Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike E. Lesovsky.
Hi Mike E., it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a teenager, I fell in love with the movies and worked in the neighborhood video store. I ended up going to film school while also working full time at a skateboard shop down in Newport Beach. It was at the skate shop that I met a lot of pro skaters who, once they found out I was a film student and had a nice camera, invited me to come to shoot at some backyard pools. After a few of those sessions, I ended up touring around the country with the skaters and also a bunch of punk rock bands. I was out shooting at least five days a week and always cutting content together. During the day, I had skateboards flying at my face and in the evenings, I had beer bottles bouncing off the back of my head but none of that mattered as long as I got the shot. This lasted for about five years. It was an amazing time but it also had a lot of challenges. Eventually, I ended up living out of my car. A few months passed and then a good buddy asked me if I wanted to ‘sell out’ and move to LA to work in the AV department of an ad agency. Of course, I did! Living out of 95′ Honda Civic isn’t as awesome as it sounds… So, I agreed and was living in Venice and working at that ad agency shortly thereafter. That was in 2004. Since then, I’ve worked for ad agencies, post houses, film studios, television networks, you name it. I’ve worked on commercials, television shows, films, music videos,.. a very broad body of work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been some struggles. But, in this ultra-competitive industry, it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t taken a few lumps along the way. It can get crazy competitive. For someone like myself that wears their heart on their sleeve, I’m not one to engage in all the politics and silly bullshit like that. Things can get rough sometimes. I just like to keep things completely above board and honest with people. I think that maybe if I leaned into those politics a bit more and played that whole nasty game, that my career would be farther along than it is but o well. I’m very happy with where I’m at. And I’m even happier that I got here without having to compromise my morals or sell my soul.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Well, I make a living working as an editor. I absolutely LOVE storytelling. But when I’m not cutting something, I’m out working on other creative projects every single day. That’s all I do. If I’ve been cutting for too many hours and my eyes are fatigued from the monitors, then I’m usually in my outdoor studios space working on a painting. Or I’m off on a photography mission collecting ammo for my little postcard company that I do on the side when I have the time. I can’t remember the last time I had a day where I wasn’t doing something creative. And I guess that’s part of what sets me apart from some of the other editors these days. When the professional editing software became so accessible to the general public not too many years ago, the industry was flooded with people who were super smart with computers and could learn how a computer program works fairly quickly and navigate it with keyboard shortcuts but they didn’t have the creative intuition to make decisions that enhanced the work or helped tell the best possible story. A lot of people out there call themselves editors but are painting by number ya know? I grew up with an easel in my bedroom not a computer. I can always find aspects of past jobs that I’m proud of. Even the most challenging gigs provided me with a new lesson to learn, another building block, another arrow in my quiver.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Networking isn’t always the most fun but it’s necessary. The industry has lots of events you can attend and have a good time at. Just keep in mind that although you’re not getting paid to be there, you’re still on the job. It can be helpful for potential clients to see you as a personable engaging person that they would be open to spending months on end locked up in a little darkroom with you and also trust you with their multi-million dollar project. Back in 2005 a couple of producer buddies started a beach bocce league comprised mainly of production and ad agency people. It’s just an hour down at the beach on Tuesday nights and I can’t tell you how many gigs I’ve booked because of that league. Whatever you choose to do, just do it, put yourself out there and be your lovely personable self. Just don’t get too loose.
Contact Info:
- Email: mike@lesovsky.com
- Website: www.Lesovsky.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike_e_lesovsky/
