For each day in the month of February, the Committee will be highlighting 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: Aric Lewis
What’s your job? Picture Editor, Assistant, or Visual Effects Editor, depending on the project
List the credits you’re most proud of. I’m proud of all of them. I’m building a career as a storyteller. I feel each credit is part of the process of learning and growing.
What are you working on right now? Season 4 of “Insecure” (HBO)
Who and what are your influences and/or mentors? What I love about this industry, beyond the storytelling and creative aspects is the collaborative nature of it all. I’m influenced by everyone I work with…and hesitant to try to name the many mentors I’ve had for fear of leaving someone out. I try to watch the people I work with closely in the best and worst of circumstances so I can glean ways to improve at all aspects of my craft; Whether it’s flexibility in my approach to a scene or sequence, fostering better relationships with fellow crew members, or navigating the inevitable political discussions that arise during post, know that if I work with you, I’m watching, learning, and often times taking notes.
What books are you reading, shows are you watching and/or movies you’re excited about? I just started reading both “The Water Dancer” by Ta-Neheisi Coates and “Elements of Fiction” by Walter Mosley. I’m constantly reading whatever children’s book my daughter will let me read to her. “Secret Pizza Party” and “Hop on Pop” are in constant rotation.
As far as what I’m watching, beyond the various lessons on “MasterClass (I can’t recommend it enough), I’m still working my way through all this year’s screeners, (There’s so much great work being done!) but with a toddler at home I don’t make it the actual movie theater very often. My kid loves “Frozen 2” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” so I think I’ve seen those about 50 times since this past Halloween. For TV, I just finished “Watchmen” on HBO and “Messiah” on Netflix. I’m currently working my way through “His Dark Materials” and following “Shameless” and “Power” to the end of their runs. And I’m looking forward to season 2 of “The Boys.”
What are your black history month memories and any cultural or historical impacts on your life? When I was a kid, my father helped create a local youth outreach organization that among other things sponsored community-focused events and provided scholarships to college-bound graduates. He, along with a number of black fathers in my neighborhood, got together because they knew the importance of community. It was very much of the “it takes a village” mindset. The imprint it left on me was knowing that we all have the power to shape our own communities.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Don’t be afraid to try. Don’t be afraid to fail.
What’s a little known fact about you? What are your hidden (or not so hidden) talents? I briefly attended culinary school and I can’t whistle.
What would be your dream project to work on? Editing a film or series adaptation of Octavia Butler’s “Parable” series
