Today we’d like to introduce you to Alli Holland
Hi Alli, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I started college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. During orientation week, we had to select our major and I was planning to go with ‘undecided’ until I started looking through the list of majors and spotted something called ‘RTVF’ or ‘Radio, Television, and Film.’ I had always loved movies and TV, so I thought, “I’ll just pick that and see how it goes.” Turns out, it was one of the best spontaneous decisions I’ve ever made!
Instead of writing papers, or doing research, or any of the other things I hated doing during the school years before college, I got to watch movies, talk about movies, and make movies- I got to create something, which was so much more fun! It wasn’t until we started to edit our little short films that I realized I really loved editing. I loved getting to piece together all of the elements to shape the final product.
After graduation, I wasn’t sure where to go from there. I started a little data entry desk job thinking I’d work there while I figured out a plan. Soon enough, however, I became way too comfortable at this dead end job and never gave my filmmaking career any thought. Five years passed and I realized I needed to get out of there. I hated that job and couldn’t stand to see myself there any longer.
My sister was working as a barista at the time and a regular customer of hers was a producer. She told him about my desire to work in the film industry, so he said if I ever felt like coming out to Austin to give him a call. So I did! I sent him my demo reel and he said I had potential. So I quit my soul sucking data entry job and moved to Austin.
Within the first week of being there, I landed my very first job as a production assistant on a Dell shoot thanks to that producer. I mentioned how I was interested in editing, so he connected me with the editor and I got to sit in on the whole post production process and learn as much as I could. From there, I quickly got more and more gigs as a PA on any shoots I could, from other commercials to music videos to reality tv, and even some feature films. I also started getting small gigs as an assistant editor which eventually led to me getting small gigs as the main editor.
Now I work full time as a freelance video and film editor. I’ve worked on projects from short films to corporate videos to film festival stuff to YouTube content, and I just finished editing my first feature film earlier this year. It’s been a lot of fun working on such a variety of projects.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course, like most stories, mine wasn’t without its struggles along the way. The pandemic was especially tricky because my whole industry shut down for the most part. Right before the pandemic I had really moved into my full time editing work. I wasn’t taking any more assistant or PA jobs. The day I moved into my new apartment, I got word that the SXSW festival was cancelled. I have been editing with SXSW since 2017, so not only was I looking forward to seeing my festival friends again, but I was looking forward to a nice paycheck to cover my moving fees.
Everyone thought it would just be a couple of weeks, but as we all know, it was much longer. I went months without any work and my bank account was getting pretty low. I was very lucky to have family be able to help me out through that time.
I was able to pick up small editing jobs here and there, just anything I could get my hands on. Eventually I crossed paths with the right person who recommended me as an editor for a YouTube channel. Since then, I’ve picked up a few other clients who I do work for regularly while being able to do some other fun side projects. As a freelancer, that’s really one of the best things you can hope for.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a video and film editor. I love working on a variety of projects, anything from social media stuff, to music videos, to YouTube content, but I especially love working on narrative works, like films or television shows.
Recently I’m most proud of editing my first feature film! It’s such a fun process to piece everything together and learn how different it can be from editing short films. I think this director writes unique and interesting stories, and I’m excited to see what she creates in the future.
I have also been big into K-pop the past few years and I’ve recently had the opportunities to edit a few collaborations with some of my favorite K-pop groups, like Stray Kids and Tomorrow X Together, which has been very exciting for me.
I think I’m really good at finding the best way to present the story in the most concise way with the footage I’ve been given.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I like that there are so many things to do here. You could visit a new place or find a fun activity to do everyday and not get bored.
I dislike that it is becoming a very expensive place to live.
