For my regular readers & listeners I know I may sound like a broken record at this point, but when it comes to forging your career path in any field it comes down to the same basic components:

You need to clearly identify the right ladder to climb.
You need to focus on becoming awesome at your craft.
You need to make sure the right people know you are awesome at your craft.

Having natural talent definitely doesn’t hurt, but talent alone doesn’t automatically entitle you to success. And working on projects you love never happens because of my least favorite word - “luck.” The difference between success and failure almost always comes down to perseverance, consistency, and building solid relationships. Today I’d like to add one additional ingredient that is often overlooked (but is the hidden superpower for longevity as a creative professional).

That ingredient is humility.

My guest today is a multiple award winning, seasoned film and television editor, Scott Powell, ACE, who is best known for his work on 9 seasons of the Fox series 24 where he was awarded 5 Emmy nominations, 3 American Cinema Editors (Eddie) nominations, and 2 wins. He has since worked on Prison Break, Person of Interest, The Chi, The Orville, and most recently, Queen of the South. But to hear him talk about his career path he's about as humble as they come.

Despite believing that “you need to be an a**hole to make it to the top in Hollywood because nice guys finish last,” humility is a valuable asset in any career path you will pursue. In our conversation you'll hear why it's so important to cultivate humility in your own life and the relationships you build throughout your career and how to better do so. Like me, Scott is a natural mentor who has helped many land their dream gigs and offers words to anyone hoping to climb the ladder and become a successful editor in network & streaming television.

Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?

» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode

Here's What You'll Learn:

Scott's origin story of becoming an editor.
The unusual way Scott got hired on the Fox series 24
KEY TAKEAWAY: Persistence pays off in the editing bay.
Why Scott doesn’t have a lot of assistant editor credits on his IMDB profile.
How he made an impression on the producer for 24 to get hired.
Advice from his dad that has served him well (along with some great stories).
Why Scott enjoys mentoring and the mutual benefits it provides to himself and his mentees.
What Scott looks for when he's hiring an assistant editor.
How his relationships are the foundation of his career.
Why Scott has an agent despite his ability to get his own jobs.
The value of having an agent and how to build trust and loyalty with an agent.
What it would take for Scott to recommend someone for the editor's chair on a show he's on.
Scott's advice to someone trying to make it in the industry and what he would change from his own life.

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Television Documentary

Reality TV

24 TV Series

Ep137: How to Negotiate Your Real Value (and Advocate For Yourself) As an Assistant Editor | with Scott Jacobs

Motion Picture Film

Ep85: Mentorship, Networking, and Surviving Hollywood Blockbusters | with Dody Dorn, ACE

Continue to Listen & Learn

Ep129: How to Cultivate a “Service-Centric” Mindset (and Why It Will Make You More Successful) | with Agustin Rexach

Ep106: On the Vital Importance of "Being Nice" | with Jesse Averna, ACE

How to Find the Right Type of Mentor For You (and When You Should Seek the Best)

How to Go From Cold Contact to Your Ideal Mentor In Seven Simple Steps

IMDbPro for Networking: The 10 Features That Will Take Your Outreach to a New Level

Ep126: On the Importance of Building Relationships, Asking Questions, and Never Giving Up | with Andi Armaganian

Ep117: Carol Littleton, ACE on The Secret to Surviving 40+ Years Working In Hollywood

Ep80: How to Avoid Getting Pigeonholed, The ‘Concentric Circles of Networking’ & More | with Doc Crotzer, ACE

Ep127: Chasing After the Next Gig vs. Building Your Career | with Kabir Ahktar, ACE

Ep87: [CASE STUDY] Why People Don’t Respond to Your Cold Outreach (and How to Get a Response) | with Scott Davis

Our Generous Sponsors:

Struggling With Real-Time Remote Collaboration? Meet Evercast

As work begins to slowly trickle in again, perhaps the most pressing challenge we as creative professionals face in our post-pandemic reality is real-time collaboration. Zoom is great for meetings, but it sure doesn't work for streaming video. Luckily this problem has now been solved for all of us. If you haven't heard of Evercast, it's time to become acquainted. Because Evercast's real-time remote collaboration technology is CHANGING. THE. GAME.

→ Click here to see a free demo of Evercast in action!

This episode was brought to you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat (my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation) and now their latest product. New Standard Whole Protein is a blend of both whey and collagen, sourced from the highest quality ingredients without any of the unnecessary filler or garbage. Not only will you get more energy and focus from this protein powder, you will notice improvements in your skin, hair, nails, joints and muscles. And because they don’t spend a lot on excessive marketing and advertising expenses, the savings gets passed on to you.

Guest Bio:

scott-powell-bio

Scott Powell was born in 1958 in Los Angeles. He’s the son of Producer Norman S. Powell and the grand son of entertainers Joan Blondell and Dick Powell. He started his career in 1984 as an apprentice editor and received his first editing credit in 1988. Since then he’s enjoyed a diverse career editing long-form and series TV, feature films, award winning documentaries, commercials, and music videos.

He is best known for his work on 9 seasons of the Fox series 24 where he was awarded 5 Emmy nominations, 3 American Cinema Editors (Eddie) nominations and 2 wins.

Scott Powell is a current member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, American Cinema Editors, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He is also a photographer and owner of North Pond Images, Inc. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Laurie.

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).

Ep154: Using Humility to Cultivate Relationships and Land Your Dream Gig In Network TV | with Scott Powell, ACE

The Zack Arnold Podcast