We were lucky to catch up with Camille Getz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Camille, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I’m a super competitive person, and that mindset often creates competition within myself–a desire to be constantly improving upon my work, one-upping my previous projects, and plotting a trajectory that might get me even further ahead in the future. I find that I’m most productive and inspired when I’m able to channel that competitive spirit into work ethic.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a video editor, cutting projects ranging from music videos and commercials (Justin Bieber, Marshmello, Wendy’s, CÎROC) to TV series and documentaries (Ice Cold, The Today Show), digital spots (Vogue, HBO, Vanity Fair), short films, and everything in between. I love editing so much–when I’m locked into my cut, time seems to fly by in fast motion. It’s so satisfying for me to watch the edit begin to fall into place–like a puzzle that doesn’t have one specific solution, but when it feels right you just know it feels right. There’s a really musical element to editing, as well, even when there isn’t any actual music involved. Finding the innate rhythm and musicality of the edit is one of my favorite parts, and in my mind combines both my love for editing and my love for music performance–when I’m not in the cutting room, I’m off playing the violin.
I just finished up a documentary film about music producer Linda Perry, and am now beginning another about a hip hop artist. My dream would be to one day edit a narrative film!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Organization — I’d say well over half of good editing is organization. Understanding how your project is built, where all of your footage is, how your timeline is laid out, etc. keeps the project running smoothly and efficiently. I’ve always been especially organized–perhaps to a somewhat obsessive degree, honestly–and I think overall it’s been a huge asset in my journey, from keeping me on track with homework as a child, to applying for colleges as a teenager, to staying on top of work duties as an adult.
2. Following through — I find that so few people actually do what they say they’re going to do. Being reliable has been instrumental in my journey, not only professionally but in my personal life, as well. If people know they can trust you, you’ll receive bigger and more prestigious responsibilities as a result.
3. Being personable — Tons of work comes via word of mouth, and when your peers and coworkers like you, they’ll be more inclined to send prospective projects your way.
Sometimes these qualities come inherently and sometimes they need to be finessed, but a willingness to learn and an eagerness to succeed are really all you need to develop or improve upon them.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
I often find myself feeling so impatient–I want to reach my ultimate career goals NOW; I want to finish this project NOW; I want to have everything NOW–that I’m unable to appreciate the journey or the amazing reality of my present life. Taking a step back and looking at everything I already have, right now, is something that I’m working on constantly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://camillegetz.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camillegetz/
