mission Project to serve the homeless on the streets of Columbus, Ohio. As the former Director of First Community Church’s Camp Akita, he designed programming focused on living with joy, love, compassion, faith, and service for over 1900 campers a summer.

Jason is a graduate of Denison University, where he served as Captain of the men’s basketball team, and also received certification from Georgetown University in Nonprofit Executive Management. In 2004, he was one of five people in Columbus, Ohio to receive a Jefferson Award, a national award given to “Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things”. In 2014, he was selected as a 40 Under 40 award winner by Business First.

Jason is a sought-after Keynote Speaker, visionary, and consultant. As founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting LLC, he works with organizations that are passionate about Culture Change, Leadership Development, Innovation, Service, and bringing their Mission to life everyday.

Jason is passionate about his family and travels from Columbus, Ohio all around the world to engage the minds and hearts of people. Follow on social media @JasonVBarger and dive into his podcast “The Thermostat” where podcasts are found.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

I've often said that being a Post Producer is one of the most thankless jobs in Hollywood. They are tasked with pleasing seemingly opposing forces, i.e. studios, networks, and show runners, while also managing a team of editors and assistants and making sure the show gets finished on budget (and on time). Having a good post producer that not only knows how to keep the trains running on time but also foster a creative, collaborative environment where everyone performs their best and enjoys life outside of work is a winning combination that is far too rare.

Today's guest, 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. 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.

Paul is a fountain of knowledge and wisdom with countless ideas about how to lead successful post teams. He also has a wealth of war stories about managing demanding executive producers. 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 (it is possible!!!! But it takes effort).

This is a rare “Insider Baseball” conversation that will be valuable to anyone wanting to get the unique perspective of a post producer who is both in charge of hiring, delivering a high quality creative product, and also getting maximum creativity out of his team while promoting a well balanced, collaborative team environment.

Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?

» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode

Here's What You'll Learn:

• Paul's early years starting out as an editor and getting into producing after earning his MFA at USC.
• Lessons Paul learned in wrangling difficult Executive Producers to try to keep his department from burning out and keep the show on schedule.
• How Paul became known as the 'Hour Long VFX SyFy Guy' and found himself pigeon holed.
• The surprising place Paul learned to become a great team manager and keep people happy, united, and doing great work.
• What made Paul gravitate towards producing rather than directing.
• How Paul learned to bring out the best in his editing teams and facilitated new creative ideas that he would bring to the Executive Producers on his shows.
• The fascinating story of how he and his post team saved the studio a million dollars while earning the show 3 Emmy nominations.
• What it was like working for Marvel Studios and how it affected his career.
• Why Paul got the moniker 'Mother Hen' from an Executive Producer he worked with.
• The questions he learned to ask to ensure that the show runs smoothly and his team is taken care of BEFORE starting the job.
• Paul's thoughts on what it takes to lead a creative team in a collaborative environment and why it's so difficult to cultivate that in Hollywood.
• How Paul learned to set boundaries with executive producers and earned respect of demanding, bully EPs.
• What Paul looks for when hiring editors.
• The sign that he wanted to hold up to editors in interviews to keep them from ruining their chances of getting hired.
• Advice for editors when interviewing and soft skills that they should possess once they are hired.
• KEY TAKE AWAY: Address 'the note behind the note' when making creative changes.
• Paul's advice for getting on the 'inside' at places like Marvel.
• The important quality that editors should always possess when trying to have a fulfilling career. (HINT: it has nothing to do with talent)

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Paul’s LinkedIn Profile

Paul’s Email Address (Please go through the Insider’s Guide to Writing Cold Outreach first.)

Continue to Listen & Learn

Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian

Ep112: On Signing COVID Waivers, Kit Rental Fees, and Working Humane Hours | with Cathy Repola, MPEG National Executive Director

Ep128: How to Have a Successful Career Without Sacrificing Family | with Farrel Levy

How to Find the Right Type of Mentor For You (and When You Should Seek the Best)

How to Go From Cold Contact to Your Ideal Mentor In Seven Simple Steps

IMDbPro for Networking: The 10 Features That Will Take Your Outreach to a New Level

Ep80: How to Avoid Getting Pigeonholed, The ‘Concentric Circles of Networking’ & More | with Doc Crotzer, ACE

Our Generous Sponsors:

Struggling With Real-Time Remote Collaboration? Meet Evercast

As work begins to slowly trickle in again, perhaps the most pressing challenge we as creative professionals face in our post-pandemic reality is real-time collaboration. Zoom is great for meetings, but it sure doesn't work for streaming video. Luckily this problem has now been solved for all of us. If you haven't heard of Evercast, it's time to become acquainted. Because Evercast's real-time remote collaboration technology is CHANGING. THE. GAME.

» Click here to be the first to gain early access to the new Evercast

P.S. It's (finally) priced for freelancers and indie creatives like us!

This episode was brought to you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat (my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation) and now their latest product. New Standard Whole Protein is a blend of both whey and collagen, sourced from the highest quality ingredients without any of the unnecessary filler or garbage. Not only will you get more energy and focus from this protein powder, you will notice improvements in your skin, hair, nails, joints and muscles. And because they don’t spend a lot on excessive marketing and advertising expenses, the savings gets passed on to you.

[optin-monster slug="u1u6n4yv97rxxz4icynf"]

Guest Bio:

Paul M. Leonard has worked in television post-production for 23 years. He is best known for Co-Producing "Battlestar Galactica", a show TV Guide and Time Magazine called "the best show on television." "Battlestar" earned 15 Emmy nominations in the following categories Leonard supervised: editing, sound editing, visual effects, sound mixing with three collective wins. Paul won a Streamy Award as Producer for "Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy" in 2009 for Best Dramatic Web Series. In 2012 Paul produced "Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome," a two hour pilot shot entirely on green screen that featured over 1800 visual fx shots, which received three Emmy nominations for best visual fx, sound editing and sound mixing. In an entirely different arena, Paul developed a script and set up the feature film "Assassination Games," which was released on DVD in 2010 starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Paul also taught a class in editing and post-production for the University of Texas' LA satellite program for ten years. Paul earned his MFA from USC's Peter Stark Producer Program. He wrapped up a VP - TV Post-Production at Marvel job earlier this year.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Today, what I’d love to do is give you an insider’s glimpse into the world of my Optimizer coaching & mentorship program and what we call the ‘Hot Seat.’ What you’ll hear today is a recording of an actual live session with an Optimizer student where on the Hot Seat we tackle various questions about career transitions, productivity, workflows, networking, burnout, habit formation, resumes and websites, and any number of other work or life challenges that students bring to the table as they navigate their own path towards success.

In the following hot seat session, community member Karen Goffred comes to me wanting to workshop her resume. But before we can assess her resume and dive into the details (which is where essentially everyone thinks they should focus first), we instead first have to determine her career goals and who her audience is that she is speaking to. These questions are crucial first steps that anyone must take first before truly being able to workshop a resume so that it is targeted and aimed for the jobs that will move her career in the direction she wants to go.

Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!

→ Click here to let us know what you think of this format

Want to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?

→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship program

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

As a longtime listener you already know how much I love doing in-depth interviews on a variety of topics, whether that’s allowing everyday people to share their personal and inspirational journeys, or industry experts and world-renowned authors who share their expertise to help you optimize a specific area of your life. But today...what I’d love to do is give you an insider’s glimpse into the world of my Optimizer coaching & mentorship program and what we call the ‘Hot Seat.’ What you’ll hear today is a recording of an actual live session with an Optimizer student where on the Hot Seat we tackle various questions about career transitions, productivity, workflows, networking, burnout, habit formation, resumes and websites, and any number of other work or life challenges that students bring to the table as they navigate their own path towards success.

In the following hot seat session, community member Paul Del Vecchio and I discuss the new world of negotiating working from home, whether with existing or potentially new clients. Paul is a freelance promo editor and colorist making the transition to writer/director/producer and is trying to maximize his down time when waiting on clients while giving them the confidence that they are still a top priority. The conversation is centered around the new standard we are trying to set for the 21st century which is that we do not get paid for the hours we work, we get paid for the value we bring to the project. One quick caveat: The sound quality for this session is less than optimal because of a microphone malfunction on my end. My apologies for that, but I thought this session was so good and could be helpful to you that I decided to listen to the same advice I often give to my students: Don’t pursue perfect at the expense of good enough.

Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!

→ Click here to let us know what you think of this format

Want to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?

→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship program

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

"You can't just stand up for yourself. We have to stand up together."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. When I wrote Dear Hollywood: It’s Time For An Intervention About The Hours We Work this past summer, I was surprised to learn the majority of people in Hollywood have no interest in losing their golden time and overtime hours in exchange for shorter, more manageable workdays. While I have no interest in taking money out of anyone’s pocket, I do believe there has to be a better way than working 60+ hours a week and burning ourselves out just to make ends meet.

Here’s a crazy thought: 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. Scott has worked as an editor and assistant editor in both television and feature films on studio features such as The Bourne Legacy, Despicable Me 3, and Men in Black: International, and his TV credits include CBS' Person of Interest, NBC's Parks and Recreation, Fox’s The Orville, and he's currently working on Marvel's WandaVision for Disney+.

As a father of two, Scott has had to wrestle with difficult choices between the faster track of being a television editor and the higher negotiating power of feature film assistant editing. His role as a Board Member of the Motion Picture Editor's Guild has made him very aware of the salary discrepancies between features and television along with the major challenge of work-life balance. He feels strongly about advocating for better wages and more sane working hours while also giving people the tools to advocate for themselves.

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.

Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?

» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode

Here's What You'll Learn:

• How Scott went from video game junkie to finding a passion for film editing.
• Why he wanted to get a Masters from AFI and why he insisted on starting at the bottom of the career ladder when he graduated.
• His surprising strategy for networking and making connections right out of school in 2006.
• How he got his first job as a Post Production Assistant four months out of college.
• What connections and skills enabled Scott to jump back and forth between television and film.
• Why assistant editors in television are paid unfairly and should be paid commensurate with experience.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: Assistants in features have negotiating power (those in TV do not).
• Scott's candid thoughts on why the union can't negotiate making shorter working hours part of the contract.
• His plea for greater member involvement in order to negotiate change in the union.
• The many factors that led to Scott’s decision to go back to assisting in features rather than look for his second editing job in television.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: Learning the difference between external success and fulfillment is the key to good decision making.
• Why going after happiness before success is the better route.
• What Scott loves about the Peloton and how it's improved his life.
• Scott's Advice for making it in Hollywood...(I did not pay him to say this!)

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar

Peloton bikes

Editors Guild - IATSE Local 700 > Local 700 - Home Page

Continue to Listen & Learn

Ep112: On Signing COVID Waivers, Kit Rental Fees, and Working Humane Hours | with Cathy Repola, MPEG National Executive Director

Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian

Ep128: How to Have a Successful Career Without Sacrificing Family | with Farrel Levy

How to Find the Right Type of Mentor For You (and When You Should Seek the Best)

How to Go From Cold Contact to Your Ideal Mentor In Seven Simple Steps

IMDbPro for Networking: The 10 Features That Will Take Your Outreach to a New Level (optimizeyourself.me)

Ep129: How to Cultivate a “Service-Centric” Mindset (and Why It Will Make You More Successful) | with Agustin Rexach

Dear Hollywood: It’s Time For An Intervention About The Hours We Work

Dear Hollywood: We Don’t Want to “Go Back to Normal.” Normal Wasn’t Working.

Dear Hollywood…We Create Entertainment For a Living. We’re Not Curing Cancer.

Our Generous Sponsors:

Struggling With Real-Time Remote Collaboration? Meet Evercast

As work begins to slowly trickle in again, perhaps the most pressing challenge we as creative professionals face in our post-pandemic reality is real-time collaboration. Zoom is great for meetings, but it sure doesn't work for streaming video. Luckily this problem has now been solved for all of us. If you haven't heard of Evercast, it's time to become acquainted. Because Evercast's real-time remote collaboration technology is CHANGING. THE. GAME.

» Click here to be the first to gain early access to the new Evercast

P.S. It's (finally) priced for freelancers and indie creatives like us!

This episode was brought to you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat (my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation) and now their latest product. New Standard Whole Protein is a blend of both whey and collagen, sourced from the highest quality ingredients without any of the unnecessary filler or garbage. Not only will you get more energy and focus from this protein powder, you will notice improvements in your skin, hair, nails, joints and muscles. And because they don’t spend a lot on excessive marketing and advertising expenses, the savings gets passed on to you.

[optin-monster slug="u1u6n4yv97rxxz4icynf"]

Guest Bio:

Originally from the North suburbs of Chicago, Scott Jacobs attended Western Michigan University where he was studying theater and vocal performance. While he was losing the love for performing, he wasn’t losing the love of wanting to be in the entertainment industry. Upon taking an introductory film course, Scott watched Baz Luhrman’s Moulin Rouge!. What captivated him the most were the visual effects and the editing. After reading more about film editing and discovering that the job combined his love of technology and theater, he knew that editing is what he wanted to do with his life. After his discovery, he taught himself iMovie, then Final Cut Pro, and finally Avid. This eventually led to Scott attending the AFI Masters in Film Editing program from 2005-2007. Since graduating, he has been fortunate enough to work on studio features such as The Bourne Legacy, Despicable Me 3, and Men in Black: International. Some of his TV credits include CBS' Person of Interest, NBC's Parks and Recreation, and Fox’s The Orville. Currently, Scott is thrilled to be working on Marvel's WandaVision coming to Disney+ in January 2021. Scott has also been serving on the Motion Picture Editors Guild's Board of Directors since 2017. He hopes to one day sit alongside the great film editors that have come before him and inspire others as they have inspired him.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

As a longtime listener you already know how much I love doing in-depth interviews on a variety of topics, whether that’s allowing everyday people to share their personal and inspirational journeys, or industry experts and world-renowned authors who share their expertise to help you optimize a specific area of your life.

But today what I’d love to do is give you an insider’s glimpse into the world of my Optimizer coaching & mentorship program and what we call the ‘Hot Seat.’ What you’ll hear today is a recording of an actual live session with an Optimizer student where on the Hot Seat we tackle various questions about career transitions, productivity, workflows, networking, burnout, habit formation, resumes and websites, and any number of other work or life challenges that students bring to the table as they navigate their own path towards success.

In today’s Hot Seat session I have a candid conversation with community member Eva Yuma about the realities of working in the entertainment industry while also trying to maintain her health & sanity. As Eva asks to frame our conversation, "Am I even built to do this for a living?" The short answer, Eva, is none of us are built for this. Listen in to learn more about the various strategies I shared with Eva to help her build healthier habits that will allow her to build a more sustainable and enjoyable career in the entertainment industry.

Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!

→ Click here to let us know what you think of this format

Want to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?

→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship program

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"We want to promote health and wellbeing to editors because they work so hard."- Kevin Tent

As the recently elected President of American Cinema Editors (ACE), Kevin Tent is leading the charge to make working smarter instead of harder in the edit bay one of his top priorities. He's dedicated to making changes like taking regular walk breaks, adding in meditation, and even taking an occasional nap (the horror!!!!) to enhance your creativity and get you through the day with more energy left over for your family and yourself when work is done.

Kevin describes himself as a "somewhat professional film editor who has worked in Hollywood for nearly 30 years,” who is best known for his collaboration with director Alexander Payne having edited films like Citizen Ruth, Election, About Schmidt, Sideways, Nebraska, Blow, and Girl Interrupted. He has learned the value of taking care of his body and mind while trying to balance the demanding schedules of Hollywood feature films.

In our conversation, Kevin and I talk candidly about the habits he's implemented for better health and creativity while editing (many of which came about from learning the hard way from years of neglect). He also clears up the confusion about the American Cinema Editors organization and details how someone can qualify and become a member. And most importantly he speaks honestly about the value of becoming an ACE member and the benefits that doing so can have on your well-being and career (Hint: It's not to boost your career or find more jobs).

If you want to know how one of the top names in the feature editing game stays sharp and continues to work at such a high level, today’s conversation is for you.

Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• Kevin's origin story of how he got started editing.
• How ten years of editing for Roger Corman made him an "overnight success" after the success of Election.
• The steps he took to avoid getting pigeonholed.
• Kevin wants to use ACE to promote healthy lifestyles in post production.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: Exercise and meditation habits stick when it is something you want to do rather than something you have to do.
• His morning bike ride often gets him out of creative blocks in scenes.
• Afternoon walks with Alexander Payne are creatively beneficial for both of them while working on a movie.
• Kevin uses naps to give him a renewed sense of energy.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: All the best ideas happen when you're away from the computer.
• He wants to influence people to understand it is healthy to take walks and breaks during your day.
• The political instigator that got Kevin to start a meditation practice.
• The types of meditation he's tried and the benefits he's gained from a regular practice.
• The myriad of soft skills necessary for an editor to have and how meditation compliments these skills.
• Why editors are so undervalued and not treated as the integral creatives that they are.
• Director Alexander Payne has a deep respect for editors on his films.
• Being invisible artists makes it hard to get the credit we deserve.
• Kevin describes what ACE is, the history of how it began, and how you can join.
• Best advice for anyone who wants to edit big feature films like Kevin.

Useful Resources Mentioned:

American Cinema Editors

ACE Member Directory

Requirements for Joining ACE

Continue to Listen & Learn

Ep55: How Tiny Changes Can Create Remarkable Results | with James Clear

Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar

Ep80: How to Avoid Getting Pigeonholed, The ‘Concentric Circles of Networking’ & More | with Doc Crotzer, ACE

Ep03: The Science Behind Success and Creative Burnout (And Why You’re Approaching Both Mostly Wrong) | with Eric Barker

Struggling to “Do” It All? Try “Being” First. (Three Strategies to Reclaim Your Time and Sanity When Working From Home)

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Guest Bio:

Kevin Tent (ACE) has been a somewhat professional film editor in Hollywood for nearly 30 years. He is best known for his long time collaboration with director Alexander Payne. Their first collaboration was on Payne’s Sundance hit “Citizen Ruth,” starring Laura Dern. Followed by the critical hit “Election” staring Reese Witherspoon (for which Tent earned his first American Cinema Editor’s nomination). Tent received his second ACE nomination for “About Schmidt” starring Jack Nicholson and his third for “Sideways” starring Thomas Haden Church & Paul Giamati. In 2011 Tent was nominated for both an ACE and an Academy Award® for his editing on “The Descendants”, starring George Clooney. He won the Eddie for best dramatic film of 2011. He was also nominated for an ACE award for his work on “Nebraska” in 2014 and worked with Payne on his most recent film “Downsizing” staring Matt Damon. After attending Los Angeles City College’s film school, Tent got his first break working for legendary B-movie producer Roger Corman cutting classic films like “Emmanuelle 5” and “Not of This Earth”. While continuing to hone his skills in the throws of B-movies, Tent also tapped into the emerging Independent film movement in the US. Cutting the underground hit “Guncrazy” directed by Tamra Davis and the above mentioned “Citizen Ruth” by Payne. Some of Tent’s other credits include “Blow” the late Ted Demme’s drug epic staring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz. James Mangold’s “Girl Interrupted” staring Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie, (Jolie winning an academy award for her performance). “Disconnect” directed by Henry Alex Rubin, “Welcome To Me” starring Kristin Wigg and “Parched” a foreign language film by Indian director Leena Yadav. More recently Tent’s credits include “Otherhood” from director Cindy Chupack & producer Cathy Schulman and “The Peanut Butter Falcon” staring Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen. Tent has worked with director Barry Sonnenfeld numerous times, Nancy Meyers on the “The Intern” and Martin Scorsese on his short film “The Audition”.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content