The Zack Arnold Podcast How a Tentpole Hollywood Feature Editor Stays Healthy, Fit, and Sane | with Alan Bell, ACE
Have you been grinding it out, "paying your dues" on the job, sacrificing social and family life, hoping that one day it will pay off and you'll finally land the top level, “tentpole” gigs you've been dreaming about your whole career?
Or maybe you're just starting your career and you're wondering how much you need to sacrifice in order to achieve your lifelong dream of winning major awards and if it’s even worth it?
Most importantly, perhaps you’re constantly asking yourself:
“Is it even possible to work as a successful creative professional and still enjoy spending time with family and friends, taking time off to enjoy vacations, and having time to pursue other interests and goals in life?”
I can't think of anyone more qualified to answer these questions than my good friend, mentor, and Hollywood tentpole editor Alan Bell, ACE who has edited such films as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Mockingjay (parts 1 &2), The Amazing Spider-Man, and 500 Days of Summer, to name a very select few.
In this conversation Alan freely shares his habits and routines and the changes he's made to keep himself healthy and sane during his insanely demanding work schedules. He reveals his honest thoughts on how many hours need to be worked and whether anything can be done to change the demands placed upon editors & creative professionals in the entertainment industry. He also shares some of the perks that come with being at the top and working on big budget films while offering tips that anyone can implement for healthier snacking and higher energy levels throughout your workday.
One quick caveat: This interview was originally recorded several years ago back in the “Fitness In Post” days, so you'll hear some references to that program along with some talk about working in offices, (remember that??) clearly pre-pandemic. But the topics of discussion are still relevant issues that we're all confronting today, so for those that missed this interview the first time, I hope it provides as much value now as it did when it was first released.
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Here's What You'll Learn:
- How post production affected his competitive rock climbing career.
- The routine Alan developed to help himself lose 23 pounds in 4 and a half months.
- Why counting calories is not an effective long-term weight loss strategy.
- How counting calories can be useful as an initial barometer for what you’re eating and building awareness around that.
- The mindset shift that Alan used to create healthier eating habits.
- KEY TAKEAWAY: Food is nourishment for the mind and body.
- How Alan recalibrated his fullness level and began to understand how the types of calories he eats affects his hunger levels and how he feels.
- The difference between emotional eating and eating to fuel your body.
- A day in the life of Alan Bell on a tent pole film.
- Alan's honest assessment of the hours he works and what it takes to work at the level he works at on a consistent basis.
- How Alan has improved his memory over the last 4 months.
- The role that finances play in your ability to choose the right projects and take the downtime you need.
- Healthy replacements for snacking habits.
Useful Resources Mentioned:
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Guest Bio:
Film editor Alan Edward Bell A.C.E., is best known for his work on (500) Days of Summer, ‘Water For Elephants’, ‘The Amazing Spiderman’, and the last three installments of the “Hunger Games” series. His resume spans 30 years in post-production, and includes a long list of credits in editorial as well as visual effects. Over the last 15 years he has been pushing the limits of what is possible in the cutting room by blending visual effects and editing techniques. Alan currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and three sons.
Show Credits:
This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).
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