INSIDE THE INDUSTRY: Advice from Editor Jonathan Sanders

Editor Jonathan Sanders first discovered his love for editing at MysticArt Pictures as an intern, and his abilities have grown and flourished at the company. A fixture at MysticArt, Jonathan can be trusted to flawlessly edit anything and everything with his innate creative flair. A dedicated member of the team, Jonathan is currently editing for a high-profile design competition show.

1. Where did you go to school, and what did you go to school for?

I went to school at Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL for Film. 

2. Did you always know you wanted to be an editor? What first sparked your interest?

My original goal was to be a screenwriter but in film school, I found the casting process to be a lot of fun and served as the casting director for a few projects. I edited a few projects in school and enjoyed it but never imagined it as the career path I'd take. After moving to LA and interning at Mystic for casting, I was asked to help with editing and fell in love with the process and creative aspects that post has to offer. 

3. When you are first starting a casting edit for a game show, what is your process?

The beginning process for a game show edit is fairly simple. I capture the contestant’s personality up front, always. And if you have a brand, that'll be established up top as well. If you make me laugh, it's usually the first thing you'll see in the edit.

4. When you are first starting a casting edit for a docu-series, what is your process?

The beginning process for a docu-series is fairly similar to a game show, with personality and brand being the most important.

5. How long does it take you to complete an edit? How many edits would you say you complete per day? Per week?

The amount of time to complete an edit varies based on the show. A game show edit can take anywhere between 15-30 minutes, while a story-driven show can take up to a day to finish. For Wipeout, I would complete 20 edits a day. 

6. How do you pick music to feature in an edit?

Music can be difficult at times, but I usually go for more current songs/artists, and the song selection will usually match up with a person's brand. For example, a cowboy would probably have a country/blue grass song. 

7. What software do you use to edit, and how long did it take you to master it?

I just transitioned from Final Cut Pro 7 to Final Cut Pro X and I am loving the switch. Learning any editing software takes time and patience, but if you're familiar with the process/Final Cut Pro in general, X is pretty easy to learn. 

8. What kind of computer system are you using? What equipment would you suggest someone invest in if they are serious about editing?

My current system I'm editing on is the late 2013 iMac. If you want to edit, Macs are the way to go. Macbook Pros are great (though the screens are small) but you can fix that with an external monitor. I’m also really liking the brand new Mac Pros. 

9. What qualities do you think a good editor should have?

A good editor should always be willing to learn and try new things in their work and explore not only the editing software you're using, but other software as well (Avid, Premiere, After Effects). You should also have a good attitude and an open mind when it comes to working with the producer (or director, or whoever you may be working with).  

Purina Commercial Premiere!

MysticArt is so excited to share the new Beggin Party Poppers commercial! Thank you so much to all who auditioned - you did a fantastic job and we cannot wait to meet you again for future projects!

You can find the commercial here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1dzd0z_when-pigs-fly-beggin-party-poppers-tv-commercial_fun

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY: Advice from Casting Producer Jack Marash

On-Staff Casting Producer Jack Marash got his start in casting at MysticArt Pictures and is a highly respected member of our team. He has worked on six seasons of Wipeout and met thousands of enthusiastic candidates for one of America’s most popular game shows. He has been a part of the team that has successfully cast a wide variety of television series with the attitude that “anything is possible.” Jack is currently working on a high-profile design competition show and interviewing furniture designers all over the nation.

1. Where did you go to school, and what did you go to school for?

I graduated from Curry College in 2005 with a degree in communication with a concentration in film.

2. Where did you work before getting in to the casting world?

Before I entered the casting world, I worked in marketing and promotions as the Events Manager for two radio stations in Washington DC. I ran the stations’ street teams and produced all events for the stations, from small client events to large-scale concerts.

3. Why did you move to Los Angeles? What was the appeal of the entertainment industry?

I moved from the east coast to Los Angeles because although the east coast has a large amount of jobs in the entertainment industry, Los Angeles had so many more jobs. I was 25 and I guess it was part of my quarter-century life crisis. It seemed like a good time to make a move. The entertainment industry appeals to me because at the end of the day, I am a storyteller and love to tell people’s stories. It is what I do every day as a casting producer.

4. Why did you apply for the MysticArt Pictures Apprenticeship Program?

I was new to LA, and MysticArt had such a great reputation and had done so many shows that I had seen. I liked that the company had a scripted and unscripted television department and a film department and had a diverse array of projects. It seemed like a great way to get my foot in the door.

5. You cast Wipeout and over the seasons have met thousands of people. How would you describe the perfect Wipeout audition? What are some things that make contestants stand out in auditions where you meet hundreds of people a week?

In any audition, whether it is for a competition show or a docu-series, the people who stand out are people who own who they are. An interview is not a time to be modest. Be proud of who you are and own it. One of the big aspects at our training program at MysticArt is learning how to help people brand themselves so that each person can set themselves apart from everyone else auditioning. In a Wipeout audition, I love people who come in having thought out how they want to be remembered on the show and come in to the room showing it off. People do this by wearing a certain outfit, singing a certain song, bringing a prop. The bigger character you are, the funnier it is for us to watch.

6. You have worked on numerous docu-series. How is casting a docu-series different from casting a game show?

At MysticArt, we are trained in many different genres of television. Game shows and docu-series are very different. They are both a lot of fun and keep you busy all day long.  On game shows, we see a lot more people. I work with my team to book large groups of people from different backgrounds, and then I work with our editor to set a format for each edit. I normally do very short interviews all day long.  On a docu-series, we see less people and it is much more about telling people’s stories. I spend a lot more time prepping for interviews and working with an editor because each edit is much more in-depth than a game show. An interview for a game show is fun and often similar to pretending you’re on a game show. I have often been told after I interview someone for a docu-series that it was like a therapy session because whether they are telling a sad or happy story, they usually are thinking and talking about things they don’t get to talk about every day. I can’t emphasize enough that in docu-series we look for very specific archetypes, and this all goes back to our training in the ability to help people brand themselves.

7. What is something you did not expect about being a casting producer? What aspects of the job were you unaware of before filling the role?

I never thought that working as a casting producer, I would have the ability to change people’s lives. However, we do. I have been told by many people, even people who ultimately didn’t make it on a show, that going through the process changed their lives for the better. We have done some huge shows where the end goal of the show is to change something big about a person’s life. We have people who come back after not making the show who say going through the process caused them to change their goals or really start working harder toward them. There really is a mission at MysticArt to change people’s lives, and it is so rewarding to be able to work at a company that makes a difference in people’s lives every week.    

8. What is the best advice you can give to someone aspiring to be a casting producer?

The most important thing I would say is to remember to connect with people. A casting producer is not someone who sits behind the camera and robotically asks prepared questions. In each interview, I do try to put myself in the shoes of the person I am interviewing. Even if I have nothing in common with them, if I am in their shoes I can better understand their point of view, which in turn helps them tell their story and builds immediate rapport, which is essential in a good interview. Also, find a company that can really support your dreams. If you identify your true passion, you will find that special place where you can launch and grow your career.

Currently Casting America's Home Challenge!

MysticArt Pictures has teamed up with A. Smith & Co. Productions for a new design competition series called America's Home Challenge! This new one-hour competition series will feature America’s most talented and creative aspiring furniture designers, who will work to create not only beautiful pieces of furniture, but entire home collections. This is the perfect platform to become a household name, and have the chance to launch your own product line. 

The show will feature furniture designers from across the nation who will be competing to become America's best. Along with the casting of our designers, we are looking for carpenters who will bring the designers' creations to life. If you are an aspiring furniture designer or an experienced carpenter, do not hesitate to email americashomechallenge@gmail.com! 

Thank You To All Who Came To The THREADS Open Call!

We had a BLAST at Mood this weekend meeting teen/tween fashion designers for THREADS! If you were not able to make it out, please email us at threadscasting@gmail.com. We are meeting young designers across the nation, so reach out to our casting team ASAP!