The Zack Arnold Podcast

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 'In the Blink of an Eye,' 'The Conversations,' and my personal favorite editing book of all time, 'Behind the Seen.'To put it simply, without Walter Murch there would be no Fitness In Post. It was a single picture of Walter standing at his workstation that inspired my personal development journey almost ten years ago. In this episode we discuss a wide range of topics about how he has maintained his health and longevity and survived over 5 decades in the film industry.You can't survive 50 years in post-production working on some of the biggest films of all time without knowing how to take care of yourself, and Walter talks all about his daily routines, how he prepares for upcoming projects, and many other topics listed below.This is episode is a MUST LISTEN for anyone hoping to have a long-lasting and successful career as an editor.Our show sponsors:Cinemoti: 2nd Unit Footage for Film & TelevisionEditStock.comTopics of Conversation:My first encounter with Walter and the impact his books had on my careerWalter’s approach to health and wellness while working long hoursWalter’s process for getting his brain and body ready for the next jobThe importance of capturing ideas (and how to capture them)How timing the script can help you really inhabit a storyWalk as much as possible!The history of Walter's standing workstationThe science behind standing and moving during your dayHow taking a lunch break is actually MORE productiveTools you can use to help with the ergonomics of standingThe proper food to fuel your bodyThe best way to approach sleep“The CIA uses sleep deprivation as torture. Let’s not torture ourselves.”How the industry has changed in the last forty years--from film to digitalWhat it means to be an editor in today’s world with today’s technologyThe differences between working in documentary versus scriptedWalter’s thoughts on being “below the line”Rebounding from working a long job, aka recovering from “hiatus flu”Useful Links:Missing link found between brain, immune system; major disease implicationsBehind the SeenIn the Blink of an EyeThe ConversationsEssential tools for a standing workstation:apple boxlacrosse ballsvibramsfoam rollersTopoMatDownload the E-book 'How to Overcome (And Avoid) Burnout'Blog: 'My System For Getting Seven Hours of Sleep Every Night'Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Natalie Boschan, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

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, reality, marketing, you name it. This is not about technology, it's about what it takes to get noticed.Although he’s relatively young, Tyler's success did not happen overnight. Tyler worked hard as a college student at the North Carolina School of the Arts, a small conservatory for the arts at the University of North Carolina, then transitioned to assisting on indie features and eventually made his way to scripted television.I spoke with Tyler about his career path and how he was able to move through the ranks of intern, assistant editor and editor so quickly. Not only does he talk about essential skills an assistant editor needs to make it as an editor, but also how important it is to have a positive work ethic.Our show sponsor:Cinemoti: 2nd Unit Footage for Film & TelevisionTopics of Conversation:Tyler’s background and starting as an assistant editor on indie featuresEssentials skills and ways to demonstrate your passion and dedicationTyler’s career trajectory and how he was bumped up on Vampire DiariesNo excuses! Work hard and do your job wellHow you can demonstrate your passion for the work in your own wayTake care of the small stuffAsk lots of questions and get clarification when you don’t understand somethingYou need to pay attention when doing dailies...and everything else! Pay attention to details!Storytelling through your sound workHow vital sound work can be for those watching your cutLet your intentions be known, but make sure you do the job you are hired to doDo the extra work and go the extra mile to demonstrate your skills and dedicationTake initiative -- ask your editor if you can shadow him/her (once you’re done with your work)How to conduct yourself in the room with directors and producersHow editors can help train their assistants in a productive and safe wayTaking care of yourself can make all the difference when you’re trying to make it to the next levelUseful Links:www.tyleredits.comEp 48: Transitioning From Reality to ScriptedEp 56: Advancing Your Career in Post Production Pt. 1Ep 57: Advancing Your Career in Post Production Pt. 2Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Natalie Boschan, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

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 applied to any NLE workflow in scripted, reality, documentary, or otherwise. Topics of Conversation:How we set up our projects before every new episodeHow to spend more of your time being creative The foundation of being efficient - media management and organization!Why folder structure in your NLE is importantHow to eliminate errors like working on the wrong sequence, version etc.Why you should build an elements projectRitualizing behaviors and time managementGoogle Drive and why it’s so easy to use in a post workflow, especially if you want to go paperlessHow Trello can REVOLUTIONIZE your workflow for scripted and documentaryEliminating human error with checklists in TrelloHow making templates can eliminate “brain drain” and “time sucks”Mistakes happen--make sure you don’t make the same mistake twice!Build the checklist that works for youOrganizing email with TrelloHow being organized and efficient will help you get more jobs!Useful Links:TopoMatEp 47 - Master Trainer Maxim Jago on Being a More Efficient EditorTrelloShow Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Natalie Boschan, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

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 to train yourself to get into the creative zone when you need to as opposed to waiting for that moment to happen organically. We discuss the role of sleep, how to minimize outside distractions, how to organize your thoughts, and plenty of other ways to train yourself to focus when you need it the most.Topics of Conversation:How Jeff and I met at Adobe Premiere Pro World Conference in 2014 and how meeting him has inspired me to continue building Fitness In PostJeff's background working in post-production and how he's gained 50 pounds over the years because of living a more sedentary lifestyleThe most common challenges for new editors and assistants and how they can be overcomeMy experience working as my own assistant editor without a mentor and the importance of having a mentorHow the number one way to achieve your goals is to establish your "why"In this industry it is a badge of honor to see who can get the most done with the least amount of sleep and why this is an idiotic way to live your lifeHow sleep deprivation destroyed my memory and ability to complete simple tasksYou are not a "night person" even though you may think soThe basic supplements that neither Jeff nor I ever skip in the morningHow to overcome inertia and build momentum with your healthUsing Evernote to manage information. Keep everything out of our brain so you make more space for creative thought.Using the GTD method to conserve brain energy and organize your lifeUsing the Pomodoro technique to maximize creative energy throughout the day and get yourself in the zone on demandThe black holes of e-mail and social media and how to manage e-mail newslettersManaging your schedule, phone calls, and appointments with YouCanBook.Me and social media with MeetEdgarUseful Links:Editor's RetreatBulletproof CoffeeShakeologyFiP Podcast "Supplementation 101" with Dr. Edison de Mello My blog post about my most recent experience with post-production burnoutEmergent Task PlannerParkinson's LawSpark AppUnroll.MeShow Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Natalie Boschan, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

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 expert Zack Sexton about how to go paperless as well as how to manage documents with Evernote and Google Drive. Moreover we geek out on my favorite productivity tool on the planet Trello.Our show sponsor:GeekDeskTopics of Conversation:Where to start when going paperless and how to come up with a systemUsing Evernote for scanning papers right into your phone and collecting it in one placeMy personal story of where I started with going paperless and how I got startedHow my assistant and I manage daily paperwork via Google DriveHow I use Trello to manage all of my notes from directors and producersWhy you shouldn't completely shun paper like I haveHow to manage projects in a collaborative environment with Trello and why e-mail is the worst task manager on the planetManaging project conversations with SlackHow to stay focused on a specific project by using 'Mindsets' to filter information you don't need at a given timeHow to manage notifications to minimize distractions during workHow all of these productivity secrets fit into the big picture of optimizing yourself for maximum creativityUseful Links:FiP Ep38 "Task Management and Establishing Rituals"FiP Ep23 "Hacking Your Productivity"Fujitsu ScanSnap at AmazonTrelloDavid Allen's "Getting Things Done"OmniFocus Task ManagerAsian Efficiency 'OmniFocus Premium Posts'SlackThe Productivity Show on iTunesShow Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Natalie Boschan, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA. 

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 Thanksgiving he realized that if something didn’t change in his life, in ten years he would be facing a terrible health crisis.In this episode Jim and I talk about Jim's journey going from overweight and out of shape to putting his life back together, and then ultimately becoming a competitive cyclist.Our show sponsor:GeekDeskTopics of Conversation:How Jim manages to make time for THREE different jobs - working as a graphic designer, a father to three children and cyclingJim’s story of how he went from sitting behind his desk to spin classes at the YMCA to competitive cyclingJim’s simple solution to sticking with a diet and exercise programHow generating momentum was one of the keys to Jim’s successFood addiction is a real problem. We discuss how to manage junk food cravings around the home and officeJim gives us some helpful digital tools for anyone who is serious about cyclingWe discuss how time management and efficiency helped Jim fit cycling into his busy schedule Sleep is also incredibly important! If you can’t recover with a good night’s rest, you can’t maintain this sort of lifestyleHow to “gamify” the small tasks in your life so you can become more efficient at doing themWorking with your limitations not against themJim talks about the dark side of competing at this level--injuries, losing and it’s tough on the mind and body. Make sure you do this safely!Useful Links:RichRoll.comFinding UltraFreshly.comStrava Cycling and Running AppTraining PeaksCycle-SmartSleep Cycle alarm appjim-read.comShow Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

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, gaining again, and often losing upwards of 75 to 100 pounds. We discuss the many things he did that didn't work, but more importantly we talk about the strategies he has used to keep the weight off on a more permanent basis, and how the quality of his life has changed drastically because of these changes. If you want to end deprivation and crash diets and find lifelong changes that last (and that you enjoy), then Ken's story is for you. Our Show Sponsor:GeekDeskTopics of Conversation:Ken's background as a filmmaker and animal advocate How Ken will spend years on a single project, how that has affected his health, and why he decided it was time to focus on his health to be a better filmmakerKen discovering the power of walking and how powerful it can be for losing weightHow being overweight made it incredibly hard for Ken to shoot docs in the field and how it was a warning sign to make a changeKen discovering The 10-Day Detox Diet and deciding to eliminate sugar from his dietKen's strategies for dealing with traveling and conventionsKen's experience detoxing from sugar and how it is akin to detoxing from heroine, but how after 5 days he felt like he could take over the worldHow just changing his cooking methods helped Ken effortlessly lose weightHow Ken starting making 'lifestyle choices' rather than choosing 'diets'The specific things Ken did that DIDN'T work (e.g. Weight Watchers)Ken's recipe for his morning smoothie that helps him lose weightHow making an investment in your health now is like a 401k Useful Links:Ken's Website The Dog FilesDr. Mark Hyman's 10-Day Detox DietMy review of the book 'Rich Food, Poor Food'The documentary film 'Fed Up'The Calorie MythNutribullet Products over at the FiP StoreShakeologyBrain Octane OilShow Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

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 timeline, projects, bins, folders, whatever it takes to get more done during the day.We go from giant meta concepts to specific action steps in a single sentence, so stay focused and you may come away with some game-changing ways to enhance your day.Our Show Sponsor:LifespanTopics of Conversation:Zack's morning routine and how it increases his productivity, then we segue into Maxim's morning routine which is very different but equally effectiveWhy a morning routine isn't a set thing and can be tailored to when you have the most creative energy during the day (i.e. budgeting your energy)How making decisions requires energy and that energy is a finite resource, so you have to build up your capacity for mental focus over timeHow incorporating meditation into your day can drastically increase your productivityThe importance of slowing down and how it can actually increase your productivity drastically (and how this technique can even include cat videos on YouTube!)Hacking all-nighters with exercise instead of caffeine and stimulantsWhy you shouldn't be ashamed of that afternoon nap (and why NASA agrees)How to structure your day around focused periods of work and breaks ((i.e. The 'Pomodoro' techique) rather than just droning on all day long trying to get stuff done How the brain absolutely cannot multitask and how micro distractions can drastically derail your efficiencyHow stress is a biological barrier to memory creation and even creative thoughtWhy focusing on stress management is the ultimate productivity hackWhy naming your bins and organizing your media is ESSENTIAL to being a fast and productive editor (and why)Using Evernote and OmniFocus to prioritize your goals and your dayHow to maximize naming your sequences and versioningThe myth of 'Picture Lock'How your ability to access material very quickly can make or break whether or not you get hired on the next jobLearning to hone your first instinctsUseful Links:The Nutreínce mutlivitamin powder I put in my water in the morning'Hacking Your Productivity' with Zack Sexton'Task Management and Establishing Rituals' with Zack SextonA Classic Case of Post-Production BurnoutHeadspace meditation appBulletproof Coffee KitStudy showing 52 minutes on 17 minutes off is the optimal pomodoroOmniFocus and Omnifocus Premium PostsShow Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

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 technology, used by over 2 million people in 193 countries to create brain changes that lead to remarkable mental, emotional, and spiritual changes usually experienced only by those who have meditated for 30+ years.To quote Bill and put it simply, "Holosync meditates you." And boy does it. I've been using it for a few months now and the effects are nothing short of profound.Our Show Sponsor:LifespanTopics of Conversation:Bill's background in brain science and where Holosync came from (like most amazing discoveries, it started in a basement)How Holosync is different than those 99 cent "binaural beat" appsHow Holosync alters brain waves and brings about more awareness, and "awareness brings choice"The "marshmallow test" and the science behind delayed gratification, how it applies to brain science, and how it leads to more success later in lifeThe science behind meditation and how the practice can change your brainwave patternsThe brain scans of Tibetan Buddhist monks How you literally don't need ANY extra time in the day to use HolosyncThe simple how-to steps to use HolosyncHow Holosync can drastically increase creative thinkingHow Holosync can have a tremendous benefit to your Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Useful Links:Get HolosyncFiP Podcast Ep 31: "Managing Stress Using HRV"FREE COPY of "The New Science of Super-Awareness"FiP Podcast Ep 35: "Spartan Race Founder Joe de Sena"Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

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 very simple, small changes over time.Our Show Sponsor:LifespanOur Latest Prize Giveaway:Click here to enter our Lifespan Treadmill Desk Giveaway!We are giving away a Lifespan Treadmill Desk worth $1300, no purchase is necessary. It takes about 3 minutes to enter and entries will be gathered throughout the month of August. One random winner will be chosen September 1st. Good luck!Topics of Conversation:Gray's background and experience as an editor and how his health deteriorated over the years after falling into a sedentary lifestyleThe sign Gray received that made him realize he had to make a change in his lifeGray deciding he wasn't going to "diet," he was going to make a "lifestyle change" that was permanentWhere Gray started on day 1 and the actionable steps and small changes that he followed to lose the weightThe pros and cons of eating right before bed and/or staggering your meals to maintain your metabolismHow Gray tracks his sleep, steps, and caloric intake to develop awarenessGray's decision to cut soda out of his life and why he never looked backHow sugar is more addictive than cocaine or heroine and why you're unwilling to give up sodaHow reading nutrition labels can change your life, and Gray's discovery of how many foods have artificial sweetenersHow to change your perspective from pushing the boulder up the mountain to gently nudging the snowball down the mountainGray's way to include "cheat foods" into his diet without really cheatingUseful Links:Alpha Dogs Post-Production"Enter the Zone: A Dietary Roadmap" by Dr. Barry Sears"Rich Food, Poor Food" pt 1 (why artificial sweeteners are bad for you)"Rich Food, Poor Food" pt 2 (how to learn to shop for healthy foods)The Fitness In Post programThe Fitness In Post Fitbit LeaderboardIs diet soda worse than regular soda? Gray Jones on TwitterGray Jones at 'Staff Me Up'The TV Writer PodcastShow Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.