Advertise on podcast: Sips and Clips

Today it’s just us! No guest, no glamour, just an honest conversation about unemployment in the film and TV industry. We break down what life actually looks like between jobs, from the anxiety of waiting for the next call to the practical realities of money, unemployment benefits, healthcare, networking, and staying sane when the days suddenly feel endless. We talk about budgeting, cutting back, taking side jobs, dealing with gaps in work, and why unemployment is not a personal failure, it’s part of the job. Whether you’re a post PA, assistant editor, editor, or anyone navigating project-based work, this episode is about normalizing the downtime, sharing what’s helped us survive it, and reminding you that you’re not alone when the work goes quiet. If you’ve ever asked yourself “what should I be doing right now?” this one’s for you.

On this episode of Sips and Clips, we’re doing something a little different. No film talk, no cutting stories, no workflow debates. Just hard, cold financial planning for freelancers and creative professionals. We’re joined by actuary and personal finance enthusiast Matt McCarron, who breaks down the fundamentals of financial health in a way that’s actually understandable. We cover why your credit score really matters, how credit cards can help you and hurt you, and why budgeting works best when you treat it like a game. We dig into emergency funds, high yield savings accounts, retirement options freelancers actually have access to, and how to plan for the feast or famine cycles that come with contract work. We also unpack long term thinking, including IRAs, market investing, and how starting early can make an enormous difference. We talk about lesser discussed tools like HSAs and how they can quietly become one of the most powerful wealth building accounts available to freelancers. Along the way, we explore balancing career investments with financial security, planning for unemployment, and making spending decisions without constant anxiety. It’s not the most glamorous Hollywood conversation we’ve ever had, but it might be one of the most important. Your future self will thank you.

This week on Sips and Clips, Michael and Lian sit down with television editor Amelia Allwarden, ACE, a New Hampshire native whose credits include Westworld, Dune: Prophecy, PEN15, and Little Fires Everywhere. Amelia shares how an unexpected DVD bonus feature first sparked her love of editing, how the ACE internship became her guiding star in college, and how a millennial dream of working at BuzzFeed evolved into a career in television. We also dig into the importance of having advocates and paying it forward, the value of friendship and editorial community, and what it takes to navigate the world of agencies. Finally, Amelia opens up about making the leap from assistant to editor, and how joining ACE marked the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, including the full circle feeling of returning to ACE a decade after the internship.

On this episode of Sips and Clips, Michael is off this week so Zach Griffin is filling in to co-host with Lian as they sit down with Brett W. Bachman, ACE, an accomplished indie film editor whose wild journey took him from making farm animal montages on Windows Movie Maker in rural Washington to cutting genre-defining films at Sundance. Brett gets real about his unconventional path through AFI, grinding it out in the non-union indie world with Specter Vision, and how his breakthrough film Mandy became a watershed moment that finally got the agents calling. He breaks down the emotional craft of building scares, reveals the wisdom in reading screenwriting books, and shares how he went from editing in his apartment for years to landing his first studio gig. Brett drops serious wisdom about work-life balance while raising twin toddlers, the power of cold emails and coffee meetings for career growth, and why collaboration beats antagonism every single time. We also mention an unhinged love of popcorn and potatoes, and why professional camaraderie matters now more than ever. This one's packed with career gold and Hollywood optimism!

From classical guitar prodigy to Hollywood sound designer, Brandon Jones has built a career by following the frequencies. Starting as student number one in Pepperdine's classical guitar program, Brandon's path took an unexpected turn through UCLA student films, sound restoration for Hollywood classics, and eventually into the world of blockbuster sound design. In this episode, Brandon breaks down his early breakthrough on The Gallows, the fundamentals of great sound editing, and the intricate hierarchy of the sound department. We dive deep into the art and craft behind his work on Detective Pikachu, A Quiet Place, 13 Hours, and The Lego Movie 2, exploring how sound shapes emotion and how collaboration makes everything better. We also get into spirited debates about where dialogue levels really should sit, the eternal VFX versus sound battle, and the philosophical nature of Chicago deep dish pizza. Plus, we explore how Brandon went from restoring classic film soundtracks to designing sonic worlds for modern blockbusters, and why being adaptable is everything in post-production.

This week on Sips and Clips, Michael and Lian return to the basement studio for a head to head battle of pure assistant editor energy. After months of asking guests about their workflows, they finally turn the questions on each other. The result is a lively back and forth packed with Avid shortcuts, practical tips, and war stories from the cutting room. From custom timeline presets to Keyboard Maestro magic, from subclip strategies to color coding philosophies, Michael and Lian break down the habits that make their day to day work faster, cleaner, and less chaotic. They compare editing styles, swap discoveries picked up on set, and talk through the quirks that make perfect sense only to people who live inside an NLE for a living. Whether you are an AE looking to level up or an editor who loves a peek behind the curtain, this episode is a deep dive into the small details that keep big shows running. Grab a chai, settle in, and enjoy the fight.

This week on Sips and Clips, Michael and Lian take the show on the road to chat with veteran VFX editor Marty Kloner, whose career spans from hauling a flatbed across the country to working on Star Wars and The Batman. Marty shares how a chance internship on a Prince film turned into a union card, how a self-taught FileMaker database launched his VFX career in Vertical Limit, and how one quick Avid comp saved a star wars character's life in The Rise of Skywalker. Marty reflects on the evolution of visual-effects editorial, building smarter workflows, mentoring the next generation, and keeping family life intact while chasing magic across New Zealand, Ireland, and Cape Town.

This week on Sips and Clips, Michael and Lian go behind the purple avatar that has become a fixture in the post community. Corey Frost, known for his generous Avid tips, massive resource guide, and thoughtful perspective on editing, shares the story behind the persona. Corey talks about growing up in Florida, getting his start at NFL Films and NASCAR, and finding success in long form docs and scripted work while living far from Hollywood in Charlotte, North Carolina. He opens up about building community online, learning the craft on his own terms, and raising a family while chasing creative dreams.

Ever wonder who’s responsible for the goosebumps you get from a great movie trailer? On this episode of Sips and Clips, Michael and Lian sit down with Steve Pinto, a master trailer editor at Buddha Jones, the creative mind behind trailers for projects like How to Train Your Dragon, The Muppets, Babylon, Woman of the Hour, and The Boys. Steve pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes world of trailer editing, breaking down how music choices shape emotion, what it’s like to compete against other vendors for the same trailer, and how a two-minute cut can make or break a movie’s first impression. From finding your rhythm in Avid to making movie magic under impossible deadlines, this one’s for every editor who’s ever dreamed of crafting that perfect “goosebumps moment.”

This week on Sips and Clips we sit down with the talented Jen Losch, a Los Angeles native who turned a childhood love for video yearbooks into a career in commercial editing. From her first big break on an Uber Eats Olympic campaign to editing high profile spots for Apple, Gatorade, and Adidas, Jen has learned how to thrive in one of the fastest moving corners of post. She shares what it was like starting out during the pandemic, how the “AE Bible” became her survival guide, and why she still makes time for passion projects like horror features and music videos for The Weeknd. It is an episode full of laughs, workflow wisdom, and real talk about what it means to build a career in commercials while dreaming of TV drama. Inspiring, caffeinated, and just a little chaotic, this is one you will not want to miss. 3 H

This week on Sips and Clips we sit down with the amazing Hayley Stablow, a California beach kid turned globetrotting editor and assistant editor. From her early break on Jungle Cruise to long nights on Jersey Shore and all the way to working alongside legendary editor Pietro Scalia on Ambulance and Ferrari, Hayley’s journey is anything but “casual.” (Oh, and yes, she also cut a music video for Chappell Roan.) Hayley shares what it is like building a career in both LA and the UK, and how she has learned to adapt to challenges whether they happen in the edit bay or on the London Underground. It is an episode that is inspiring, chaotic, and fully caffeinated.

Former Warner Bros SVP of Post Production Bill Daly joins Sips and Clips for a deep dive into the wild world of Hollywood post. In Part 2 of our interview with post-production legend Bill Daly, former SVP of Post at Warner Bros., we dive even deeper into his decades-long career. Bill opens up about fiery on-set accidents, the chaos of bad test screenings, wrangling directors both big and small, and how post has evolved from film splicers to digital workflows. He also shares candid wisdom for young assistants and editors trying to break into the industry, plus his unfiltered take on where Hollywood is heading next.

Former Warner Bros SVP of Post Production Bill Daly joins Sips and Clips for a deep dive into the wild world of Hollywood post. From his unlikely beginnings as a security guard at ABC to shaping studio workflows at the highest level, Bill shares stories that are equal parts hilarious and enlightening. We talk about his classes with the legendary Pope Leo, the art of post-production budgeting, the Philosopher’s Stone title debate, and even the age-old question: what’s the difference between pigs and hogs? This episode is packed with insights, industry wisdom, and behind-the-scenes gems from a career that’s seen it all.

From Tubi and Snapchat to Amazon Prime's Beast Games, editor and assistant editor Don Fisco has built a career at the forefront of new media, all while mastering the ins and outs of Adobe Premiere. In this episode, Don shares how he’s adapted to the fast-changing world of digital content, what makes a Premiere workflow truly efficient, and why being flexible is key in modern post-production. We dig into the details of running large-scale projects, managing messy timelines, and what it really takes to cut a show like Beast Games.

Straight from the sun-soaked sprawl of the San Gabriel Valley, this week’s guest is the brilliant and battle-tested assistant editor Staci Ponchus. From her earliest days dodging jet skis and Kevin Costner chaos as a PA on Waterworld, Staci has carved out a remarkable career in post. Now a seasoned first assistant editor, her credits span King Richard, Battle of the Sexes, and the upcoming Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. We talk about what it takes to run a cutting room with grace, her long-running collaboration with Oscar-nominated editor Pamela Martin, and how the edit bay became the unlikely backdrop to her marriage with previous Sips and Clips guest Derek Drouin. It's a conversation about craft, connection, and surviving the cinematic seas.