Jason Jägel’s story inspired me today | 013

A dive into my process and damn, editing is blowing my mind

Six weeks ago, on my first day of class, I stared at an iMac screen and saw a bunch of rectangular boxes filled with color on top of and next to each other.

Me in thought: Wtf am I even looking at? Isn’t video editing just putting some clips together?

I was dead wrong.

I just completed a six-week intensive film and video editing program at the Manhattan Edit Workshop. We dove into foundational editing theory and built technical skills across Premiere Pro, Avid, and DaVinci Resolve. But what stayed with me most wasn’t technical, it was the realization that editing has the power to reshape an entire narrative, regardless of the quality of the captured footage or audio.

Editing, I learned, is where the story truly comes alive, and I can’t look at film or video the same way.

Choosing the story I wanted to tell

For our capstone project, we were given access to several media libraries the school had full copyright permission to use: video clips, audio interviews, and transcripts. Each student had to pick a project to edit based on what kind of stories we were drawn to.

For me, it was clear:

I want to tell stories of artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs forging their own paths. People driven by intuition, joy, and the stubborn desire to create what they want to see in the world. I want to capture their process, their evolution, and the conversations in between. The sparks, the doubts, and the unseen moments that shape everything.

That’s why I chose to spotlight Jason Jägel, an artist based in San Francisco (as a native, obviously I had to put the spotlight on a Bay Area creative) whose work I’ve admired since his collaboration with MF DOOM for the iconic album “Mm…FOOD”. His style and philosophy fit the kind of story I want to tell.

The process of shaping the piece

Here’s the breakdown of how I approached the project:

• Finding the interview sound bites

I listened through over an hour of raw audio interviews, trying to find moments that felt alive, honest, and hinted at a larger narrative without forcing it. I had the most moments of stress here because with all that interview content, I didn’t know how to pick the right bites.

• Sorting through the footage

I sifted through more than 70 video clips, mostly B-roll, looking for images that could complement and elevate the story Jason’s voice was already telling.

• Building a narrative

Instead of imposing a rigid structure, I let the interviews guide me. I built a flow based on the emotional arc I felt Jason’s words were already hinting toward.

• Enhancing with music

Music has always been central to my life. For this piece, I didn’t just want the music to sit under the story, but to create an atmosphere—to feel like part of Jason’s world.

• Seeking feedback

I shared early drafts with my instructors, classmates, and a professional editor who visited our class. Incorporating their feedback became crucial, not just for improving the piece, but for learning to trust (and challenge) my own creative instincts.

What I learned

• Naming and understanding technique matters

Every editing choice, every cut, every transition, was something I had to learn to name, break down, and understand. Asking the right questions to my instructors, and complementing their guidance with YouTube and ChatGPT, helped sharpen my intuition and knowledge.

• Music will be a through-line in my storytelling

Music and sound are central to how I feel a story. Moving forward, the musical and sonic choices I make will be as important to the narrative as the visuals themselves.

• Feedback is fuel

Finding people who can give specific, thoughtful feedback, and learning how to integrate it without losing my own voice, is something I’ll carry with me into every project.

• Resistance is part of the work

There were moments where I felt stuck and overwhelmed by having too many choices, and unsure if a scene was landing. I learned that hitting resistance isn’t a sign something’s wrong; it’s usually a sign I’m close to something real.

What I’m taking away from this project

Editing this piece made me realize I don’t just want to assemble footage: I want to create feeling, atmosphere, and emotional resonance. I want to tell stories that stay with people. I want to tell stories where I transform in the process of telling them.

If you’re an artist, creative, entrepreneur, or someone chasing your own creative path, I’d love to hear what drives your process too.

What sparks your work?

What’s your process?

What obstacles show up again and again?

Appreciate you reading, and I hope to have you continue on the journey with me!