We recently connected with Dakota Giglio and have shared our conversation below.

Dakota, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

How did you learn to do what you do?

As a kid, I wanted to be an actor, but being shy and quiet didn’t exactly align with my Hollywood dreams. Growing up during the rise of YouTube and social media, I realized I could create and perform at home, behind a camera. I could direct skits, shoot videos, and edit them exactly how I wanted—no need to worry about live performance.
Any chance I got, I was making videos—with friends, for school projects, anything. Through middle and high school, I stayed creative. I got heavily involved in my school’s video production class, and in senior year, I became the “video guy” (Tech Commissioner) on our student leadership team—fun fact: that’s where I met my wife, who was the Arts Commissioner.

With every project, I got quicker and more became more intuitive in my editing. Time didn’t exist when I was deep in a cut. I’ve logged countless hours in Adobe Premiere, and each project sharpened my eye and taught me something new. Every small project was a stepping stone to bigger ones—that’s still true today. You’re never done learning. It takes time.

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?

I made a habit of watching tutorials, asking questions, and utilizing online resources. Sure, I could’ve worked harder at times—but I’m glad I found a balance between pushing myself and enjoying life.
One of the hardest parts about becoming an editor in LA was simply finding the path here. There’s no clear roadmap to becoming a successful editor. I had to figure it out through many coffee chats and conversations with people further along and more skilled than I was. The more people I talked to, the more I learned.

What skills were most essential?

The biggest lesson? It’s not just about being a great editor—it’s about being a great editor and being personable, especially in commercials and music videos. Editors often get labeled as cave-dwellers, but this industry runs on relationships. Being genuine matters more than anything. People pick up on that.
At the end of the day, you need:

1. Creative intuition (an eye, practice, repetition)
2. People skills
3. Technical skills

What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

1. Trying to learn everything online. Sitting next to an experienced editor and getting real-time feedback is unmatched. I didn’t realize how big of a gap that was early on.

2. Resistance to change. Technical skills are easy to put off, but they matter—and they’re constantly evolving. Learning a single shortcut can save hundreds of hours, but it’s tough to let go of old habits once you’ve settled into a workflow.

Dakota, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a commercial and music video editor living in LA currently working at Church Edit. I’ve worked with many great people and brands such as Nike, Puma, Bose, NBA, Google, Meta, Kehlani, Wiz Khalifa, and many more. I’ve been shooting and editing videos since middle school, but I ultimately chose to focus on editing—it was the part I connected with most and genuinely enjoyed. I edit to create feeling and energy—using sound and movement to make even a 30-second piece resonate. I love working with people who share a similar creative eye and a strong vision—and together create a piece that I can help bring to life. Sure, I’m making ads—but if I can tell a real story or make someone feel something along the way, that’s what matters most to me.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Everyone has a unique path. Unlike a traditional 9-to-5 or a structured career track, freelancing takes you in all kinds of directions. It’s about seizing opportunities, making your mark, learning as you go, and using each job as a stepping stone forward.

I didn’t jump into the wild world of advertising until shortly after college. It always felt further away than I allowed myself to imagine. But I knew that once I got my hands on high-quality footage, I could finally put all my editing skills to use.
Early on, I had to fight to prove myself. I pushed to be the editor on jobs where teams already had someone more established—or simply someone with more followers. But when I got access to the footage, I’d cut it faster and better. That early spec work became my tool to open new doors.

Here’s a quick timeline of how I got to where I am now:
• I used my spec work to land a job assisting at a post house.
• After two years of learning and assisting, it was time to move on.
• At the next post house, I found a mentor—an editor whose work resonated deeply with my style. I became her right-hand assistant.
• From there, it was nonstop learning, cutting, grinding, and more learning.
• Two more years passed. I knew I was ready to become a lead editor. I planned to leave and make my way as a freelancer.
• As I was preparing to move on, my mentor left too—she launched her own post house and brought me on as an editor. Great timing!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is the relationships I get to build with all kinds of people. I’m constantly exposed to new perspectives and ideas from individuals with unique backgrounds, stories, visions, and personalities. It makes the work that much more fun and meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dakotagiglio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dakota_giglio/