Tell us who you are, what you do?
I’m Mike Vlasaty. I am currently an Editor for Hearst Television, specifically story producing and editing shows for the “Very Local” streaming app.
Give us your career trajectory in 30 seconds?
I started editing TV news and when I had learned all I could there, I started freelancing. I did lots of corporate video stuff before landing a job where I able to edit PBS documentaries (one of which won my first Telly Award). Then I crossed over to reality tv/docuseries and worked on some short films for fun, also dabbling in VFX on the side.
What project are you most proud to have worked on?
As a kid I loved watching Hulk Hogan wrestle, so I of course, watched Season 1 of his docuseries, “Hogan Knows Best”. Little did I know I would end up editing several episodes for Season 2 and beyond. That was a long time ago, but it still resonates with me. On the VFX side of things, I was on the VFX team for Downrange, a feature film directed by Ryûhei Kitamura
What’s the best part of your job? What’s the most challenging?
The best part of my job is being creative. I see editing as putting together a puzzle with no exact “right solution”. Every editor will edit the same raw footage completely differently and that’s the beauty of it. The most challenging thing is watching through hours of raw footage and you have to watch it all, so you know you don’t miss a gold nugget somewhere random.
What was your first video/film job?
My first job was editing TV news. While that was not where I wanted my path to continue, it taught me to make fast decisions and to not second guess myself. I use that same skillset now, 25 years later.
Describe the moment where you feel like you “made it”?
I’ve been able to watch several film projects that I worked on projected on the screen of the world famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Those were pretty epic moments for me and definitely something I never would have dreamed until it happened.
What’s the most chaotic set you’ve been on?
TV news. Every night was an adrenaline rush.
What was the best part of being a judge for the Tellys?
It’s interesting to see what other people are creating and I like that I can use my years of experience to give back to the TV and Film community that I have been a part of for the past 25 years.
