Editor’s Note: Supporting women should not be limited to a month. So at Reel 360 News, we have decided to amplify and promote dynamic women’s voices all year long. Today, let us introduce you to Editorial Board’s, Elizabeth M. Stewart.
An ardent appreciator of the power of visual storytelling, Elizabeth M. Stewart found editing to be a natural fit and a passion for a career path. Elizabeth has honed her talent cutting commercials for brands such as Crate & Barrel, Ram, Carl’s Jr., and Western Union. She loves being a storyteller through shaping footage to elevate the emotional impact of a piece. Whether that be through comedy, drama, or exciting imagery, she hopes to always leave the viewer feeling something real.
Let’s meet Elizabeth!
What’s your origin story?
I was fortunate to have been born into a fantastic family. From the beginning, my parents encouraged my creativity and saw the value of education in the arts. My older sister’s drive inspired me to push myself as well. However, I encountered obstacles, mostly within myself, that I had to work through. But through those emotional highs and lows, my artistic side grew. Having a depth of emotional knowledge from my own experiences is what I draw most upon when editing.
How did you break into post-production?
Finding my way to this industry was through a series of choices that just felt right at the time. First, by being exposed to filmmaking as a tangible career path, and then discovering that my true passion was editing. I took the opportunities that were presented to me.
I knew my first big goal was to get my foot in the door at a post house. It took a couple of years for that goal to be realized, and it was thanks to meeting a very creative and talented editor, Sai Selvarajan. I met him while he was working for free as an assistant editor on a documentary right out of college, which he was also editing.
Two years later, he remembered me and recommended me for a tape op/assistant editor position at the post house where he worked, and that was the break I needed. That taught me that no matter what you’re working on and what you’re making (or not making) financially from it, often it’s the relationships you build along the way that carry the most value.
Who were your mentors, and how did they influence your journey?
Sai is an easy first answer for obvious reasons, based on the answer to the last question. Not just because of helping to connect me to my first big job opportunity, but because he showed me how to edit in creative ways that I hadn’t considered yet. I feel like being an assistant editor is an invaluable step in reaching your peak potential as an editor.
I call it getting to “see beneath the hood”. You can watch work and be inspired, but getting to look at talented editors’ timelines and really dig into what and how they’re doing it teaches you so much. So, my mentors are all the incredible editors I had the opportunity to assist. I learned something different from each of them, that have all impacted how I edit today.
What fuels your creativity?
My creativity is fueled by the fact that I can’t imagine living a life where I don’t get to be creative on a daily basis. Feeding that creative urge wasn’t always editing, but from a young age, I loved creating, and I don’t take for granted that I’m lucky enough to have a career that allows me to do that.
What’s the biggest myth about women in post?
Maybe that there aren’t that many of us. Or perhaps that was just a myth that I held at one time. But the longer I’ve been in this industry, the more I’ve been introduced to and exposed to so many talented women and their work. Our industry is full of them, and I feel such camaraderie and a desire to uplift each other whenever I meet them.
Name a creative risk you took that paid off?
That’s a tough question to answer, because in a way, I’m always trying to take creative risks. Some projects inspire me more than others, but my goal is to show the client something beyond what they were expecting. I want to leave my stamp on the project so that my involvement truly made a difference. I’d say it pays off when the client loves what I did, and it makes it into the final piece.
What’s your take on the rise of AI?
I think Pandora’s box has been opened. There’s no going back, so I think it behooves all of us to start learning how to implement it in a way that helps us do our jobs better and more efficiently. However, I still believe that true, creative storytelling editing will always be done best through a human artist. And especially to interpret and implement nuanced feedback from clients.
What’s a piece of advice from another woman you carry with you?
I think Eleanor Roosevelt said it best: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Having skills and talent is a big part of what makes you a successful editor, but confidence in yourself and your work can take you to the next level.
Are you rebooting Soul Train, American Bandstand or MTV Spring Break?
I’m a millennial, so it’s easy to feel nostalgia for MTV Spring Break. But I’d actually have to go with Soul Train. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed a love for soul, R&B, disco, and funk music, so I’d love to see some of the modern bands doing those genres I’ve grown to love have a platform like that.
How do you balance ambition with self-care?
I think you have to pick your battles. And to have an understanding of what’s in your control and what isn’t, and what’s worth pushing yourself to your limits and what isn’t. It’s easy to feel like you have to go at 100% all the time, especially when you’re first building your career. Or to beat yourself up over losing out on a job you really wanted. But we can only do our best work when we don’t let ourselves get overly discouraged or burnt out.
Elizabeth, you’re writing a memoir. What’s the title?
Trust the Process
Go-to Karaoke song.
The few times in my life I’ve found myself in a situation to do karaoke, I always seem to draw a blank on every song that I know all the lyrics to that I could sing without totally embarrassing myself. I should probably figure out a good go-to for the next time. I seem to do great in the car by myself, though.
In 10 years, what do you hope to look back and say you changed?
In all honesty, myself. Not that I’m not pleased with where I’m at or how far I’ve come, but I want to always look back at different decades of my life and see that I kept growing, learning, and evolving. And hopefully I can look back and see the impact I made on the companies, projects, and people’s lives I was lucky enough to be a part of.
Elizabeth M. Stewart’s Socials:
Linkedin: Elizabeth M. Stewart
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