The Zack Arnold Podcast

"What is the best office chair to buy," and "What is the best ergonomic position to work in" are very common questions I get on a regular basis. Unfortunately there is no right answer to these questions, and more importantly, these are the wrong questions to be asking in the first place. They belong in the world of "Ergonomics 1.0." In this episode I discuss the concept of...

Setting goals sounds like it should be easy, but if it were, wouldn't everybody achieve them? In this episode we switch up the show format a little bit, and NLE ninja and master trainer Jeff Greenberg  interviews  me. I had ZERO knowledge of Jeff's questions before he interviewed me for this episode, and we covered a lot of ground. We talk about how I began my career as an editor, my work...

As editors, it's not uncommon to have a perpetual bowl of M&M's and a Coke next to your keyboard 12 hours a day (we've all been there). The question is, are the 3 Cokes a day simply a "treat," or are you actually addicted? In this episode I have an honest and emotional conversation with editors Siân Fever and Monica Daniel about their recent journeys with removing sugar fro...

Editor Julian Smirke is convinced that he ended up being an assistant and then associate editor on Star Wars: The Force Awakens because of sheer luck and nothing more. But I don't believe in luck. I believe that luck should be redefined as "when hard work meets opportunity." In this episode Julian and I talk all about his path from starving and unemployed artist to working on the large...

Post-production schedules are brutal and relentless, but one of the perks that many people have in our industry is having the option to order lunches and dinners every day at the office. But is this a perk? Or is it because producers want us chained to our workstations? And has anyone ever thought about what a steady diet of Chinese takeout, pizza delivery, and Hot Pockets does to your creative en...

Vashi Nedomansky , editor of Sharknado 2 and many other films and documentaries, as well as a consultant on several projects such as Deadpool, Gone Girl, and House of Cards, is quite possibly the coolest editor on the planet. I can honestly say I've never met an editor who was a former NHL hockey player. And while the combination of professional athlete and film editor may not make a lot of se...

The chances are over 70% that you are reading this while sitting, and the chances are even higher that because you sit for long periods of time you experience chronic pain in areas such as the lower back, hips, shoulders, or neck. Maybe you get headaches. Maybe your have carpal tunnel. Whatever the malady, there is a solution, and it's most likely easier than you think. In this episode I have...

Sitting all day long sucks, but the post-production profession demands it. So what is being sedentary all day long, and working 12-16 hours a day, actually doing to your body and what can you do about it? Are there options? Absolutely, and it's easier than you may think. In my blog post 'Sitting Is Killing You, But Standing Isn't the Answer (And Neither Is Exercise)' I walk through...

When asked what my secret weapon to being a successful editor is, the answer might surprise you: It's yoga. As editors we are tasked with the responsibility of not only being good at our craft but also collaborating with producers and directors in a professional, positive and energetic manner, no matter what creative challenges are thrown our way. Psychologically managing egos and larger-than-...

Film school or no film school is a hotly debated topic in the world of filmmaking and a topic I discuss at length in this episode with   Eddie Hamilton , editor of such Hollywood tentpole films as  Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, X-Men First Class, Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kickass.  After working his way up from a runner to editor in only 6 months at a post production facility speciali...

Walter Murch is a legend in the film editing world, having edited such recent films as Tomorrowland, Cold Mountain, and The English Patient, as well as some of the most historic and legendary films of all time including Apocalypse Now and The Godfather III. He is also the author (or subject) of several of the most influential texts ever written on the art and science of film editing including &#39...

Making the transition from assistant to editor is never an easy one. There isn't a roadmap that everyone can follow, everyone's path is different. In today's episode I chat with Minority Report editor  Tyler Cook   about the steps we believe are important for assistants to follow if they want to sit in the editor's chair someday. This conversation applies to scripted, documentary,...

In this episode I do a deep dive with my assistant Natalie Boschan into every vital step of our editorial workflow at  Empire  from day one until delivery of a locked episode.   We discuss in detail the systems we've developed to become a more efficient and productive team over the years. Although we use Avid at  Empire , the organizational systems and templates we've created can be applie...

Jeff Greenberg   is a master trainer that travels worldwide teaching editors how to become NLE ninjas and he drops knowledge bombs like nobody's business. He is an author, educator, consultant, and Zen film geek. If you are not familiar with Jeff's work, you need to get familiar with him if you hope to become a top level post-production professional. In today's episode we discuss how t...

Going paperless in post-production is a task I assumed was impossible no less than a year ago. With the endless amount of script pages, notes, camera reports and the like, I assumed there was no way to rid my life of paper. In the last year, however, I have solved this dilemma and gone paperless. It's real, and it's fantastic. In this episode I have a conversation with Asian Efficiency exp...

Jim Read is a a highly sought after graphic designer and creative director. He works long hours and also has three children but somehow manages to fit competitive cycling into his already ridiculous schedule. Four years ago Jim lived the same sedentary lifestyle we all struggle to overcome; he was overweight, had bad eating habits, and incorporated little to no activity into his day. Then one Than...

Kenn Bell  is a filmmaking everyman: He has directed, edited, produced, been a director of photography, created his own shows....you name it, Ken has experience doing it. His crowning achievement is the immensely popular web series and website   The Dog Files .  But our conversation today is not about filmmaking, it's about Ken's lifelong journey of yo-yo dieting and gaining, losing, gaini...

Maxim Jago  is literally "the guy that wrote the book on Avid and Adobe Premiere." He's also an award winning director, tech author, award winning screenwriter, futurist...you name it, this guy knows something about it. We talk specifically about how to become more focused and centered at work and in life, how to organize your day, and even specifics tips and tricks to organize your ti...

I love brain science. Love it. And if you're like me, this episode won't disappoint. In this episode I speak with Bill Harris about his technology Holosync   and how it can enhance the effects of meditation and thus brain function. Bill Harris is an author, speaker, brain research expert, and thought leader. Founder of Centerpointe Research Institute, he is the creator of Holosync audio te...

Gray Jones is an accomplished reality television editor ( here are his credits on IMDB ), who recently completed his journey to lose 60 pounds. He is no stranger to a sedentary lifestyle and long hours, but he bucked the trend and decided it was time to make a serious change in his life. And the greatest part about his story is that he lost the weight doing nothing more than making a series of ver...

14 months ago Jane Arnold (my mom) was diagnosed with Stage 3 Mantle Cell Lymphoma, an incurable form of blood cancer. She was literally on her deathbed and I was told in no uncertain terms that I had to fly home to say my good-byes. But if you knew her, you'd know she doesn't give up easy (a trait I have clearly inherited). And for the last year she has completely transformed her lifestyl...

The chances are over 90% that you are micronutrient insufficient. And the scariest part is that you most likely don't even know what micronutrients are and how to get the right ones. My guests today are certified micronutrients specialists and nutritionists Mira & Jayson Calton (returning guests from eps 33  and 34 ) . In today's episode we specifically discuss their brand new book   T...

 "We have to remind ourselves WHY we're doing what we're doing." - Michael Rizk In this episode I have a conversation with Michael Rizk, a lifestyle and performance catalyst who guides people on the fitness/wellness journey to get from where they are to where they want to be. His background is in personal training, massage therapy, chain reaction biomechanics, life coaching and he&...

"You have to be your own champion because no one else is going to do it" - Katie Toomey In this episode I have a candid conversation with agency editor Katie Toomey. This conversation was inspired by a recent article in Creative Cow titled "An Agency Editor Tells Her Story,"  written by FiP's own Kylee Wall . Katie and I talk about her journey from being an unhealthy, 90 pound...

"The business doesn't need changing, we just need to decide to change ourselves." - Alan Bell In this episode I speak with Hollywood tentpole editor Alan Bell  (Catching Fire, Mockingjay, The Amazing Spider-Man, 500 Days of Summer). We discuss the current state of the post-production industry from a health & wellness perspective. Topics of Conversation Include: Alan's backgroun...