Throughout the month of May, the Pan Pacific Asian Steering Committee will highlight Asian American members—past and present—celebrating their achievements and contributions.
What is your name?
Ke`alohi Lee Lucero
What was your first union job?
Baywatch Hawaiʻi as an assistant editor. Before that, I worked as a live director at PBS Hawaiʻi and edited at the NBC affiliate using Avid NewsCutter.
List the credits you’re most proud of.
My editing career that has taken me around the world, including work on series such as America’s Got Talent, The Academy Awards, and Miss Universe, as well as projects involving multiple U.S. presidents. Along the way, I’ve also had the opportunity to step into a different roles on shows—not just as an editor, but at times as a showrunner.
The project I’m most proud of is my most recent one: my first film, Paper Bag Plan, which I produced and edited with my incredibly talented husband, Anthony Lucero.
Who are your influences or mentors?
One of the most influential people in my editing career is the exceptional editor Sondra Watanabe, the first friend I made in LA. When my show was canceled the week I arrived, she generously let me shadow her and soon after helped me land my first job in L.A. I’ll always be grateful to her.
What would be your dream project to work on?
I’ve had the opportunity to work across unscripted projects, scripted television, and now film. I’d love the chance to cut another feature. There’s nothing quite like seeing your work on the big screen and experiencing it with an audience.
During the festival run for Paper Bag Plan, I made a point of sitting in the theater to see, in real time, what resonated with audiences and what didn’t—then I would adjust the cut accordingly.
What is your personal or professional mantra?
In my very first week living in L.A., I unexpectedly ran into Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson—long before he became the massive movie star he is today. I was with a group of friends from home, all of whom were huge wrestling fans. He spotted us and asked if we were from the Islands.
He spent some time with us, and at one point I asked him for advice on how to make it in Hollywood. He paused for a moment, then shared advice that I still carry with me today:
“Girl, there’s only one of you in this world—so you just be you.”
I’ve been buying tickets to every one of his films ever since.
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