The importance of being mentored (and what’s AI got to do with it?)
Mentorship has always been vital to creative growth and inspiration, but how does it stand up in an AI-driven world? Chad Sipkin, owner/editor of Consulate, explains why human connection, collaboration, and hands-on experience still surpass machine learning’s capabilities, ensuring that artistry remains at the heart of the process.
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Mentorship has always been how artists grow; even with all the technological advancements, that human connection is still irreplaceable.
It fosters bold, daring work and shows the real value of learning by doing, all while a natural safety net is in place.
With new talent in collaborative spaces early on, a culture of learning, side by side, encourages creative exchanges between experienced and up-and-coming editors.
It helps cultivate a point of view
When I meet new editing talent, one of my favourite things to do is ask them to pick fifteen stills from a film I’ve worked on. It’s not about testing their technical skills - it’s about seeing their taste, imagination, and perspective at play. I want to know what kind of images inspire them and see how they explain their choices.
Knowing what you stand for as an artist, making thoughtful decisions, and being able to back them up are what turn a good editor into a sought-after collaborator. For junior editors, figuring out what makes their perspective unique is key to their growth. As a mentor, my job is to help them excel in the areas that excite them most.
Knowing what you stand for as an artist, making thoughtful decisions, and being able to back them up are what turn a good editor into a sought-after collaborator.
This approach encourages an editor’s artistry, not technical skills. As they continue to learn and grow, those technical skills will naturally become sharper, but first, they need hands-on learning with actual assignments. I like to involve my mentees by having them tackle real problems, generate alternate sequences, or rework elements of films. The learning comes from editing on real, active jobs. For me, the personal advantage is that I end up exploring how alternative ideas and combinations can work without personally spending the time to go down those roads. If the discoveries work out, I develop them.
To address the elephant in the editing suite, yes, many AI applications can generate these options for me. But, to put it simply, AI is a tool, not an artist. Those sequences probably won’t be as emotionally constructed, at least not at the moment. We need to wait and see how the technology will evolve. The process of discussion, sharing of references and anecdotes, photos, movies, music, and sound seems to be an invaluable, natural way to educate and inspire and often results in “happy accidents,” a curated set of unexpected options to consider.
Experimentation and failure is essential for growth
Some of my best collaborators come from backgrounds that don’t always seem connected to film editing on the surface—restaurant industry, musicians, and photographers. These pursuits foster collaboration, problem-solving, and delicate communication skills. They require constant experimentation and iteration: musicians are instinctive and emotionally driven, and photographers must ultimately communicate the story in a single frame.
In our industry, there’s an absolute acceptance of experimentation as part of the process.
In our industry, there’s an absolute acceptance of experimentation as part of the process. Editing is an iterative art—it’s rarely “first cut, best cut.” Some young editors struggle with this, but those who’ve worked in high-energy, collaborative, creative environments—like restaurants, theatres, or music studios—get it. They’ve already internalised the value of iteration and are willing to go where the process takes them.
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The limits of AI
As AI becomes more advanced, there’s much discussion about whether it will replace human creativity. From where I stand, the answer is no. While AI can offer data-driven suggestions or automate tasks, it can’t replicate the curiosity, communication, and collaboration that make exceptional art.
Over-the-shoulder learning doesn’t just pass on technical skills; it nurtures creative spark. I also think artists develop confidence by learning from a master, as it were. One learns how to interpret new challenges. All the discussions and experimentation inform the best path forward using a human, artistic, and cleverly communicated voice.
Over-the-shoulder learning doesn’t just pass on technical skills; it nurtures creative spark.
We are inspired by the process and the ability to cultivate great artists with skill, taste, and instinct. Perhaps individuals will be better prepared to use applied AI thoughtfully as we make films in the future. I imagine a creative landscape where artists, having benefited from direct mentorship, can use AI effectively if they learn how to prompt to get at the unknown from machine collaboration and harness the power of AI as a tool to elevate their skills beyond the ordinary.
The nature of the prompt will become the challenge then—how to effectively explain to AI what you want the viewer to feel when watching. One needs to know how best to explain that part to the machine, which may be just a guess at best.
