Meet Spenser Reich: Editor

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

Hi Spenser, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
We spend so much of our life working, so I wanted to pick a career I would enjoy. I always loved storytelling, so at some point it became really clear to me that filmmaking was what I wanted to pursue.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Editing is a unique job in the film industry because so much of it is solitary. You’re in a room all day long by yourself for weeks on end and then eventually, you start having the director and producers coming into your room (virtually now because of the pandemic) and giving their input. I’m absolutely in love with both aspects of the editing process: the solitude and the collaboration. Filmmaking is inherently an extremely collaborative process, but it’s also so fun to be able to piece together a film/episode by yourself at first, make it your own thing, and then all come together to make the final cut.

Entering the editing room as a director or producer can be extremely tedious for some because of the infinite possibilities. I like to think that I make the process easier/pleasant for them because I bring my own ideas to the table and I bring a lot of love for the craft to every project. I try to make editing as fun and smooth as possible for anyone who enters my edit bay. I joke that my edit bay is a “sacred space” because directors are often coming off a shoot where they were surrounded by a bunch of people, they had to wear many hats, and they had to juggle so many different things, but once we’re in the edit together, they can feel free to relax, or stress out, confide in me, try crazy things, or whatever they may need without judgement. I always aim to be supportive of them and their vision so the end result is the best possible cut we can make together.

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?
I would take them around to different museums/art galleries, probably. Los Angeles has a pretty decent art scene and I’d love to show them that. I’d also *definitely* take them to way too many restaurants/food spots – haha. I loooove Tsujita on Sawtelle Blvd, Pho Cafe in the Echo Park/Silver Lake area on Sunset Blvd, Thai Vegan in Santa Monica, and there’s this Mexican food stand that doesn’t have a name, but it’s on the corner of Pico/Fairfax. It has the BEST burritos, tacos, and salsas I’ve ever had this side of the border (which is slightly hard for me to admit, being from the Bay Area). A lot of driving, but worth it for all the deliciousness. Besides that, I’d probably take them to an improv/comedy show because LA has a unique comedy scene.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are quite a few people who have helped me in my career at different stages. Melinda McCabe was the first person to ever take a chance on me and I learned so much from her. More recently, Stewart Schill has become a friend and mentor. He is an incredibly talented editor and director and has not only taught me a lot about the craft, but has given me a lot of opportunities to step up. My husband, Julian Scherle, is a constant support for me in life as well as my career. He is incredibly supportive and I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.

Website: www.spenserreich.com

Instagram: @spenserreich

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spenserreich/

Twitter: @spenserreich