Interview the Artist: Brady Betzel, Responsible for Online Editing
In the bustling world of Hollywood, Brady Betzel has made a name for himself as an Emmy-nominated online editor. His career began as an intern for the popular show On Air with Ryan Seacrest on FOX, and he has since risen through the ranks to become a sought-after professional in the industry.
Betzel's advice to his younger self is a simple yet profound sentiment: people often fail upwards, and there's no way to stop it sometimes. This philosophy has served him well in his journey, as he has climbed the ladder from Tape Coordinator to Post Coordinator to Post Supervisor before becoming an assistant editor. It was on a show called Bad Girls Club for Oxygen at Bunim-Murray Productions that he truly became a full-fledged "pro" offline editor.
Betzel's work on daily talk shows like On Air with Ryan Seacrest and Lopez Tonight is particularly noteworthy. His credits also include features and TV shows for networks like National Geographic, Food Network, HBO, Netflix, ABC, Oxygen, Bravo, and YouTube. A dream collaboration for Betzel would be with Francis Ford Coppola and Walter Murch, the director and editor of his favourite film, Apocalypse Now.
Brady Betzel's Editing Workflow
Betzel's editing workflow is a testament to his dedication and expertise. He relies heavily on the Extend Edit function and the control+S shortcut in Avid Symphony during his work. When using Boris FX plugins—specifically Continuum, Sapphire, and Mocha Pro—Betzel integrates these tools seamlessly within his NLE (like Adobe Premiere Pro or Avid Media Composer) to enhance visual storytelling efficiently.
- Starting with the Edit: Betzel completes a rough or fine cut of his sequence first. His editing decisions are mostly locked before applying heavy effects, allowing him to focus on storytelling before polishing.
- Using Mocha Pro for Tracking and Rotoscoping: When precise tracking or masking is needed—for instance, to isolate parts of a frame or stabilize elements—Betzel leverages Mocha Pro's planar tracking directly inside his editing software via Boris FX plugins.
- Applying Continuum for Stylized Effects and Transitions: Continuum offers a broad range of effects and transitions. Betzel uses these plugins to enhance scenes without overly complicating the workflow.
- Incorporating Sapphire for High-Quality Visual Effects: Sapphire is used by Betzel for high-end visual effects that require more stylistic and cinematic touches, like glows, light leaks, and organic effects.
- Workflow Efficiency Tips:
- Betzel advises working non-destructively and using adjustment layers or nested sequences to keep effects organized.
- He prefers to render heavy effects at the end after finishing edits to maintain playback speed during rough cuts.
- Frequently uses Boris FX's GPU acceleration to speed up renders.
- He also uses presets within the Boris FX suite and custom presets to save time.
Mocha Pro is Betzel's favourite Boris FX plugin for blurring and object removal due to its accurate and quick mask creation.
Personal Life and Inspiration
Betzel's mental preparation is crucial before a big project, involving setting up projects, nailing down workflows, and ensuring his OCD is satisfied. When it comes to diet, he usually consumes almond butter and celery as an alternative.
Despite the temptation, Betzel often resists the seven-layer dip, a popular offering at Margarita Mix Hollywood, due to dietary reasons. The establishment, which has a Day of the Dead/Spanish theme, is also known for its food offerings, including the seven-layer dip.
When seeking creative inspiration, Betzel finds it from intense dramas like Handmaid's Tale, The Looming Tower, and comedies like Silicon Valley. His favourite TV series is Game of Thrones.
During his hour-and-a-half commute from Simi Valley to Hollywood every day, Betzel listens to podcasts and music. Despite the long journey, it seems he finds the time to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and news in the industry.
Betzel's workflow involves using various gadgets and technology to enhance visual storytelling efficiently. During his editing process, he relies on tools like Mocha Pro, Continuum, Sapphire, and Adobe Premiere Pro or Avid Media Composer.
In his personal life, Betzel seeks inspiration from numerous TV series and intense dramas, such as Handmaid's Tale and The Looming Tower, which are filled with advanced technology and intricate storylines.
