ANIMATOGRAPHY: But I grew up in the Caribbean, and lived there till I was 18, and then I moved back here for university.
RILEY: Oh my gosh! Wow! That’s so exciting. That's so many different cool places.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah.
RILEY: That’s so awesome. Okay, yay! Um, so I'm obviously going to ask you the questions. I wasn't on the first interview that I did with Alyssa, so I don't, I mean, not that you would know, but it might be a little bit different. We'll see. Um, but, I also am an editor. But I do, I like, have just recently gotten back into the fan editing. But I—that’s what I study in school too, so I'm about to graduate with with the degree, which is kind of crazy.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Wait, whats the degree for?
RILEY: It's a BFA Film and Television Production with a Concentration and Editing.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Oh, that's cool!
RILEY: Yeah, it's fun. Yeah, it's so cool. Tell me your story. Like, what got you into editing? What were like the first steps for you?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I feel…I mean…I think I've just kind of always…I mean…as soon as I got social media, I was already, like, exposed to fandoms and fandoms in general and that kind of exposed me to editing. Like, probably as early as 10 years old and I don't know. I just kind of wanted to do what the what editors were doing, because I thought it was cool.
RILEY: Yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: So, I kind of started off with, you know, what I could get my hands on. So, free apps, like Video Star. Um, also Flipogram before that. But, that was mainly presets, so like, didn't really get into it until Video Star.
RILEY: Uh huh.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: And, yeah, and from that, I just, like, kind of wanted to, you know, get better and try cooler things. So, I tried After Effects, and, yeah. Now I've been using After Effects for seven or eight years.
RILEY: Wow! What was the first fandom that brought you into that world?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Um, the first one that I was like in that I made a fan account for was Star vs. the Forces of Evil.
RILEY: Okay! Okay! Right. Right.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Then after that, I think I had a multi-fandom account where I did mainly How to Train Your Dragon edits. That was the first full on just editing account I made. And then I did, like, I edited very inconsistently. I did take, like, sometimes I was out of it for a couple years at a time and then came back to it later. Um, the one that I was most into after that was probably Purple Hyacinth, which is a Webtoon.
RILEY: Okay.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: And, yeah.
RILEY: Cool.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: After that, I took another two year hiatus and then I started again on TikTok.
RILEY: Exact same schedule, I feel. I totally relate to that. I'm like, so maybe, I'll post like six edits in a row and then I will never post again for two years.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: That was also my schedule, so, you know, life got in the way and I had to focus on school. So, I just, like, editing is just a really time-consuming hobby.
RILEY: It is.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah.
RILEY: What do you do for school?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Um, right now, I'm studying a Bachelor of Arts. I don't really know what the translation is, but it's like media art, so I do kind of a little bit of everything.
RILEY: Okay, cool.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: So, like, motion design, graphic design, then there's some 3D and game design in it too. But, I want to focus mainly on the motion design aspects.
RILEY: Yeah. Do you, sorry, I'm going off the rails because I'm just like so entertained by you. But, um, so you're obviously, like, it seems like you love animated stuff and animation. Do you want to kind of go in that direction? Do you want to be more of an animator or motion designer for animation? Or where do you stand, kind of, with your connection with animes, cartoons, animation?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah. I mean, I have, like, it's been a while since I've really animated. I used to do a lot of animation when I was in the Purple Hyacinth fandom, because I would animate the comic panels and whatnot. But, it's been a while since I've done that and I don't know if I would ever really get into 3D animation. Just because I've had my taste of 3D. It was really hard. I did not vibe with it. So, if anything, I would stick to 2D puppet animation. I do still find that really fun, but, like, after my degree, I think I would try to step into motion design first.
RILEY: Gotcha. Heard. Heard. As it, like, I relate to. I’m, trying to get into motion design for commercial advertising and festival and, like, concert stuff. So, I totally get that. Um, okay. So, you've been editing for ten years. Did you ever do, like, on Video Star, did you ever make music videos?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yes! Yes! That was that was the first time I ever touched Video Star. I used to make these videos with my sister on Video Star, just like with random pop songs that were trending at the time. Oh, yeah, that was definitely, probably, my first taste of editing.
RILEY: Yeah. No way.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Making music videos at home.
RILEY: It’s so crazy to look back at your life and be like, ‘Okay, yeah, I've actually kind of been doing this forever.’. I literally—I posted this on my close friends months ago, but I was like, literally as long as I’ve known myself, I've known editing. It's literally like anything I can remember, it has to do—because I did the same. What other hobbies do you have besides editing on the side?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Honestly, right now, I'm editing so much.
RILEY: Sure.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: So, like, honestly, I don't know if I have time for anything else, especially with university on top.
RILEY: Yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Uh, honestly, I can't really name it.
RILEY: No, literally so, so real. Actually, so real.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: It’s just editing. Anything else I do is also on my PC, so...
RILEY: Right. Love!
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah. Editing. Gaming. That's it.
RILEY: Love! That’s awesome. That's so fun. I need to get a PC. I'm only on my MacBook.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I mean, does it hold up well?
RILEY: Honestly, surprisingly, yeah. It's kind of crazy. I like, I don't know how and I recently, like, I had after—sorry, I'm such a yapper. I recently had the pirated version of After Effects 2022 and like, it just, it, it got to a point where I was like, ‘This is not working anymore.’ and so, now I have 2025. Um, and it's not pirated. It’s the real version. But, then I have all the effects and so I'm still trying to figure out, like, which ones are compatible and which ones aren't.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah. No, like, I had a laptop before I had my PC and it was a mess to edit on. I was battling it on every single project. On one, like, at one point, it was so bad that I literally could not get through one edit without getting a blue screen of death.
RILEY: Oh, gosh.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Like, honestly, fair, because that laptop that I was using was just not made for editing programs or even office programs at that point. Yeah, I'm really happy with my PC now. I've been saving for it for a while.
RILEY: Love. Love. I am so glad. Okay, cool. Yeah, I wanna hear more about kind of your style. How did you kind of find your style? Is there any specific inspiration you drew from? Like, kind of that whole thing or you draw from?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Honestly, I don't even know what my style is. I kind of just do whatever fits the vibe of the song.
RILEY: Okay.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: When I find something cool on, like, my for you page or just in general and incorporate that and... I don't know. I get inspiration from a lot of people. Like, my inspo folder on TikTok is massive.
RILEY: Yep. Yep.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Um, probably Lauren foremost for 3D. For everything that I've done in 3D. She was definitely like my first inspiration.
RILEY: Okay.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Um… definitely, like, glitch editors. Jugg editors too.
RILEY: Mm hmm.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I’ve been getting into flow recently, like, just, like, learning from it. Haven’t really done much of it yet, but I find it really cool. I do want to incorporate some elements from that. So yeah, I just kind of pull from whatever looks cool.
RILEY: Yeah. Do you feel like, because I know some people will, like, I don't do this, but, they'll make, a kind of, like, especially, because you definitely, you had it more, like, graphic based, right?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah.
RILEY: Do you have a Pinterest board? Do you have screenshots of stuff or is it strictly, like, just kind of looking through your inspo folder and pulling from that?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Um, honestly, I don't really, like, when I get really into an edit, and I edit for, hours at a time, I don't really like to take a break and scroll through something. So, I usually just try to experiment with what I can remember or what I've seen in the moment. Sometimes, I do go on Pinterest, if it's mainly just for typography. Because, typography is really rough for me.
RILEY: It’s hard.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: That’s probably my weakest point. So with typography, I do look for inspo a lot. But for transitions, I kind of just go with what comes to me.
RILEY: That’s, yeah, you're super creative, dude. Like, I was obviously stalking your page, but, I was like, ‘Oh my god. Wow.’, because, sometimes I feel it's hard to think of. It is hard to get creative with editing, especially when you’re constantly consuming it and you're seeing the same transitions. Like, okay, what do I do that's not a zoom, a slide, or a rotation? Like, what do I do? So, it's super interesting to see so many editors, including yourself, kind of branch out from that and be able to make some super sick stuff. Um, so congrats. You're awesome.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Thank you.
RILEY: Okay, I want to ask about that the one edit that's pinned on your page that has a cameo view in it.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: The Hobie one?
RILEY: I think so. I mean, sorry, I'm pulling it up.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: On my Instagram?
RILEY: On your Instagram.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah, okay, that is definitely Hobie.
RILEY: Okay, yeah. Where did that come from?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Honestly, I don't, I think I wanted to—the first idea that I wanted to add was that I wanted to add my Funko pop into it.
RILEY: Okay.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: And then I figured, since I have it in real life, I could, like, incorporate it into the... I think it also had to do with the fact that I was editing Spider-Verse, so like the idea of multiple realities was already in my brain. And then I was like, what if I reality break into, you know, this reality something with that? So, it was definitely also the concept of Spider-Verse that helped in the creation of that idea.
RILEY: I love that idea because I feel like…when…because I just met Alyssa, like, within this past year. Um, and that was like one of the things that like drew me to her. It's this kind of combination of, you're an editor, but you're also like, I don't want to say influencer because I hate that word. But like, you're like, yeah, like you're kind of incorporating yourself into it and into art and that's something that I've always done. I've kind of just, like, post about my things and in very outward, like, yeah, I did this or like, yeah, I'm in this or whatever. So I love that. I love that you put that in there and I think that's super creative. Um, and something I literally have never…I don't think I've ever seen. Like, that's it's, yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I can't say it. I mean, I feel like I've seen some people. I’ve seen a lot of people edit themselves, but yes, that was definitely also an inspiration because that's also a trend that comes and goes. Um, yeah.
RILEY: Yeah, there's that one girl on TikTok who, like, only edits herself, but she's so good at it. Oh, what is her name? I'll find it. She like will like make her like head come off or something like that.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Oh, wait, I think I know who you're talking about.
RILEY: Yeah, she's, I don't know where…
ANIMATOGRAPHY: She’s recently posted with, like, breaking dishes and, like...
RILEY: I think so.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: That girl? Yeah.
RILEY: She's fierce. I actually come to think that, like, she's totally someone that I would draw inspo from, too, because she’s crazy though. Do you think that, like, like, okay, now get into, like, contact technical aspects. What's something you think that like, sorry, I'm really thinking off the top of the dome now. What's something that you're really, really strong at? You would say, or your strongest suit in After Effects specifically, and what's something that you want to work on more?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Um… I'd say, like, my strong suit, probably, maybe, like, working in 3D spaces, like, with no object layers and stuff. I feel like anything that comes to my head, I have gotten to a point where I can just make it a reality.
RILEY: Right.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: And I feel like most comfortable there. The, again, the part where I'm, like, really struggling all the time is typography. I just hate doing texting me.
RILEY: Yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: My default text is always using, you know, Arial Bold in white text and then applying that difference blending mode over it and calling it a day.
RILEY: Yep. Yep. Yep.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I’m definitely working on improving my typography.
RILEY: Yeah, so real. Um, I'm like, I need to get crafty on the 3D situation. That's definitely my weak spot. Um, okay… I had another question… oh, like, okay, kind of random, but like, top 3 effects that you're like, ‘I would never make it good at it without these’ or you use it in every edit without fail?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Definitely invert for glitches. I love to do the split screen glitch whenever there's like a flashy sound. Then, optical glow, definitely.
RILEY: Word.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Um, third? Turbulent displace. I do use that a lot, also for glitches. Um, and then maybe warp for, you know, the fish eye thing, just to make the zooms look a little bit better and for shakes.
RILEY: Word. Do you have presets for your shakes, or do you make them on your own?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Uh, I have presets. I have presets for Twitch and for my warp shake, but I usually do adjust actually. I adjust the key frames every single time, because I also work in different frame rates. So, it doesn't ever always look immediately good. So, for shakes, I do usually use my presets for twitch and warp, at least.
RILEY: Gotcha. Heard. Um... Oh, do you get? I'm just curious, do you use Twixter or do you do time remapping?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I use time remapping because I think it's faster in my experience, and I don't want to crack Twixter.
RILEY: Yeah. So real.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Like, it's, like, it's hard to come by nowadays. So, I would rather just make it easier for myself than use time remap.
RILEY: I got, if you have any good tutorials for that, let me know. Like, literally send a YouTube link.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah. But, honestly, every time I… it’s honestly, my base clip is what takes me the longest. I'm so picky with picking my clips and with doing time remapping. So, I don't know if I have any good advice. I just keep doing it until it, somehow, looks presentable at the end. And I adjust it all the time, mid edit, too, because sometimes, like, doing the whole, like, fast, slow, fast thing doesn't work out really well when you're doing 3D.
RILEY: Sure.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: It just looks wacky.
RILEY: Sure. Sure. And you're so right about, like, the base clips, because I feel like I always say my, like, prophecy is you have to have 2 out of the 3—these 3 things to have such a good edit. Like, really good effects and transitions, a good connection with the song and the edit. And, um, and where the clips like align within the song. Like, I think that that is so important.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yes, definitely. Like, clips is really, really important. Yes, definitely.
RILEY: I feel like I've seen really strong edits that have literally no effects, but they're so… and it's like… it literally was made on Capcut, probably and or like, I literally swear, like, iMovie. It’s literally just clips and texts. But the music and the clips, like, the way its placed is so good, that I'm like, this trumps every, like, okay, that makes sense.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah, no, I feel like a lot of people, I mean, I think it's definitely a common thing for people to, you know, shit on, just like clip edits or what are they called, mixtape edits.
RILEY: Yeah, yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: But I do think sometimes, um, you know, it just, the edit has more of an effect with nothing on it and just the clips and the lyrics. A lot of the times, you know, songs don't really… an audio definitely needs to, like, be editable, if that makes sense.
RILEY: Yeah, yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: And sometimes they're just, like… isn’t, like, the beats or, like, the sound that you need for, you know, heavy transitions and effects, and it just works better as a lyric edit. You really just want to make that relation between the story or the character and the song. And that's, you know, the purpose of the edit. And if it executes the purpose well, then I think it's a good edit, so...
RILEY: So, speak on it and speak on it and speak on it. ’Cause I agree. Where do you see editing in other parts of your life? Like, have people come to you to edit any narrative or anything like that or do you do strictly just, like, motion design for social media?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I mean, I guess, like, uni work, I have done.
RILEY: Sure, yes.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I’ve brought it into uni work a lot. I mean, I don't think, like, without my pre knowledge in editing, I think I would be in a very different place in my motion design class.
RILEY: Sure.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: So definitely that.
RILEY: Yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Um, I guess my family, too, like, whenever there's something that needs to be edited, like, a video, I'm the person to call.
RILEY: Sure. Sure.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I have done, like, a couple videos like that for my family. Uh, yeah.
RILEY: Fun. So, that's so fun. And also, how old are you?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I’m 21.
RILEY: Okay, same. Are you 2004?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Hmm?
RILEY: Are you 2004. 2005?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: 2005.
RILEY: Okay.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: February.
RILEY: Okay, well, happy belated birthday.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Thank you.
RILEY: Are you Aquarius?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Uh, Pisces.
RILEY: Oh, cute. I'm a Cancer. I'm also double Cancer, which is, like, really concerning.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I don’t know anything about zodiacs.
RILEY: No, it's okay. It just means I'm really emotional. That's all it means.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I think that's true for Pisces too.
RILEY: We got that water sign in us. Um, okay, let me think. Trying to think of any…oh, there's a... oh, music! Where do you find like inspiration for that? Is that, you know, kind of just like, I'm listening to music all the time. And, like, this song just really randomly reminds me of this, or is it, I'm on TikTok, I'm on Instagram, and I find the song, or is it a mix of both?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Definitely a mix of both, but mainly, like, I do listen to music all the time. Like, I hate silence. I'd love to just, every time I'm editing, I always have Spotify playing or something playing in the corner. So, um, that's why my editing process, I usually, like, put the audio in, then I mark the beats and then I just put the audio on silent. And unless I need to, like, do lyrics or get new inspiration for something then I just, like, watch a YouTube video next to it or listen to Spotify. So, but yeah. Music has a lot to do with my inspiration. If I don't feel inspired by the audio and I don't have a concept that goes along with it, it's very hard for me to finish the edit. So just, like, I’ll have no idea what to do with it.
RILEY: Yeah. So true. What are your three artists of all time? I know it's hard.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Okay, well, I feel like I mainly, I'd have to say The Weeknd. I edit to The Weeknd a lot. A lot of his songs give me a lot of inspo. Um... oh, my God. It’s kind of a mix of everyone.. I don't know who the name is at the top of it. I do listen to mainly The Weeknd that my...
RILEY: I literally... that's, yeah, period. I literally period.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Um, ooh, else? My god. I mean, I love Chappell Roan.
RILEY: Yes.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Then I do listen to, ooh, Ashnikko for Jinx edits.
RILEY: Oh, my God. She just came to Chicago. She came to Chicago and we were driving. I saw all these people and it was like, everyone was like dressed to the nines. They had some people were, like, in this clown attire. Some people, like, it was kind of, it was super sick. But I was like, ‘who is this? Who are they dressing up for?’. I was so confused and then we saw the sign. I was like, ‘oh.’.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I love Ashnikko.
RILEY: She’s so fierce. I mean, I only really know…I’m crazy, but you like…but that’s it.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: No, I also, like, I haven't listened to every single song. But I've listened to a lot of them. She's like… I have a curated jinx playlist and she's 80% of the songs on there.
RILEY: Aw, that's so beautiful. Um, yeah, well, I'm trying to think if there's anything else before I ask you this last question. Um, and so technical stuff. Do you like Instagram or TikTok better? ANIMATOGRAPHY: That’s a loaded question.
RILEY: I know. They're both, like, so...
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Listen, I'm always gonna have a fondness for Instagram because it's, you know, where the editing community started.
RILEY: Yes.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Um, and just like, you know, the edits on Instagram, they're definitely a different vibe than the ones on TikTok. I do still love a good velocity edit. But I feel like, you know, Instagram editing style, just has something else to it. I just love it. Um, yeah, I mean, like, Instagram, we're talking algorithm wise.
RILEY: Mm hmm.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Controversial, maybe, but I think Instagram's is better.
RILEY: I kind of agree.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I feel like it definitely more consistent than TikTok’s is because, like, TikTok is very, very much, like, short-term trend based. You can be at an absolute high point in your account and then the next post is, like, not even reaching 500 views.
RILEY: Yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I feel like Instagram, you can definitely, like, it's easier to build up a community. And, yeah, just be more consistent than on TikTok.
RILEY: Yeah. So, so true. I totally agree. It definitely is a lot more consistent and I also feel like you're so right. It did start on Instagram and I always forget that too. There actually is such a community there and that was the only place to watch edits. Like the OMG page and stuff like that. So, it's crazy to see, like, it's crazy editors on, like, only TikTok specifically, get so much traction, especially, like, I will always talk about all of the Heated Rivalry stuff. I think that that is one of the most fascinating moments in fandom history. Because I think truly, I was like, I was on that show before anything was like—I was watching it before any of the edits came out. But, then people really started bumping it up on CapCut and making kind of... I mean, I don't want to call them bad edits, but, they just like weren’t at the skill level that I've seen. Like some really great edits.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I feel like it also has to do with like the popular, like the popularization of editing in general that has like a lot of these people who make these apps, advertise things like templates and stuff like that. I'm not gonna sit here and say that I've never used a preset or a template in my life, but it was definitely like at the very beginning stages when I didn't know how to edit anything. Like, I'm pretty sure the ground was a preset/template kind of app before. But now, like, yeah, I definitely see a lot more template edits than I did before.
RILEY: Which is like such a cool, like, it's a good way to start. I agree. Especially, if you're not, but like, I think it's also such a unique skill that even in my degree, with like 80 other editing majors. I don't know anyone who has the skill set that I have on specifically After Effects and learning how to manually do stuff.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah, unique is the right word because it's definitely not like… I feel like the way that you learn how to edit in fan editing is very, very different to how you would learn how to use After Effects in motion graphics.
RILEY: Sure. Yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Like, we definitely do a lot of things differently or use a lot of different methods than you would use traditionally or professionally. But, hey, as long as the end result is good.
RILEY: It’s good, then, yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: It doesn't matter.
RILEY: Exactly. And as long as, like, I think I literally have a playlist on Spotify called ‘Edits Can Save the World’, because I really do believe that. That edits have changed us so much. And, like, obviously, that’s kind of the whole point of what Alyssa started and, like, all of that. Um, because it's so true. Like, and it's so inspirational. It’s so creative and even the kids that I babysit, they edit on Roblox. And I'm like, you know what? Period.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Really?
RILEY: Yeah, there's a game called Clip It and it's literally like an editing software on Roblox. It kind of crazy. Um, but I'm just like, you know what? Full send it. Because I think about, like, do I have like copious amounts of screen time that affect my brain probably? But, but, like,
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Don’t we all?
RILEY: Don’t we all? But am I learning something and doing something creative and understanding like technical aspects? Yeah. So, and it's super inspiring.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Honestly, that always bewilders me that, especially like for editors, that edit, like, in their teens and then just never pick it up again. That they have this entire skill set in this professional software that they're just never going to use again. It's so crazy.
RILEY: It’s crazy. It's so crazy. Well, I'm happy to hear that you kind of want to push into this direction and you're studying it. So, I do know a lot of people who like do that and, like, do something completely different. So, that's super cool. You’re in your 3rd year of university?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah.
RILEY: Okay. Cool. Do you graduate after 3 years or 4 years?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Um, I think mine is like 3.5 years or like closer to 4. So, I graduate next year.
RILEY: Gotcha.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Like end next year or mid next year.
RILEY: Do you want to stay in Germany? Do where do you want to go after that?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: No.
RILEY: Yeah. Out.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I mean, it's a great country to live in, but it's just like, I would rather, like… I don’t… I feel like for me personally, I would rather find opportunities in England or maybe Canada. I mean, originally I wanted to move to the U.S., but not gonna lie, the political state of your country right now is not a good one.
RILEY: Yeah. Unfortunately.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah.
RILEY: Couldn’t agree more.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Thoughts and prayers to you.
RILEY: Yep. Good fun.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: But, yeah, I mean, I know that, like, the U.S. is definitely the best place to go in terms of connections and the industry and everything. So, my second option is England or like, you know?
RILEY: I want to go to England so bad. I was gonna go to school in England, actually. Like, that was like top of my list.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Really?
RILEY: Yeah. And then now I'm in Chicago and I'm staying here. But, you should visit Chicago. Maybe not live in Chicago, but you should visit.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Maybe I will.
RILEY: It’s a cool city if you've ever, I don't know if you've ever been, but…
ANIMATOGRAPHY: The city that I'm studying in wasn't my first choice either. It kind of just, it was technically my last option, actually.
RILEY: Sure. Sure. Fun.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Yeah.
RILEY: Yay. Um, yeah, no, studying it for school too is like so interesting though, because you really get to see like, multitude of how people edit differently. And again, I feel I'm like the only person in my whole program that's kind of wanting to go this way. Like, I also have a PR in advertising minor. So I'm really pushing to go into like…
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Oh, that's really cool.
RILEY: Yeah, it's fun. It's scary that I'm graduating, but whatever. It's like literally freaking me out. Um, but yeah, I, there was some, there was one more thing I was going to say. It was so good. It was so good.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Don’t worry, I’ve got time.
RILEY: Um. Okay, so, like, what are what are some? Okay, two more questions. What are some goals you have for your channel and for yourself right now? Like specifically within editing. Because I know you've been starting to post more, like, kind of, again, influencer creation kind of stuff. Do you want to continue doing that? What do you see? Where do you see your account growing? And then, what’s your ultimate goal, I guess, with everything?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Well, honestly, my ultimate goal would be being able to support myself through art alone.
RILEY: Yes.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I have started making money with my editing account already, but it's like, you know, it's, uh, I do get financial aid, so I only make a little bit of side money from editing. Mainly just, you know, for extra money for groceries or anything else I need to buy. Um, so, I have started with that and I'm trying to, like, get more into monetizing Instagram as well because I have heard that it's a bit better on there. TikTok, my experiences haven't been, well, not that great. They do love to demonetize editors for unoriginal content, which is really annoying. So, that's a whole thing. I mainly make money from doing, like, music promotion edits. I'm working on a couple videos for a YouTube channel, which I've made, but I haven't posted anything on yet. So, I need to build that up. Just don't have to, like… definitely need to make multiple streams of income to make, you know, a liveable salary.
RILEY: Yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: In the future. So…
RILEY: Yeah.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: That would be like the dream end goal.
RILEY: So, yeah. Yeah. Would you consider doing freelance for?
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Oh, yeah.
RILEY: Yeah, for like specific companies. Yeah. Freelance is so interesting to me. I like, because that's kind of where I'm at too. It’s like, okay, well, how do I start making money off this? Because, right now, I'm just editing for myself and for free. Um, so, I'm with you. If you ever, we can, we can link on LinkedIn.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: Please!
RILEY: Like genuinely. Um, okay, yeah. And then any last things you want to say or advice that you can give to any editors reading or watching this? Yeah, reading this.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: I guess, like, don't be afraid to experiment, maybe, and don't think that you have to do it like, the exact same way that other people are doing it or the exact same way you see it in tutorials. And especially for me, like, I'm a perfectionist, so getting over that was really difficult for me. Especially, when I was first learning After Effects. I would not try new things because I thought I wasn't doing them right and then if I, like… two steps in and it looked awful. I just gave up.
RILEY: Sure. Sure.
ANIMATOGRAPHY: But, like, definitely follow through and experiment. ‘Cause, like, oftentimes, especially when I'm doing 3D edits, like, when I've got the base laid down and I have my key frames set, but I haven't really done effects or adjusted the graphs, it looks horrible. So, like, a lot of the time you just need to take—you need to make it happen first and then polish it later. So, yeah. Definitely that.
RILEY: Yay. Period. Yay, this was so awesome. Thank you so much. for joining.