Most editors stumble into their craft by accident. Felipe Salazar’s journey began with something many of us remember fondly: a home video camera, a trusty VCR, and an old Macintosh computer. What started as childhood experimentation eventually led him to become the editor behind Netflix’s acclaimed animated series “Big Mouth.”

Salazar’s path from amateur tinkering to professional editing offers valuable insights for anyone interested in the craft of storytelling through cuts, transitions, and timing. His experience bridges two distinct eras of filmmaking—from the unforgiving world of physical film editing to the limitless possibilities of digital post-production.

This exploration of Salazar’s career reveals practical editing principles that transcend technology, showing how fundamental skills developed on analog equipment remain relevant for modern editors working entirely in the digital realm.

The Foundation: Learning Through Play

Salazar’s editing journey didn’t begin in a classroom or professional studio. Like many creative professionals, his first lessons came through pure experimentation. Armed with basic consumer equipment, he discovered the magic of manipulating time and sequence.

The home video camera served as his introduction to capturing footage, while the VCR became his first editing suite. This setup taught him something crucial that many modern editors miss: the importance of intentional decision-making. Every cut had to be planned and executed carefully since digital manipulation wasn’t an option.

That old Macintosh computer introduced him to the early days of digital editing, when processing power was limited and every effect took significant time to render. These constraints forced him to think critically about each editorial choice rather than relying on trial and error.

Academic Rigor: USC Film School Experience

While self-taught experimentation provided Salazar with practical skills, his time at USC Film School gave him the theoretical framework that professional editors need. The University of Southern California’s film program is renowned for its comprehensive approach to filmmaking education, and its editing curriculum reflects this depth.

At USC, Salazar encountered the fundamental principles of editing theory. He studied the works of legendary editors like Walter Murch, Dede Allen, and Hal Ashby. More importantly, he learned why certain cuts work while others don’t, understanding the psychological and emotional impact of editorial choices.

The program emphasized not just technical proficiency but also the artistic vision that separates good editors from great ones. Students learn to see editing as a form of invisible storytelling, where the best work serves the narrative without drawing attention to itself.

The Analog Challenge: 35mm Multi-Camera Editing

The most formative aspect of Salazar’s education involved working with 35mm film and magnetic audio tracks. This experience, increasingly rare for modern editors, provided lessons that digital editing cannot teach.

The Weight of Every Decision

Editing physical film demands precision because mistakes are costly and time-consuming to fix. Unlike digital editing, where you can instantly undo any action, film editing requires commitment to each cut. This constraint taught Salazar to visualize the entire sequence before making any physical cuts.

Every frame matters when you’re working with film. A single frame represents 1/24th of a second, and experienced film editors develop an intuitive sense of how these tiny increments affect pacing and rhythm. This precision carries over into digital work, where many editors make cuts that are “close enough” rather than frame-perfect.

Multi-Camera Synchronization Skills

Working with multiple 35mm cameras simultaneously added another layer of complexity to Salazar’s training. Each camera angle had to be precisely synchronized with the others, and the editor needed to maintain continuity across all angles while choosing the most effective shots for each moment.

This multi-camera experience proves invaluable when editing contemporary projects, whether they’re traditional narrative films or animated series like “Big Mouth.” The skills transfer directly: understanding how different perspectives can enhance a scene, maintaining visual continuity, and knowing when to cut between angles for maximum impact.

The Magnetic Audio Challenge

Magnetic audio tracks presented their own unique challenges, unlike modern digital audio that can be manipulated with surgical precision; magnetic audio required careful handling and precise synchronization. Editors had to develop excellent listening skills and learn to work with audio imperfections rather than simply fixing them in post-production.

This experience taught Salazar to pay close attention to audio quality and synchronization from the beginning of the editing process. Many digital editors become lazy about audio, knowing they can fix problems later, but film editing requires getting it right the first time.

The Tactile Learning Experience

One of the most significant aspects of film editing that digital editing cannot replicate is the physical, tactile nature of the work. Salazar spent countless hours handling actual film strips, feeling the texture of the celluloid, and learning to work with physical materials.

Taping and Untaping: The Original Undo Function

The phrase “There’s no ‘undo’ feature, just a lot of taping and un-taping film” perfectly captures the methodical nature of analog editing. When editors made mistakes or wanted to try different approaches, they had to physically remove tape, separate film strips, and reassemble them in new configurations.

This process was time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, but it taught editors to think several steps ahead. They learned to plan sequences more carefully and to consider the long-term implications of their choices. Every edit represented a significant investment of time and thought.

Developing Patience and Precision

Film editing naturally develops patience in ways that digital editing does not. The physical process cannot be rushed, and attempting to work too quickly often results in damaged film or poor synchronization. Salazar learned to embrace the methodical pace and use it to his advantage.

This patience translates into better editorial decision-making. Rather than making quick cuts and moving on, film-trained editors tend to sit with their choices longer, considering alternatives and refining their work until it feels exactly right.

Lessons for Modern Editors

Salazar’s analog background provides several key insights that remain relevant for today’s digital editors:

Frame-Level Precision Matters

Even though digital editing allows for easy corrections, developing the habit of making precise, frame-accurate cuts improves the overall quality of your work. Don’t settle for “close enough” when you can achieve perfection with a little extra attention.

Plan Before You Cut

The inability to quickly undo changes in film editing forced editors to plan their sequences carefully. Modern editors benefit from adopting this same approach, thinking through the entire sequence before making cuts rather than editing by trial and error.

Understand the Value of Constraints

While digital editing offers unlimited possibilities, self-imposed constraints often lead to more creative solutions. Consider limiting your available tools or techniques to force yourself into more thoughtful decision-making.

Audio Deserves Equal Attention

Film editing’s emphasis on getting audio right from the beginning remains relevant. Don’t treat audio as an afterthought that can be fixed later. Pay attention to audio quality and synchronization throughout the editing process.

Applying Analog Principles to Digital Work

Salazar’s experience demonstrates how fundamental editing principles transcend the technology used to implement them. Whether working on a Netflix animated series or an independent film, the core skills remain consistent.

Rhythm and Pacing

The sense of rhythm developed through film editing applies directly to digital work. Understanding how individual frames contribute to overall pacing helps editors make better decisions about when to hold on shots and when to cut away.

Visual Storytelling

The storytelling principles learned through film editing—understanding how cuts affect emotional impact, maintaining visual continuity, and knowing when to break the rules for effect—apply regardless of the medium.

Technical Precision

The technical precision required for film editing creates habits that benefit all editorial work. Attention to detail, careful organization, and systematic approaches to complex projects all stem from the demands of working with physical media.

The Evolution Continues

While Salazar’s career began with analog techniques, his success with “Big Mouth” demonstrates how these foundational skills adapt to new challenges. Animation editing presents unique opportunities and constraints that differ from both film and traditional digital editing.

The principles remain constant even as the tools evolve. Understanding timing, pacing, visual storytelling, and audience psychology matters more than mastering any specific software or technique.

Building Your Editorial Foundation

For aspiring editors, Salazar’s journey suggests several approaches to developing strong fundamental skills:

Start with limitations. Whether using basic software or self-imposed constraints, working within restrictions often produces more creative results than unlimited possibilities.

Study the masters. Understanding why certain cuts work requires analyzing the work of accomplished editors across different eras and genres.

Practice precision. Even when working digitally, strive for frame-accurate cuts and careful attention to detail.

Think before you cut. Plan your sequences and consider the emotional impact of your editorial choices rather than editing by instinct alone.

The Timeless Nature of Editorial Craft

Felipe Salazar’s path from home video experimentation to professional success illustrates how fundamental editing skills transcend technological changes. Whether working with film, tape, or digital files, the core principles of visual storytelling remain consistent.

His experience with 35mm multi-camera editing and magnetic audio provided a foundation that continues to inform his work on contemporary projects. The patience, precision, and careful planning required by analog editing create habits that benefit editors regardless of their current tools.

For modern editors, the lesson is clear: while technology continues to evolve, the fundamental craft of editing remains rooted in understanding timing, pacing, visual continuity, and emotional impact. These skills, whether learned through film editing or careful digital practice, separate competent editors from truly exceptional ones.

The next time you sit down to edit, remember that every frame counts, every cut matters, and the best editorial decisions come from careful thought rather than quick fixes. In a world of unlimited digital possibilities, sometimes the most valuable lesson is learning when to stop and think before you cut.