A Multifaceted Editor

Since his first production job in 1997 as an on-set production assistant for Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Justin has been actively involved in film and video production.  He graduated with honors from UC Santa Cruz in 1999 with a Bachelor’s degree in Film/Video Production and soon relocated to Los Angeles where he worked for four years as a prep tech for Otto Nemenz, Int., one of the largest camera rental houses in the industry.  There, he gained a thorough knowledge of cameras, lenses, and accessories as he put camera packages together for crews shooting everything from car commercials to the latest Coen Brothers film.  During this time, he also began shooting and editing video for behind-the-scenes, documentary, and music projects -- including  music promos and album artwork photos for Curb Records. 

Editing for High-End Corporate

“We need a sixty year company retrospective in three minutes using footage from our archive 3/4”, beta, and DV tapes along with our new HD footage.  And we want to project in 16:9 anamorphic at the Kodak Theater.” In 2004, Justin was hired to shoot a number of projects for the corporate video department for In-N-Out Burger.  The legendary California establishment, famous for its scrupulously crafted image, was so impressed by his work that by the summer of 2005 he was working full time as lead editor at the extremely busy production office.  For the past four years, his duties have included cutting a “TV show” that is distributed company wide on DVD each month.  The show consists of high energy, interview and music “event” pieces (if you need a  tight radio cut, Justin is definitely your editor); promos for important upcoming company events; and slower,  company “story” pieces.  In addition, Justin handles special messages from the president and owner of the company, video for major company events and awards, and training videos (sorry, they contain proprietary company information).  He also oversaw the company’s transition from DV, tape-based shooting to HD, file-based video acquisition, including management of a new archiving and duplication system. 

Speed and Endurance: The Hawaii Project

Justin’s editing and management skills were put to the test in 2008 when he headed a small team of editors tasked with covering In-N-Out’s triennial trip to Hawaii.  While a team of shooters - who claimed Justin as one of their own in 2005 - fanned out over the island to record a terabyte of footage  as they documented the adventures of over three hundred participants, Justin and his team set up editing bays in their hotel rooms and prepared for the onslaught of footage that would roll in hourly over the course of the six day event.  Justin’s task was to produce a finished movie to be screened for the participants on their final day, only hours after the last events had taken place.  While simultaneously archiving and backing up the footage, the team was able to deliver a fifty minute show (and still make it to the convention center in time for dinner).  NOTE: Only Justin’s edits are included in these samples.

Coming Soon...

Justin’s demonstrated skills, management, problem-solving ability, and professionalism have made him an asset for every team he has joined.  His background as a shooter and a camera tech have given him valuable insight as an editor, particularly with regard to breaking down a shooter’s footage as well as spotting potential camera problems.  While continuing his work for In-N-Out Burger, he is also in the final stages of editing a 30 minute film, slated for completion in summer 2009.  Please stay tuned for upcoming excerpts.