Twenty-one floors up on Surf Avenue in Coney Island, my grandfather would hold court at the dinner table, and I would relish his adventures. From serving in World War II to his globe-trotting journeys, the warmth, enthusiasm, and detail with which he spoke left me hanging on every word. His obsession with Orson Welles, love of Hitchcock and nightly ritual of watching MASH and All in the Family would prolong our evenings, and as screeches from the F train mixed with screams from the Cyclone poured in through the windows along with the ocean breeze, we would sit, captivated by stories filled with suspense, politics, humor and heart. This is where my love of storytelling began.
I eventually found myself gravitating toward psychological thrillers like Vertigo and Rosemary's Baby, where I was fascinated by the dynamic personalities I met on-screen and riveted by the slow-building tension that pulled me out of my comfort zone. My love for film went hand in hand with my passion for theatre, leading to a slight obsession with Les Misérables, where the powerful blend of emotions stirred by stories of injustice, betrayal, courage and resilience stayed with me for days. This growing interest in humanity drew me to the world of documentary film where I was enraged by the wrongful conviction portrayed in Paradise Lost and frustrated by the elusive truth in Capturing the Friedmans. My curiosity about the human psyche grew, and I began forging my path in editing, where I’m able to explore real-life subjects and discover what makes people tick.
From character-driven pieces to projects with pressing social issues, my belief in the power of film to educate and affect change fuels the dedication that I put into my craft. Building an intimate connection with my subject matter, I focus on the emotional journey of the characters. I love the challenge of cracking a narrative, the collaboration in bringing a director's vision to life and the enthusiastic dialogue shared with a team of like-minded storytellers.
In between projects, I draw inspiration from my travels and engaging with other cultures. Whether teaching English in Morocco, trekking the Andes, or sailing the Galapagos, I take the breadth of perspective gleaned from my journeys back with me to the edit room.
I am grateful to be working in an industry where I am continuously immersed in worlds that I would not otherwise have known and inspired by the people whose stories I have a hand in telling.