Brian Gannon has been an editor at Whitehouse Post in LA for 16 years. What does he like about working at the studio? “At the heart of the company is an incredible support system and an intense focus on creativity above all else,” he says, adding, “but in reality, it’s just a lot of Brits and Americans working alongside each other arguing about soccer, I mean football…no I mean SOCCER.”

Let’s find out more from Gannon…

What does your job entail, and what would surprise people about what an editor does?
The job entails everything from selecting footage to finding music to building the sound. Really making it shine.

Adidas

What would surprise folks? I think it’s how much patience you need to have. So much of my job is getting a lot of people to agree on something that is really subjective. I have two kids, so I’m really good in the patience department!

I also think people would be surprised how many versions we make leading up to the final cut. Something very simple and straightforward could have a surprising number of variations that never get seen, and if I showed someone the differences, they would think we are all insane.

What’s your favorite part of the job?
I cherish spending time with people who make me laugh and inspire me. I also love that moment when you get dailies and you know it’s all there and it’s going to be funny. You see all the potential in front of you, and it’s your job to make it come alive. That calm before the storm when it’s just you and the footage.

What’s your least favorite?
When everyone involved in the project gets stuck in their heads and starts to overthink the edit. It takes courage to put yourself out there, right or wrong, and go with your gut.

What is your most productive time of day and why?
Definitely the morning. Coffee!

Rocket Mortgage

If you didn’t have this job, what would you be doing instead?
A photographer.

How early did you know this would be your path?
From a really young age, I always had a camera in my hand. I don’t think I connected that to a career until much later, but looking back, it all makes sense. I remember growing up working in my dad’s print shop over the summer and just literally watching the time click by slowly. Contrast that to when I was editing — I would lose track of the entire day. I thought to myself that if I could do that for a living, it wouldn’t feel much like work…and I still feel that way.

Can you name some recent jobs?
I’m currently working on a documentary with Conan O’Brien and Bill Hader. I just finished a Rocket Mortgage campaign directed by Mama from World War Seven. Also, I cut a fun Hotwire campaign out of Fallon that was directed by the very talented Jess Coulter of O Positive.

Do you put on a different hat when cutting for a specific genre?
I work a lot in comedy dialogue, but boy oh boy do I love cutting other stuff! I’ve worked on a lot of docs and music videos as well as some fun fashion spots. I have a whole closet of hats that I wear. My approach to all of them is very different, however the common denominator is getting people to be emotionally moved and invested in the story you are telling regardless of what genre you are working in.

The Gannon at-home editing studio

What’s it been like editing during the pandemic?
Fortunately, I’ve been able to stay very busy. I converted my garage into an editing studio. My wife is also an editor so we have a big “his and hers” editing desk. It’s adorable.

Do you expect these workflows to stay with us going forward?
Remote editing is definitely here to stay… but I do think there is still a desire to sit in a dark room and order too much sushi.

What system do you edit on?
I use Avid Media Composer.

Do you have a favorite plugin?
I don’t really use plugins. But I do like a good blurred whip pan.

Are you often asked to do more than edit?
Yes, find music, and I’m really good at it!

What are pieces of technology you can’t live without?
Our Amazon Echo, because it’s our dance party speaker in the kitchen. It also helps me parent when my kid has questions about life that I can’t answer (which happens a lot). My old-school Mccally keyboard for the Avid. And my iPhone? Ugh, that’s so sad.

What do you do to de-stress from it all?
As editors we tend to sit for hours on end so for me, I go for a good walk or hang out with my family and friends.