João Lazaro
Film Editing
Film editing is more than splicing clips—it’s the art of sculpting a story from raw footage. Over years of refining my craft, I’ve developed a methodology that balances meticulous organization with creative intuition. Whether editing short films, documentaries, music videos, or educational content, my approach ensures clarity, coherence, and emotional resonance—all while streamlining collaboration and decision-making.
For Directors: My systematic yet flexible approach lets you focus on creativity, not editing techniques. I translate abstract ideas into actionable edits.
For Teams: As an assistant editor, I’ve built editing infrastructures that simplify workflows for lead editors, sound designers, and VFX artists—saving time and budget.
For Audiences: My edits prioritize clarity and emotional engagement, making complex stories accessible to non-film viewers.
Read about my editing methodology below
Teaching the Craft
I share my methodology through workshops, lectures, and private mentoring. Students learn to:
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Break down editing into manageable phases.
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Communicate ideas visually to non-editors.
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Use documentation to empower collaboration.
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(And, of course) Video editing software and techniques.
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My Methodology
1 - Pre-Editing: The Intellectual Blueprint
Mind Mapping & Script Outlines: Before opening editing software, I map the narrative’s core themes, arcs, and key beats. This "big picture" planning ensures alignment with the director’s vision.
Footage Organization: I categorise raw material into intuitive systems (diagrams, maps, tags, timelines, metadata), creating a searchable library that saves time and reduces overwhelm.
2 - The Rough Cut: Testing the Story
Structural Experimentation: A rough cut is built early to test pacing, flow, and emotional impact. This phase identifies gaps, redundancies, or opportunities to elevate the narrative.
Collaborative Feedback: I present rough cuts with clear annotations, inviting directors/producers to weigh in on storytelling priorities before refining further.
3 - Streamlined Constructive Collaboration
Documentation-Driven Workflow: Every decision made during communications between the post team and director—from scene transitions to sound design—is logged in shared documents as the film requires. This creates a transparent "paper trail" for collaborators and future editors.
Checkpoints & Versioning: Snapshots of the project are saved at critical stages, allowing teams to revisit earlier iterations without losing progress.
4 - Final Polish: Details That Matter
Composition & Rhythm: I fine-tune cuts for visual harmony (framing, continuity) and rhythmic pacing, ensuring the film feels intuitive to audiences.
Adaptability with Efficiency: Throughout the project, I remain open to creative changes while safeguarding the project’s core structure and schedule.
Recent Works - Short Films / Videos / Short Documentaries
2025: “The Shedding”; Short Film; Assistant Editor; Editor Amy Mains; Dir. Duncan Falconer. Newcastle Film Club (UK).
2024: “PoP PoP”; Advert; Writer, Director and Editor. Newcastle Film Club (UK).
Awarded Honourable Mention Most Creative Ad Newcastle Film Club 2024
Selection: Shadowscope short film 'open mic' night @ Star and Shadow Cinema - February 2024
2024: “Tale of the Witch”; Short Film; Editor; Dir: Catriona Burnett.
Selection: Tees Valley International Film Festival 2024 (UK).
2023: “Any Plans”; Short Film; YouTube (UK); Videographer, Editor. Newcastle Film Club (UK).
2022: “The International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022: Celebrating small-scale fisheries in Latin America and the Caribbean region” (Brazil); Community Filmmaking, Short Documentary; Videographer, Editor and Workshop Facilitator. International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF, India).
2022: “Get off the Post/ Get Out - From Musical Composition to Music Video”; Documentary; Director, Videographer and Editor. Tombô Productions. Santa Catarina Culture Foundation Aldir Blanc 2021 Grant. Link
2021: “The holiday when Julia was without a phone”; Short Film; Director and Editor.
Selection: I National Film Festival of Chapecó 2021 (Brazil).
2021: “EM OBRAS - O documentário sobre a restauração da Ponte Hercílio Luz” [eng: IN WORKS - The documentary about the restoration of the Hercílio Luz Bridge] (Brazil); Short Documentary; Editor, Dir. Gustavo Zinder. Prod. Contexto Filmes.
2021: “Once upon a Time in Itamatatiua” [eng: Era uma vez em Itamatatiua] (Brazil); Short Documentary and PhD Project Report. Post Production Coordinator. Dir: Glauba Cestari.
2019: “Indigenous Fishing in the Amazon and the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries” (Brazil); Community Filmmaking, Short Documentary. Assistant Camera and Editor. Dir: Enio Staub, Arica Cinematográfica. International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF, India) and Operação Amazonia Nativa (OPAN, Brazil).
2019: “CENSURA, TÁ OK?” [eng: Censorship, is that okay?]; Documentary; Assistant Editor. Dir. Rafael Moreira. Link
2019: “Os Pipocas” [The Popcorns]; Stop Motion Animation; Director, Workshop Facilitator and Editor;
Selection: 19th Florianópolis Children's Film Festival 2019 (Brazil)
2018: “Livre Reportagem #3” [eng: Free Report #3]; Short Interview-based video art; Director and Editor. Colab with Daniel Postal and Julia Lazaro
Award: Young Artists - Contemporary Art in Santa Catarina 2018 - displayed in 4 group art exhibitions
2017: “O Preconceito Perdeu” [eng: The prejudice has lost]; Workshop Facilitator, Editor. Extension Programme “Educom.cine”; Education, Language and Art Lab, University of the State of Santa Catarina (Brazil)
Children's Film Festival 2018, Florianópolis, Brazil
Basic Education Congress (COEB) Audiovisual Screening 2018, Florianópolis, Brazil
2016: “Mais um dia Triste” [eng: Another Sad Day]; Workshop Facilitator, Editor.
Selection Children's Film Festival 2018, Florianópolis, Brazil
Basic Education Congress (COEB) Audiovisual Screening 2018, Florianópolis, Brazil
Selection: CineOP – Mostra de Cinema de Ouro Preto 2018, Ouro Preto, Brazil
Selection: TV programming for TV Escola 2018, Brazil
Let’s Edit Your Next Project
Whether you’re refining a rough cut or need an editor to build structure from chaos, I’ll bring clarity, creativity, and efficiency to your film.
Services:
🎞️ Full Editing (From assembly to final cut)
💼 Consulting & Mentoring (Tailored to your team’s needs)
↪️ Workflow Design (Infrastructure for collaborative projects)