For each day in the month of February, the African American Steering Committee will be highlighting Local 700’s African American members, both past and present, and their accomplishments. We look forward to showing the contributions and influences African Americans have had on the industry.
Name: Erin Nicole Wyatt
What’s your job? Picture Editor
List the credits you’re most proud of. “This Is Us” (NBC) and “Love Life” (HBO)
What are you working on right now? Season 1 of “The Company You Keep”
Who and what are your influences and/or mentors? Howard Leder has been my biggest mentor/influence. I assisted him for 5 years before becoming an editor and continue to strive for his level of excellence. He is constantly tweaking little things to improve each cut and taught me how sound can be equally important to picture when sending out cuts.
Debra Weinfeld and Ivan Victor have also been great mentors. I received my first assisting job from Debra on the feature, “Never Back Down 2” in Baton Rouge. Several years later, she hired me for my first scripted television assisting job on “Covert Affairs” when I moved to L.A.
And I only worked with Ivan briefly, but he’s been an invaluable resource in comedy editing. When working on Kidding with him, we’d cut the same scene and compare. Seeing different ways to approach a scene after watching the footage and cutting it myself was beyond helpful.
What books are you reading, shows are you watching and/or movies you’re excited about? I’m currently reading The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. I just watched the movie “Uncorked” on Netflix, which I LOVED. Niecy Nash is so good in it. And, I’m really looking forward to watching “You People.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? The best advice I’ve been given work-wise was to make sure I was cutting as much as I could, whether the footage was good or bad. If you could time travel, when would you go and why?
What’s a little known fact about you? What are your hidden (or not so hidden) talents. This is more of an unexpected talent than a hidden one. I love building things or anything involving a drill or a Dremel. DIY projects usually fill up my down time.
What’s your favorite (Black) television/movie moment?
Dwayne Wayne interrupting Byron and Whitley’s wedding in “A Different World” is hands down my favorite Black Television moment. I love everything about that episode!
Was there a television show/movie that inspired you to pursue your career? When I was very young, I knew I wanted to be an editor, but the early seasons of “Grey’s Anatomy” affirmed that decision. I became an organ donor because of one episode of that show. The idea that such a personal decision could be changed by entertainment was remarkable to me.
What’s your personal/professional mantra? “If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.”
What’s the last show/movie that left you speechless? This last season of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” specifically episodes 7 and 8, left me speechless. I love how June and Serena’s relationship has continued to evolve over the past 5 seasons.
What would be your dream project to work on? I’ve already worked on it. “This Is Us” was my dream project as both an assistant editor and editor. I made lifelong friends on that show, had the best showrunners, and learned so much about how to change/manipulate a story through editing. I am forever grateful to have worked beside such brilliant people.
