We were lucky to catch up with Jeff Watterson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jeff thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I believe that community is the key to success.

As a video editor, I depend on my community in the film industry to, sure, recommend me for or help me get jobs, but that’s not why it’s important. This community provides opportunities to learn and grow as well as life experience. Seeing people think in different ways, problem solve with different instincts and live with different desires is a beautiful thing. A beautiful thing to look, feel and learn from.

A community that serves itself will help everyone bloom but with a wider appreciation for life and an openness to everything around them.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Jeff Watterson and I am a freelance video editor. I video edit anything and everything that inspires me.

Whether it be a commercial, something narrative, a music video, or an experimental documentary, I have pride in my work because I believe in it. We all need to work for a paycheck but I choose to prioritize projects that have depth and cause the cogs in my brain to turn.

I am most proud of the relationships and community I’ve gathered along the way. Some of the people closest to me are people that I worked with randomly. The film industry can be rather exhausting in the way that it moves and thinks, so surrounding myself with like-minded, empathetic people has been the best decision I’ve made and I’m proud that I prioritized that.

I would say what sets me apart from other video editors is my one-stop shop pitch. I usually post produce for myself, understand visual effects language, I’m always trusted to be client-facing and I deliver all my projects. I prioritize workflow + pipeline and by wearing several hats at once, I can help assure that everything goes off without a hitch.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Empathy and consistency. I treat everyone and every project equally + respect everyone and everything through the process.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Instagram and social media. Participating online has provided a lot of opportunities to connect and work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jeffwatterson.fun/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffwatterson/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-watterson-6bb0bb68/