How Two Very Different Paths Led To Filmmaking Careers

Watching a Clockwork Orange obsessively and loving a certain level of excellence

Going to film school at NYU and showing up to film sets vs. film classes

Talia’s experience of moving to LA as a PA and why she went back to NYC

How attending acting school as a teenager eventually led to the film Descent

Working through trauma and staying at a monastery to practice Rinzai Zen

How Talia accelerated her writing practice and where This Is Not a War Story came from

Why it’s best to focus on your craft vs. what’s out of your control as a filmmaker

Chad’s decision to leave science and pursue his childhood dream of making movies

The benefits of USC’s film program and spending hours getting work experience as a student

Becoming the guy known for editing and getting his first credit

Advice to work hard, follow your passion, and be willing to pivot

How Chad’s music background influences his work as an editor

Experimenting with sound and being careful not to spoon feed the audience

How larger aspects of editing decisions impact the overall story and lessons

Committing to authenticity to help with audience engagement