Daily Inspiration: Meet Katie Cali

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Cali.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I had wanted to be a filmmaker since I was nine years old. When I was a kid, my best friend Laura and I started our own production company in my attic. I would write scripts and she would work on costume and set design for our short films. I watched ‘I Love Lucy’ every night before bed and was drawn to the glamour of classic Hollywood – I knew at a young age I would move to LA and work in the industry one way or another.

In art school at Illinois State University, my parents encouraged me not to just to master one field but rather to absorb art as a whole. It’s a lesson that taught me more than I could have ever known at the time & I found my creative output in both painting & editing.

A few months after I moved to LA, I met an editor, Grant MacDowell, who gave me a shot at being his assistant. I absorbed and fell in love with commercial editing. I am fortunate to have a career where I collaborate with people with the same passion.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The film industry is tough to break into, you have to pay your dues and work your way up. When I first got started in film, there were very few women editors and I had to work really hard to prove myself. It actually drove me to be better because I wanted to be a part of showing the film industry that women can be valued as editors. I have felt intimidated at times, but every experience made me stronger.

My advice to anyone starting out is to have patience and work hard at any task, it will not go unnoticed.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a commercial & video editor based in Los Angeles. I have worked on countless national campaigns for world-class brands with agencies all over the country. Every project is unique which is what I love about editing. Whether it is a thirty-second spot or thirty-minute documentary, I love both the creative & technical process of communicating to the viewers. I am fortunate to have a career where I collaborate with people with the same passion.

I specialize in comedy commercial editing. It is about finding and perfectly timing moments. Having the ability to manipulate and control a story is really exciting to me. I love a good story and developing what is important about it – whether it be a good laugh or moment in time. I am constantly inspired by shows and content I watch and develop that into my own craft.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
It is so important to make connections & reach out to people you look up to within the industry. Get your name out there and make yourself visible. When I started out, I created a website with my reel and send it out to companies letting them know I was available for freelance work and would love to work with them in the future.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.katiecali.com
• Instagram: _katiecali