FOR WHEN YOU NEED A
EDITING HERO
(who also shoots, does After Effects and is fluent in Spanish.)
STORY SLAYING
MULTI-GENRE
MULTI-FORMAT
TECHNOLOGICALLY
ON-TOP-OF-IT
Documentary editing
4x Emmy-nominated editor and writer, I partner with filmmakers and journalists who care about truth, accountability, and smart, cinematic storytelling. I edit long and short-form current affairs and character-driven programs for renowned news organizations like Al Jazeera, PBS FRONTLINE, and the New York Times, in English and Spanish. I also create fundraising trailers that help independent film projects get traction.
Factual series editing
Talented and agile storyteller with a knack for drama, humor, and making complex topics entertaining and accessible. I've cut for Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, History Channel, Animal Planet, and Smithsonian Channel. I'll help you ace your next series or one-off in natural history, science/tech, sports, lifestyle/health, history/anthropology, or premium Spanish-language content.
Marketing videos, YouTube and Social Media
Complete script-to-screen editing and post-production services to make your marketing, YouTube and social media videos engaging, professional, and on-brand. Educational organizations, businesses, non-profits, and solo entrepreneurs rely on me to hone their message and share stories of their impact.
Entrust your project to an edit hero .
Edit heroes
Shape the story
An edit hero doesn't just put pictures and music to a script – they dive deep into the material with you to find the heart of the story. They are expert at running with your ideas, unearthing hidden gems, and forging it all into something far better than you could have imagined.
An edit hero helps you strike that tricky balance between what's do-able with the footage; what you promised or thought the story would be; what stakeholders are demanding; what will grab audiences' attention; and what will take your project to the next level artistically, in a way that you're proud of. ​
And when the story just isn't working? That's when you really know that you have an edit hero in your corner. The best editors are never satisfied with simply "moving the furniture around" in the hopes of fixing an edit that falls flat. Like a detective, they investigate every last possibility in the footage to uncover that one clue – be it a single shot or nugget of sound – that cracks the case. And they constantly interrogate the story structure to make sure it holds up.
​As your storytelling partner-in-crime, an edit hero pushes you to be daring and bold – to have conviction in your vision, lean into emotion, and try unconventional approaches. And they'll have your back when it comes time to stand up for the work.
Observational documentary about the truth and reconciliation process after Colombia's civil war.
An edit hero has a diverse skillset, including graphics, sound design, color grading, multiple languages, and writing – that help you impress, streamline the process, and finish faster.
Last but not least, an edit hero is a magician, using sleight of hand to craft it all into something that wows you and audiences alike – no matter if it's a 3-minute marketing video, a 30-minute current affairs piece, or a 90-minute documentary feature.
On investigative docs, more than 80% of the work we do in the edit is spent grappling with story structure. There are plenty of editors that can punch the keys and make the pictures work, but precious few, like Leslie, who really understand the craft of literate filmmaking, deftly turning complex ideas into compelling narrative. She gets it.
Rick Young, Senior Producer, Lost In Detention for PBS FRONTLINE
Edit heroes
Sell the story
Great editors know that in today’s media landscape, it's getting harder every day to sell decision-makers on your idea, and win viewers' attention – whether you're working in streaming, independent documentary, broadcast, YouTube, or for internal organizational audiences.
That's why it’s more important than ever to work with an award-winning editor who's good at sussing out what executive producers, funders, and other stakeholders want, and who has a track record of helping projects stand out in a crowded field while raising serious money.
Genres
Rigorously reported exposés. Emotional character-driven narratives. Policy explainers. Fun factual. Results-driven social media and marketing videos. Archival-heavy docs. Smashing trailers and pitch reels that make execs and funders say, "how much money do you need and how soon can you deliver?" I'm equally at home whatever the genre or format.
I have story radar that can penetrate the densest material – or find form in the thinnest. I take creative risks and do lots of extra heavy lifting to keep the higher-ups happy and viewers engaged. Producers, I've got your back.​
Journalism docs
Factual series
Trailers & pitch reels
Social media & marketing videos
Adobe Premiere Pro
After Effects
Davinci Resolve
Post-producing / Writing
Skills
I am that rare breed of "preditor" who can do it all: edit, structure the story, script the narrative, design and animate graphics, build out and troubleshoot the tech, organize mountains of footage and archival, color grade in Davinci Resolve, and give it all emotional power and a distinctive, rock-solid rhythm. I'm good with a camera, too.
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I'm always updating my skills. I'm currently learning the Davinci Fusion page and Illustrator, to take my graphics skills to the next level. I'm also getting comfortable with the Davinci edit page and Blackmagic Cloud for collaborative remote workflows.
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ARE WE A FIT?
Are you a producer or commissioning editor for an international news media outlet? I'm trusted to deliver exceptional current affairs and character-driven short documentaries on tight deadlines, with journalistic integrity, both in English and Spanish. My work has appeared on Al Jazeera, PBS FRONTLINE, and New York Times Op-Docs.