Cinema Production Grad Highlights Work as a Visual Effects Editor on "The Mandalorian," "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew," and More Alumni Profile
Steve Jacks '06 has worked on “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh,” “An Interview with God,” “I, Tonya,” “The Mandalorian” “The Book of Boba Fett,” “Ahsoka” and “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.”
Meet Steve Jacks '06
- Job Title & Employer
- Visual Effects Editor, Freelance, currently on "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew"
- Major/Program
- Cinema Production
- Hometown
- Bridgeville, Pa.
- High School
- South Fayette High School
- Now Living In
- Los Angeles, Calif.
- Hobbies & Interests
- Reading, hiking, cycling, sketching and going to the movies
"Point Park quickly gave me the chance to collaborate and create. In my second semester, I was given hands-on opportunities to make short films."
Tell us about your career path since graduating from Point Park University's cinema production program.
I like to think that I owe my career to an email from Liz Richards, my editing professor at Point Park, who was looking for editing interns on “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh.” That internship was the springboard to a job as an accounting clerk on a TV series immediately after I graduated from Point Park.
Soon after, I moved to New York City to work as an editorial production assistant (PA), a connection I made during my internship. Following that, I was an assistant editor on low-budget films, an apprentice editor on a union feature and joined Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG).
I’ve continued to work as an assistant editor on many films, series and reality TV. In 2016, I cut a film called “An Interview with God.” In 2017, I was a visual effects editor on “I, Tonya,” and decided to make the move to Los Angeles. That's when I was offered a job on “The Mandalorian” for Lucasfilm Ltd. Since then, I’ve been working on each of Lucasfilm’s streaming shows, including “The Book of Boba Fett,” “Ahsoka” and “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.”
What have you enjoyed most in your career?
I’ve enjoyed the people and the wonderful friends I made along the way. At some point, you discover that you want to work with the best people you can. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter how cool the project might be if you’re working with challenging personalities.
I’ve also enjoyed belonging to a community of film professionals and finding my place within that system. I’m a part of Hollywood’s history and that’s really something to be grateful for, especially after growing up obsessing over movies.
Steve Jacks and his wife Rebecca at "The Mandalorian" premiere
What are your responsibilities in your current role?
My job is to be the liaison between editorial and visual effects (VFX). Using FileMaker Pro, I keep track of thousands of VFX shots over an eight-episode season, checking the cut changes with each new edit from three different picture editors. In Adobe After Effects and/or Avid Media Composer, I create temporary composites for the picture editors to help pitch visual concepts to our vendors. I also run review sessions with my VFX supervisor, producers and directors.
My main responsibility is managing people. I’ve hired over a half a dozen people and run a crew of three to four on each project. This job is so much more than how proficient you are with an editing program, it's about how well you can get along with others. It's so important for me to keep open communication with everyone I manage and work with. In my experience, I’ve seen incredibly smart individuals get passed over for others because they have an attitude problem or aren’t flexible enough to adapt to changes in a workflow.
How did your college experience prepare you for your career?
Point Park quickly gave me the chance to collaborate and create. In my second semester, I was given hands-on opportunities to make short films. Professors like Fred Johnson and Liz Richards had real-world experience and were able to pass that down through their superb teaching skills.
Attending campus in Downtown Pittsburgh also helped prepare me for what it’s like to live and work in a city environment, which is crucial to growing as an adult. Having access to film equipment and editing labs and collaborating with fellow film, acting or dance majors, gave me what I needed to expand my horizons and grow as a creator and as a human being.
What advice do you have for high school students considering one of Point Park’s cinema arts degree programs?
Maybe you’re considering a big prestigious film school in New York or Los Angeles, but don’t discount Point Park! Their program is rich in all that it offers, including the opportunity to experience life in a small city and get your feet wet in a real-world environment.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you are passionate about film, have an open mind and a generous attitude, you can be very successful. Remember that the best success is in helping others.