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Video Editing Keyboard
Russ Hess_Headshot_0774.jpg

Every Story Deserves
its Best Telling.

        From pacing to color, sound to structure, I make sure every second of your video works as hard as it can. Whether it’s a film, branded content, or social media piece, I cut with precision, style, and purpose, so your audience feels every beat.

CONTACT

What I Do

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01

DIT

As a Digital Imaging Technician (DIT), my job is to protect, organize, and prepare your footage from set to post. Every file that comes off the camera is immediately backed up and verified using DaVinci Resolve’s checksum process, ensuring that every bit of data is securely transferred without corruption.

I don’t just copy files, I build a reliable bridge between production and post. From creating multiple backups to managing metadata, syncing sound, and generating dailies, I make sure your team has exactly what they need, when they need it, with peace of mind that nothing has been lost along the way.

  • Checksum-verified offloading – No guesswork, no corrupted copies

  • Multi-location backups – Redundant storage to protect against drive failure

  • Metadata & bin organization – Preparing your footage for a smooth edit

  • Dailies & proxies – Quick turnaround for directors, editors, and producers

  • On-set troubleshooting – Technical support to keep the shoot running

Image by Matthew Sichkaruk

03

ASSEMBLY CUT

The assembly cut is where raw footage starts to take shape as a story. Using the logged material and director’s notes, I craft a structured first pass of your project — aligning the shots, pacing, and narrative so you can see the film begin to live and breathe on screen.

It’s not about perfection yet — it’s about clarity. An assembly cut gives you and your team a clear roadmap: what’s working, what needs refining, and how the story flows from start to finish. My approach is both technical and creative, ensuring that every shot has purpose and every scene moves the project forward.

  • Organized first edit – Turning logged footage into a cohesive timeline

  • Story structure shaping – Building the foundation for pacing and tone

  • Director’s vision translated – Bringing notes and creative intent into the cut

  • Problem-spotting – Identifying gaps, redundancies, and opportunities early

  • Smooth handoff – Preparing the timeline for the fine cut and polish

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05

SOUND DESIGN

Great sound design is invisible, until it isn’t. It’s the subtle details that make a scene feel alive, and the bold choices that give it impact. From dialogue cleanup to layered atmospheres and dynamic effects, I use Reaper to sculpt soundscapes that immerse the audience and elevate the visuals.

Every project gets a tailored approach: cleaning and balancing production audio, building textures that enhance mood, and mixing in effects that hit at just the right moment. Whether you need realism, stylization, or a seamless blend of both, I craft sound that works hand-in-hand with the edit to make your story unforgettable.

  • Dialogue editing & cleanup – Crisp, clear voices that cut through the mix

  • Atmosphere & ambiences – Environments that feel rich and believable

  • Foley & effects – Details that bring visuals to life

  • Creative layering – Soundscapes built to heighten emotion and impact

  • Mixing for delivery – Balanced sound that translates across platforms

Image by 1981 Digital

02

LOGGING

It’s about building a foundation for the edit. I go through your footage shot by shot, marking takes, adding searchable notes, and organizing metadata so editors can find exactly what they need without wasting time.

Whether it’s a feature film, documentary, or branded project, my logging process keeps your post-production workflow smooth, efficient, and stress-free. By combining technical precision with an editor’s eye for story, I help transform a mountain of raw material into a neatly mapped-out library.

  • Shot-by-shot logging – Detailed notes and clear labeling for every clip

  • Metadata management – Keywords, tags, and searchable organization

  • Circle take marking – Highlighting best takes for fast editor access

  • Syncing & prep – Ensuring video and audio are lined up before editorial

  • Editor-friendly structure – Bins and folders built to speed up cutting

Image by Jakob Owens

04

EDIT

The edit is where vision becomes reality. Building on the assembly cut, I refine pacing, rhythm, and performance to bring out the heart of your story. Every frame is considered, every transition intentional, every beat tuned to keep your audience engaged.

This is more than tightening up a timeline — it’s about discovering the emotional core of the piece and making it shine. I balance technical precision with a storyteller’s instinct, shaping the material into its strongest form while staying true to the director’s vision.

  • Polished storytelling – Sharpening structure, pacing, and flow

  • Performance refinement – Highlighting the best takes and moments

  • Creative collaboration – Translating notes into clear, impactful changes

  • Sound & picture shaping – Early balancing for tone, mood, and rhythm

  • Edit-ready delivery – A refined cut that’s ready for color, sound, and finishing

Image by Aluminum Disemboweler3000

06

COLOR CORRECTION

As a certified DaVinci Resolve colorist, I bring technical expertise and artistic precision to every frame, ensuring your project looks its best across screens, formats, and platforms.

From correcting exposure and balancing skin tones to crafting bold, cinematic looks, I use Resolve’s industry-leading toolset to refine and enhance your footage. The result is a polished, cohesive visual style that not only matches your vision, but elevates it.

  • Professional color correction – Fixing exposure, balance, and consistency

  • Creative color grading – Building mood, tone, and cinematic atmosphere

  • Skin tone refinement – Natural, flattering results across all lighting conditions

  • Look development – Custom LUTs and styles tailored to your project

  • Delivery-ready outputs – Color managed workflows for broadcast, film, or web

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