Cutting SyFy: Editor Shiran Amir on Rejecting Rejection
Hillary Lewis January 30, 2024
0 Comments
When talking about her career path, you get the immediate sense that rejection isn't a no for Shiran. There's never been an obstacle that's kept her from living her dream. Shattering ceiling after glass ceiling, she makes her rise up through the ranks look like a piece of cake. However, her story is equal parts strategy and risk - and none of it was easy.
After taking countless chances in her career, of which some aspiring editors don't see the other side, she has continually pushed herself to move onward and upward. She's been an assistant editor on Fear of the Walking Dead, The OA, and Outcast to name a few, and is now a full fledged editor of Z Nation's fifth season, editing the 4th and 9th episodes of the zombie apocalypse show. She's currently on the Editors Guild Board of Directors and is involved in the post-production community in Los Angeles.
And she's only 30 years old.
Born and raised in New York until she was eight years old, her Israeli parents decided Shiran should grow up around her grandparents and family back in Israel. She was educated in a small suburb of Israel and studied theatre and media studies in high school. Using Adobe Premiere on the old computers in the school's lab, she slowly fell in love with the art of editing.
I realized when I was 16 that I wanted to be an editor, and I was fortunate to figure that out pretty early on.
Shiran Amir behind the camera during her time in the Israeli army, but spent most of her time in front of a computer editing
After graduating from high school, Shiran, like all Israeli women, was required to serve in the Israeli army for two years.
Knowing there were several filming units in certain divisions of the Israeli army, she went to her teacher for advice. He told her there's no way she'd get in, and that her competition would be too tough. That kids coming from a school more devoted to the arts were more likely than her to get accepted. That she would need connections she didn't have.
It fueled me to prove him wrong. I believed that if I'm good enough and motivated enough then there will be a spot for me, and sure enough, that's what happened. They saw potential in me and I became an Avid editor for the Air Force Filming Unit. I was lucky to have a lot of hands-on training with Avid there. It was like my own version of film school except we were making real products for real clients.
I ended up saving that teacher's number. Sounds like a petty thing to do but I was so dedicated to proving him wrong because there's nothing worse than someone you really appreciate saying you can't do this. Later on in my career, I called him to say that I had served in the filming unit and it led to me moving out to LA for editing, and he was actually really happy for me. Early on, it provided me with motivation in my career to give it my all and see what happens.
Shiran in full uniform for the Israeli army
Editing on Avid for the Israeli Air Force Filming Unit
Shiran served her two full years and when she was needed further, was enlisted briefly for reserve force, where she met a connection that got her next job editing local celebrity news bulletins at E! News. She spent six months there while using her studies stipend money from the army to take an evening After Effects course.
Using forums, training videos, and (happily for us) Creative COW, she improved with After Effects and acquired a great additional skill to have up her sleeve. But on her day job, Shiran quickly realized editing celebrity news bulletins wasn't her cup of tea.
I got depressed because it wasn't what I really wanted to do. I could see that Israel didn't have a lot of production going on at the time, the industry was small, so it motivated me to move to LA as soon as I could. One night while doing research for the move, I googled post-production houses in LA'. I sent resumes out to all of the search results I found, but Nadav Streett was the only one who replied, because he was Israeli too. He told me I can't help you if you're in Israel, you have to come to LA first.' And with the help of my dad, I did exactly that.
Shiran had lived in Israel for 14 years, but at 21 years old she packed up and headed to LA. Her dad went with her, staying for about a month to help her find an apartment and a car. One of her first jobs was working for Nadav as an Assistant Editor on a reality show for Spike TV for a year. Like many budding editors, she was grateful to find that first job, but after doing several reality gigs assistant editing and sizzle reel editing, she knew she had to put everything aside and make the jump to scripted content.
I would visit Israel every year since I left. And it would be like a status check for me. My family and friends that were still in Israel would ask me So, what are you doing now? How are you doing in LA?' I would be compelled to show them some progress, but for the first three years I would keep saying I'm assisting in reality' again and again. And I realized I had to stop. I wasn't in the genre I wanted to be in, I didn't come out here to work on reality TV. Just like with the celebrity bulletins I was doing in Israel, it was time to hit the brakes and swerve away from that.
So I started actively refusing jobs and made a new circle of connections with people who work where I want to work. I started cutting short films for director students in film schools. I applied to the ACE Internship program and met a whole new group of friends there that all had the same goal. One day I heard a big Hollywood editor gave a lecture in Israel where I used to study After Effects, it was Dan Lebental. I reached out
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
Cutting SyFy: Editor Shiran Amir on Rejecting Rejection 
