Ames Media Institute

Steve Browne’s 1984 self-published book, The Video Tape Post Production Primer, was picked up by colleges including Columbia as a text book, and sold thousands of copies.  As a video editor, he finished all the first-run theatrical commercials for the Walt Disney Studios including the smash hits The Lion King and Pocahontas for over 18 years.   Steve has followed the ever-changing world of film and television editing. 

 

Steve’s “Getting that Job in Hollywood” was recently published by Infinity Press.  This career guide takes a practical and entertaining look at the first time job hunter’s challenges.  In addition, there is a lengthy list of job descriptions.  Browne makes the point that there are many opportunities besides the all too often stated “I want to be a producer/director.”  

 

After majoring in Radio / TV at Ithaca College in upstate New York, Steve moved to Southern California to attend USC graduate film school.  His experience at Ithaca working on TV, stage, and film production prepared him for the intense USC program and his first job as a page with KNBC.  While there he was offered a job with the Komack Company which was producing “Welcome Back, Kotter,” and “Chico and the Man.” 

 

Delivering scripts was not a real career choice, so Steve took a video editing class.  He started working as an assistant to the editor Komack’s shows, then went out on his own as a freelance editor for many years before accepting a staff position at Video Transitions in Los Angeles, one of the first ¾ to 1 inch editing facilities. 

 

“Low budget producers were using this new, inexpensive medium but there were few editing facilities willing to handle that configuration.”  Around this time, Steve wrote the first draft of The Video Tape Post Production Primer. “There was no other book like it,” said Steve.  “I went to two book stores, got consignment deals with them and sent letters to Ithaca College and Columbia University.  Then the book took off.”  In 1988, Steve sold and rewrote the book for Focal Press.  Video Editing stayed in print for over 14 years through four major revisions. 

 

Steve began a successful association with New Wave Entertainment in the late 80’s. For 16 of his 19 years (thus far) in the business, he finished all the first run theatrical commercials for the Walt Disney, Touchstone and Hollywood Studios, his first being the Tom Cruise film, Cocktail; the last being Life Aquatic.  Steve has recently onlined Dane Cook’s Tourgasm for HBO, The Next Best Thing for ABC and FrankTV for TBS.]

 

Steve has seen trends come and go since he started editing in 1977.  “The technology and the images continue to change; however, it’s still all about manipulating the visual image.  The tools may change, but the job doesn’t.”

 

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