Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Tony Bacon offered advice and answered questions from Associate Professor of Film Studies Taylor Dunne’s editing class on Tuesday, Feb. 25, during a Zoom meeting in the Media Arts Center.
Bacon, whose filmmaking resume includes editing, directing and producing on various high-budget projects, received an Emmy for his work editing the 2005 History Channel documentary “Beyond the Moon: Failure is Not an Option 2.”
Bacon previously lived in Brattleboro, Vt. and knows Dunne through their shared work as board members of Brattleboro’s Latchis Arts. Bacon is serving as president while Dunne serves as vice president.
When Dunne reached out to Bacon about speaking with KSC film students, Bacon said he saw an opportunity to “pay it forward.”
“I was at a four-year film program at Ithaca, and we had so many interesting guest speakers come in who would show us these cool things like equipment that the industry professionals were using or talk about what things are like in the professional Hollywood side, and it was really inspiring,” said Bacon. “It was interesting through those lectures to learn how it works in the real world, and it gets you excited.”
Bacon said he wanted to showcase what is possible in the film industry outside of the typical Hollywood celebrity.
“I represent the large majority of people working in the film and television industry whose names you’ll never know. I’m just a random dude who loves what he does, but even in that position it’s possible to have an incredible and rewarding career doing this stuff, and it’s such a wide and diverse industry that there’s always a place for you,” said Bacon.
According to Dunne, guest lecturers such as Bacon give students a chance to hear from practicing industry professionals who can offer a deeper perspective.
“He finds it really valuable to understand what you’re doing with editing from a theoretical perspective and is really great at talking about it from a professional standpoint, as opposed to a professor who has to be a jack of all trades,” said Dunne.
“He edits professionally all the time, and that gives our class a useful experience, especially since there’s a lot of students who want to be professional editors,” added Dunne.
Self-described late-sophomore and early junior Scott Perry was excited to learn about Bacon’s work.
“I was excited to find out more about Tony Bacon, his process and experience, and I took it to heart when he said to stick to your methods and find your own craft while getting to know software and networking,” said Perry.
Junior Kyra Genoter appreciated the opportunity to hear from an industry professional who has been to film school.
“I really enjoyed hearing from someone who’s had so much experience in the industry but has also been to film school,” Genoter said, “I think some filmmakers haven’t been in the same shoes as the people they’re talking to, and I thought it was cool hearing him talk about working your way up and some of the harsher realities of the industry.”
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
rpacheco@kscequinox.com
