Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Scarfe.
Hi Alex, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I was around twelve years old – before the advent of video capture on phones – I made short videos with a “Flip” camera in my backyard. Initially, they were “role-playing” parodies with my friends, such as “Harry Potter and the Half-Minded Prince”.
Perhaps, without even realizing it, I was beginning to understand the elements of storytelling – plot structure, the importance of protagonists, cinematography – and the powerful role of editing as the construction scaffold of visual and auditory media. For my friends, this was a phase of growing up, but for me, it became my voice of expression. During my junior year in high school, I joined the broadcast journalism team.
This was responsible for a twice-weekly 10-minute television program; news, interviews, comedy sketches, and public service announcements which were broadcast to the entire student population of almost 2,000. Unlike many of those at an all-male catholic high school, I was regarded as reserved and shy, rarely contributing to class conversations or volunteering.
I had all the emotions, anxieties, frustrations, and thoughts of a typical 16-year-old but couldn’t express them within the social “club” of which I was a part. But this threw me into an environment that required more deliberate and creative thinking, working with like-minded imaginative guys. This provided me with a goal-oriented interaction that definitely helped me get over any social anxiety issues that I had.
In my second year, I was invited by the teacher to become an “instructor assistant” and though short productions like “Librarian of Steel” and three parodies of the Batman franchise oriented towards projects like “Dare to Care” led me to realize that what I thought and how I expressed it on film mattered. It was during this time that I realized the power of film on me as a filmmaker, how a “message” could be translated to others, and that I could, with the right tools, have a valid contribution to the process. It is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
I got my B.A. in Cinema Art and Sciences. Most of the classes I took were focused solely on cinema, and initially, I wanted to focus on directing, and I took most of the mainline classes for that career path. It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I decided I wanted to pivot and pursue editing. Postproduction always fascinated me. I enjoyed the concept of crafting a story by putting the pieces together and I was always very techy, even at Trinity.
To that end, I spent my summers interning at a local advertising agency that focused on video production. Additionally, I worked on quite a few short films in Chicago slowly building up my resume. It was around my senior year I made the decision to apply to grad school because I felt like I could use the opportunity to build my network in Los Angeles.
With that spirit, I applied to the top three film schools in the country: The University of Southern California, UCLA, and the American Film Institute Conservatory. After being accepted into USC and the AFI Conservatory, I decided to attend the AFI Conservatory where I obtained my MFA in Editing in 2020.
Currently, I am working as a freelance film editor and a Lead Assistant Editor on a Network TV Show.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Things are constantly evolving and changing in a fluid way, some things become simpler while others become more complicated. I think there are always challenges presenting themselves.
It changes; filmmakers have all kinds of different struggles with getting things made doesn’t really matter what department you are a part of. As editors, I feel it is our responsibility to be problem solvers and tackle these issues. Editors are the last line of defense for the project we are some of the final eyes and the finished product.
I have had my share of long nights and 80-hour work weeks and it’s not acceptable but you survive cause as an assistant editor you are the red blood cell of the team. I find it reassuring that when I’m talking to my fellow editors that they go through the same things it helps cause you not alone.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I currently work as a staff assistant editor at Clockwork Post and a freelance film editor in Los Angeles. Most recently a few short films I’ve worked on have gotten into some major festivals and won some awards. In July we won a student BAFTA for our film “Apart, Together”, and the film has toured dozens of film festivals all over the world.
Another film I worked on entitled “Faro” recently got into the Cannes Film Festival earlier last summer. Currently, I was the Lead Assistant Editor on “Yo! MTV Raps,” a Paramount+ Exclusive, and “Arcane: League of Legends,” the digital broadcast campaign for Riot Game’s new animated series on Netflix.
I also have various short film projects that utilize some new technology like Unreal Engine Capture and Motion Capture. I am very proud of the work we are doing, Arcane was a one-of-a-kind experience the folks at RIOT and Beyond the Porch were very accommodating and the scale of the show was immense. I learned so much in the little months we were working on it.
People’s experiences and personal stories make movies, whether they be narrative, philosophical or emotional. Filmmaking engages not only those in the process but also those who view the result.
My specific stone within this visual path, whether it be locally, nationally, or even internationally is to learn from others who weave visual and auditory media with the power of language, motion pictures, and emotions.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I love this question! I actually enjoy it in my off time building computers, I got into it early because of my brother. We design systems and used to run small side business designing and building pcs for people. I adored it, was always a highlight of my weekends.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.scarfe-a-diem.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alx.scarf
