Meet Joshua Stein | Artist / Film Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joshua Stein and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joshua, what role has risk played in your life or career?
How Do I think About Risk:
I believe those with conviction take the most risk. I suppose it’s much easier to take risk when the vision of the outcome you want is clearer than the reality of potential dangers. Obviously this is a bit simplifying, but unless the risk involves some sort of bodily harm like say J-walking, or eating strange take-out from the back of the refrigerator, take a shot. What’s the worst that could happen? I think people don’t give themselves enough credit to overcome failures they may face.

I’ve taken my fair share of risks in life. I think I’ve gotten used to the rush of it, for better or worse. I’m not sure where I learned to do it, but somewhere along the years I developed a habit of investing in myself. I was faced with a few tough situations while I was in the Navy, so overcoming some of those probably instilled some confidence in my ability to take risks and revel in their rewards. I try to see the big picture whenever I can, maybe that helps with visualizing how they could affect that picture, and weigh them from that. In art and love I believe all risks are worth taking.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart from others?
Maybe it’s a bit of a cliché to call myself multi-disciplinary, but as Film/TV editor and also working with tangible materials like graphite and oil paint, I haven’t found a better way to describe myself as an artist.

I work in very different mediums, but I find joy in discovering where they overlap. That’s a conversation I could have for hours, but it happens most in broader ideas like narrative intent, point of view, and emotional tone. I find especially in film editing, the most powerful tool one can use is day-to-day life experience. My physical art work tends to incorporate narratives of light and form, the natural world, and I’m also consistently drawn towards antiquity and how humans long before me have lived.

How did I get to where I am today?
Yikes, that’s one for the memoirs, but there are a few keystones that have shaped me. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania, where I was lucky enough to have a mother and father who encouraged me to explore the world’s mysteries and beauties. I learned the value of being curious about pretty much everything. That’s a theme I rely on a lot – curiosity. I consider curiosity the foundation of everything good that’s happened in my life. I joined the Navy after graduating High School, and spent five years as a Helicopter Search & Rescue Swimmer. I think more than anything, that experience instilled in me an appreciation for detail and discipline which I apply to everything I do. I went to film school in LA when I got out of the military, and eventually landed a couple high level internships in entertainment that fueled my trajectory into film/TV editing. The Covid years slowed all that work down and I was able to return to my first love of drawing. I also started to learn to handle oil paints and I’ve be trying to tame that beast ever since.

The more I mature as an artist, the more I’m understanding how little I know. It actually brings me peace to know there is no “end” to mastery of any medium. Ironically, it makes me take my art more seriously. While the entertainment industry has been clawing it’s way back the last couple of years, I’ve been sharpening my skills drawing and painting. It is important for me to have more than one way to communicate how I perceive life.

What am I most proud of and excited about?
I recently applied and got accepted to Grand Central Atelier in New York City to study under Jacob Collins and some really amazing artists. It’s one of the best art schools in the United States and I’m extremely grateful to be welcomed to train there. I’ll have to go another year though, because I’m currently back working on the A24/Netflix show BEEF for Season 2 as an assistant editor, which I’m really excited for everyone to see, it will definitely to have people talking.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Los Angeles always has endless things going on, so all you have to do is have an idea, and there will be some way to experience it.

I’m not big on bars or parties so much, aside from dinners with friends, so my idea of fun are things that stimulate my curiosity. A few places that do that for me around the city would be a day at the Huntington Gardens, The Getty, or popping into some random galleries.

Obviously, the weather is usually beautiful here, so one of my favorite things to do is hang out at the park with my girlfriend and a sketchbook to draw the trees or whatever catches my eye. I’m also pretty passionate about bocce ball so anytime my friends are around for a park day, bocce is a given. I also try to catch a Dodgers or LAFC Game a couple times a year.

Some quick food spots that I love:
for a slice of pizza – The Coop Pizza in Culver City, for a burrito – Señor G’s in Playa Del Rey, for sushi – Yama Sushi Market Place, for Ramen – Daikokuya, for a splurge or date night – steak au poivre at Petit Trois

My favorite spot in LA to see live music is The Greek. There are plenty of cool venues around the city, but there’s something about an amphitheater at the top of a hill under the stars that’s I’ve always loved.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to send a shoutout to my supportive girlfriend Aimée, and our pets.. A couple of my editing mentors, Kayla Emter and Harry Yoon who inspire me greatly, And one of my recent art instructors, Marc Trujillo, who recognized my potential and taught me so much. He currently teaches drawing and painting classes at Santa Monica College, and runs a plein air painting workshop in Rome every year – which I’m dying to attend.

Instagram: joshua___stein (joshua stein) https://www.instagram.com/joshua___stein/

Other: IMDB:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5809476/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr61