jason wong

As you scroll through YouTube today, there is plenty of content to consume: vlogs, documentaries, funny memes, cooking videos, tutorials, pirated movies… the list goes on. But once in a while, amidst the busy recommended feed of videos, there sometimes lays a piece of art that stands out from other videos that have been suggested for you. A random video, with a unique thumbnail, and an intriguing title. You click on it, and it turns out to be something refreshing, relatable, and entertaining. 

 

As an artist, specifically a film editor, this is the feeling I strive to capture through my work: something that feels familiar and novel at the same time. I want the viewer to connect with the content being presented, but also experience their familiar feeling in a new light. With a focus on music videos, commercials, and short films, something I found that is integral to the process is to experiment; there are 50 ways to skin a cat, and my job is to determine what the best way is by sorting through footage, cutting it together in countless different ways, and deciding which one works best. 

 

While I work with various directors and clients, my job is to portray the story, visuals, theme, and messages in the way I see best fit. Despite everyone I work with trying to communicate a different message through film, I found one goal I can pursue as an editor, which is to give people a different perspective on the film we are working on. While the director or client may be asking for one thing, I will present what they want, but also give an opposing viewpoint for them to consider, whether it is reordering a sequence of shots, adding an effect or sound to the film they never thought about, or cutting when least expected, it is my job to ensure that the director or client sees the possibilities of their footage through.

 

But the most important thing for me is to look back on all my work and say, “I love my job, and I love what I do for a living”. ​​

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-jason wong

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