IF's weekly highlight on the people that make up our company. This week the spotlight is on Danielle White.
Danielle White is an editor at Imaginary Forces. She started out as an intern and quickly moved up the ranks. She’s edited projects ranging from commercials to film titles. Here are her thoughts:
On where she’s from: I am from Orlando, FL originally. I lived in Boston for 3 years while I attended Film School at Emerson College. In 1999, I moved out to Los Angeles and have been here ever since.
On how she got involved at Imaginary Forces: I interned at IF right after school. I picked the name out of an internship book because it sounded cool! Aw, the way we make decisions at age 20! I also interned at a production company. The other company hired me to work on the film Leprechaun 5: Lep in the Hood. I ended up doing craft services for that film which was nothing even close to what I wanted to do. The same day I quit that job, IF called me up, asking me if I wanted to work nights in the Tape Vault. The rest is history!
Actually, the interesting thing about IF was that when I was a teenager there were only 2 main title sequences that ever stuck in my head – Seven and Mission Impossible. I remember seeing those movies and saying to my friends "Wow, those titles were awesome!" And, I even thought to myself, making that kind of stuff would be a fun job. Funny, years later I ended up working at the place that did them.
On her favorite IF projects: I think the most fun projects that I worked on were some Lifetime Interstitials we did. Mostly because I not only edited them but got to star in one and do a voice over for another. I have to admit, I have secret dreams of being a superstar so it was fun to do something in front of the camera! He he he. I also really enjoyed working on the title sequence for Silver City because the whole title had no music, just sound design. It was a wonderful experience coming up with all the sound effects and was the first time I remember doing something that intense with sound. Lastly, we did a piece for the NRDC. It's nice to work on a job where you really get a sense that you are doing good for the world in some small way.
On alternate career choices: Well, I DJ electronic music so I also have hidden desires to be a superstar DJ and get to travel all over the world making people dance. I also wouldn't mind winning American Idol or becoming a superstar (fill in the blank). Superstar anything works for me.
On her hobbies: I love to DJ and go dancing. I also have been practicing yoga for the last 7 years. I LOVE Scrabble! I recently went Jet Skiing for the first time and would love to add that to my list of hobbies. I generally like spending time outside with my dog, Maile. Oh, and I can read your astrological chart if you ask nicely!
On what excites her about production: I work in editorial. I realized when I was in Film School, editorial was for me. I loved being locked in the edit bays, cutting film with a razor and taping it back together. I am super detail oriented and have always had a natural sense of timing and rhythm (hence the reason I also like to dance and DJ). Something about getting into an edit bay and figuring out how to piece the story together and make something out of what sometimes seems like total randomness gets my mind going. It's a constant challenge.
On her family: I have a Corgi mix named, Maile (pronounced like Miley.) Because of this whole darn Hannah Montana thing, everyone thinks I named her after Miley Cyrus. But no! Maile is a Hawaiian leaf that they plate in gold for good luck. Oh, and I have a younger brother who works here at IF as well in our IT department. My mother moved out to LA 2 months after I did. The rest of my family is pretty much still in Florida.
On something you may not know about her: When I was in college, I did a semester in The Netherlands. I got to live in the top of a tower in a castle (which was surrounded by a moat I might add) for the 4 months I was there.