In his four-and-a-half-hour interview, Julian Gomez talks about his early life and beginning his editing career working on music videos. He describes early editing jobs on the special Damon Wayans: The Last Stand, and the shows Stuntmasters and World of Wonder. He recounts editing for the biography series Intimate Portrait, on which he worked for the first time with a co-editor. He recalls editing for the History Channel series Modern Marvels, specifically an episode about the World Trade Center, later repurposed into the special The World Trade Center: Rise and Fall of an American Icon in the wake of 9/11. Gomez goes into detail on his many years as an editor for The Amazing Race, including the many logistical and time challenges the show presents. He speaks at length of editing Big Brother, and the unique challenges that program presents. He sums up with his hopes for his future career. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview on June 5, 2017 in South Pasadena, CA.
"What I like about editing is the opportunity to build something. Fundamentally, we humans are about being engaged in stewarding something. And I like calling the shots."
Julian Gomez on his favorite episode of The Amazing Race
Julian Gomez on editing the World Trade Center episode of Modern Marvels, later repurposed into The World Trade Center: Rise and Fall of an American Icon
Julian Gomez on the logistics and details of editing for The Amazing Race
Julian Gomez on becoming an editor on Big Brother, and on what he liked about the show
Julian Gomez on his editing style
Julian Gomez on winning Emmy Awards for The Amazing Race
On his early life and influences; on television shows he watched while growing up, and discovering he wanted to work in television; on his college education and on learning to edit
On his college internship, and on his first editing job; on editing video tape before the advent of digital editing; on editing music videos early in his career, and what he learned about editing in that time
On editing Damon Wayans: The Last Stand, and on giving his creative input on projects he's editing; on editing Stuntmasters and World of Wonder; on the switch over to digital editing in the 1990s
On editing Intimate Portrait, and on working with a co-editor; on his editing style; on editing Intimate Portrait for Actuality, and on working for various production companies
On editing the World Trade Center episode of Modern Marvels, later repurposed into The World Trade Center: Rise and Fall of an American Icon; on his personal experience of 9/11, and on television's function in the face of tragedy
On editing Modern Marvels, and on editing for specific audiences; on editing A Baby Story, and on working with an assistant editor; on a typical work week on a show like A Baby Story, and comparing it to working on The Amazing Race
On editing Paradise Hotel; on the way editing on shows like Paradise Hotel is used to tell the story in a compelling way
On the number of editors typically on a show like Paradise Hotel and Big Brother, and on working with story producers; on being assigned to edit various elements of The Amazing Race like the "Detour" or the "Roadblock"
On being hired to edit The Amazing Race; on the editing challenges he faced when he joined The Amazing Race; on working with The Amazing Race creators Bertram Van Munster and Elise Doganieri
On the casts of The Amazing Race; on collaborating with the editorial staff of The Amazing Race; on the logistics and details of editing for The Amazing Race
On the process of editing an episode of The Amazing Race from start to finish
On the challenges of dealing with sound when editing The Amazing Race; on working with graphics and text on The Amazing Race
On his favorite episode of The Amazing Race; on winning Emmy Awards for The Amazing Race; on the legacy of The Amazing Race
On becoming an editor on Big Brother, and on what he liked about the show; on learning to conform to the editing style of Big Brother; on the process of editing Big Brother, and on the show's then-recent switch to HD
On the camera setup for the Big Brother house; on how work is divided between editors on Big Brother; on the decision-making process when selecting shots to use for the show
On dealing with product placement on The Amazing Race; on his favorite season of Big Brother; on the "Jeff and Jordan" season of Big Brother, and on the challenges of keeping the show fresh each year
On Big Brother and CBS Standards and Practices; on the legacy of Big Brother
On what he likes about editing, and on the possibility of his getting into scripted television; on how the field of editing has changed since he started, and on technological advancements in editing
On his mentors in editing; on his proudest career achievements, and on finding the right path in his career; on his then-future career, and on wanting to teach
Amazing Race, The
Julian Gomez on being assigned to edit various elements of The Amazing Race like the "Detour" or the "Roadblock"
Julian Gomez on how he came to edit for The Amazing Race, and on the show's near cancellation
Julian Gomez on the editing challenges he faced when he joined The Amazing Race
Julian Gomez on working with The Amazing Race creators Bertram Van Munster and Elise Doganieri
Julian Gomez on the casts of The Amazing Race, and on the editorial staff of the show
Julian Gomez on collaborating with the editorial staff of The Amazing Race
Julian Gomez on the process of editing an episode of The Amazing Race from start to finish
Julian Gomez on the challenges of dealing with sound when editing The Amazing Race
Julian Gomez on working with graphics and text on The Amazing Race
Julian Gomez on his favorite episodes of The Amazing Race
Julian Gomez on the legacy of The Amazing Race
Julian Gomez on dealing with product placement on The Amazing Race
Baby Story, A
Julian Gomez on editing A Baby Story, and on working with an assistant editor
Julian Gomez on a typical work week on a show like A Baby Story, and comparing it to working on The Amazing Race
Julian Gomez on the number of editors typically on a show like Paradise Hotel and Big Brother, and on working with story producers
Julian Gomez on learning to conform with the editing style of Big Brother
Julian Gomez on the process of editing Big Brother, and on the show's then-recent switch to HD
Julian Gomez on the camera setup for the Big Brother house
Julian Gomez on how work is divided between editors on Big Brother
Julian Gomez on the decision-making process when selecting shots to use for Big Brother
Julian Gomez on his favorite houseguest on Big Brother
Julian Gomez on the "Jeff and Jordan" season of Big Brother, and on the challenges of keeping the show fresh each year
Julian Gomez on Big Brother and CBS Standards and Practices
Julian Gomez on the legacy of Big Brother
Damon Wayans: The Last Stand?
Julian Gomez on editing Damon Wayans: The Last Stand, and on giving his creative input on projects he's editing
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Julian Gomez on winning Emmys for The Amazing Race
Intimate Portrait
Julian Gomez on editing Intimate Portrait, and on working with a co-editor
Julian Gomez on editing Intimate Portrait for Actuality, and on working for various production companies as a freelancer
Modern Marvels
Julian Gomez on editing Modern Marvels, and on editing for specific audiences
Julian Gomez on the way editing on shows like Paradise Hotel is used to tell the story in a compelling way
Julian Gomez on editing Paradise Hotel
Stuntmasters
Julian Gomez on editing Stuntmasters and World of Wonder
World of Wonder
Julian Gomez on his personal experience of 9/11, and on television's function in the face of tragedy
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Julian Gomez on his mentors in editing
Historic Events and Social Change
Pivotal Career Moments
Julian Gomez on the switch over to digital editing in the 1990s
View Profession
Julian Gomez on editing video tape before the advent of digital editing
Julian Gomez on editing music videos early in his career, and what he learned about editing in that time
Julian Gomez on what he likes about editing, and on the possibility of his getting into scripted television
Julian Gomez on how the field of editing has changed since he started, and on technological advancements in editing
Post-Production Professionals
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
News and Documentary
Julian Gomez on editing Stunt Monster and World of Wonder
Julian Gomez on editing for The Amazing Race
Julian Gomez on editing Big Brother