Film and Video Production: Alumni Stories
Brad Stencil -'14
Brad Stencil, Assistant Editor, Los Angeles
What has most of your work consisted of after graduating?
After graduating from GVSU in May 2014, I did a few freelance
Production Assistant jobs in Michigan before moving to Los Angeles a
few months later. My first job in LA was as a Post Production
Coordinator for behind the scenes content for The Hobbit: The Battle
of the Five Armies. As soon as that ended, I was selected as an
Honorary Intern through the ACE Internship Program. For three months I
was shadowed the cutting rooms of feature films, scripted television,
and non-scripted television. A few weeks after that ended, I got a job
as a Post Production Assistant at Five x Five Media on a competition
reality TV show called Santa’s in the Barn. After Santas, I moved up
to Assistant Editor for Five x Five’s next show Separation Anxiety.
While working as an AE, I gained the necessary credentials to begin
the editorial union's joining process. I left Separation Anxiety a few
weeks before the end of the show to jump into the feature film world
as a Post Production Assistant on Doctor Strange. Once the movie
wrapped, I was offered a short gig as a Post Production Assistant on
Patriots Day. Five days after I was hired, I was promoted to
Apprentice Editor for the remainder of the film. This also solidified
myself as a member of the editorial union IATSE Local 700 - MPEG.
While all of this was going on, I also helped out on several small
projects including short films, commercial spec work, and experimental films.
You’ve done many things in your work, what would you consider
to be one of your most rewarding accomplishments?
Though I was not chosen as one of the interns for the American
Cinema Editors (ACE) Internship, I proved to the program's panel that
I was worth taking a chance on and was selected as an Honorary Intern,
which allowed me to create my own unofficial internship. Countless
opportunities have spawned from this pivotal moment in my career. I've
found a mentor, been able to work on some extraordinary projects, and
have created a life in an unfamiliar place, not to mention having done
it in a relatively short amount of time.
Life in the first year after graduating, what was the most
valuable advice you received? What insights did you gain?
Learning the importance of anticipation is one of the more
valuable pieces of advice I received. A good employee does what
they're told. A great one does what they're told and prepares for
what's coming next.
I also learned how to better appreciate everything in my life.
After going through moving to a new city and starting from scratch, I
have so much more appreciation for my friends and where I am because
of how hard I've had to work to get here.
What advice do you have for others following this path? Tips
on making a big move, finding work, etc?
For those looking to move to a big city like Los Angeles or New
York City, understand that moving is a big deal. You are essentially
giving up your already established life and starting from scratch.
But, that doesn't mean it can't be fun! Here are some points to help
you be successful in your move:
- Create a Plan
- Three possible pillars are 1) Find a place to live 2) Get a job 3) Get a car
- Having a plan decreases the stress involved in a big move
- A plan also gives you concrete goals to strive for
- Create a Contingency Plan
- Have a backup plan for income
- Have multiple options for places to live
- Visit the City
- This can help you decide if you will even like it there
- It's a good opportunity to look for a place to live
- It's a chance to meet alumni in person
- Save Money
- Do a monthly cost breakdown that includes housing, food, gas/transportation, bills, entertainment, etc., then multiply that number by six. You'll want at least six months of savings in the event you don't find work right away.
- Having a nest egg also means less stress over money
- Be Overly Social (Rebuilding your social life)
- Reach out to Alumni
- Attend events happening in and around the city
- Reflect on what you like to do and see if there are meetups or organizations for people who also like to do those things
Remember, just as in filmmaking, preparation is key. If you don't give adequate time to pre-production, you're setting yourself up for failure in production, which can have further reaching implications in post production.
What advice do you have for current GVSU Film/Video students?
Be nice to everyone and work hard. If you're pleasant to be
around and you're a good worker, people will want to keep working with you.
Be humble. Understand and acknowledge when you've been fortunate.
It's okay to talk about your successes, but don't overdo it.
Be appreciative. Little things like sending a handwritten thank
you card after someone has taken time to talk to you, after an
interview, or at the end of a job is a nice gesture and shows that you
appreciated the opportunity.
Apologize and move on. When you mess up, genuinely apologize for
the mistake, and move on. Chances are there is more work to be done
and you're a more effective worker if you're not dwelling on the past.
Never stop learning. The moment you stop progressing and trying
to learn new skills is the moment you start losing work to the people
who are still pushing themselves.
Diversify your interests. Working in the film industry is a
lifestyle, considering the amount of time you'll be spending at work.
Having experiences and interests that are not related to film will
help inform your craft and make you a better filmmaker. Listen to
different kinds of music, go to art museums, take a trip into the
wilderness. You never know where inspiration can come from, so you
might as well have a bunch of different places for it to strike.
Don't forget to live your life. As previously mentioned, working
in film is a lifestyle and it can sometimes be difficult to remember
that you have a life outside of work. Enjoying the time you have off
between jobs will help you recharge and is also a great opportunity to
do all of the things you never get to do when you're working. You only
have one life to live and it goes by quick, so make the most of it.
For students who want to become Editors, apply for the American
Cinema Editors (ACE) Internship. It is hands down the best thing you
can do when starting a career in editorial. Through ACE, I've met my
best friends, found a mentor, and been given opportunities that
otherwise would have been far from reach.
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