Marco Zappia Releases New Book Sharing The Story of His Rise From Television Repair Man to Multi-Emmy Award Winning Editor
Ventura, California (PRWEB) September 26, 2013 -- Not very long ago, videotape editing entailed masterful use of a splicer and a razor blade. Marco Zappia should know. After landing a job at CBS in the 1970s, the young hopeful embarked on a broadcasting career that spanned thirty-five years, earned industry acclaim including multiple Emmy Award wins, and involved a rapid succession of new technologies that catapulted his craft to higher and higher levels. Smartest Guy In The Room shares the story of his rise from television repair man to the go-to guy on the sets of wildly acclaimed CBS shows including "All in the Family" and "Home Improvement."
While doing so, Zappia provides an informal explanation of the role the editor plays in the television production process, offering editing tips and expert advice on everything you need to know to hone your craft. Smartest Guy In The Room is a director’s cut of editing know-how, with the inside vantage on everything Zappia gleaned from some of Hollywood’s most talented directors, producers, writers, cast members, and crew. Throughout the book, he recounts both good experiences and bad and serves up a wealth of actionable advice from the cutting room floor to help guide any aspiring videotape editor.
Zappia also frames the story within the context of his own life, from early days repairing televisions to life with a consuming career and supportive wife. A son of Italian immigrants, the author’s trajectory from a repair shop owner to a multi-Emmy Award-winning editor was the result of being open to lucky breaks, committed to furthering his knowledge, and always nurturing his passion for his profession. Throughout his career, he also developed a skill that can be applied to any profession: the ability to collaborate with others, which resulted in directors and producers demanding to work with him. He also underscores the importance of using your instincts, taking risks, and being prepared for unexpected editing room disasters.
"The technical aspects of any edit system, whether it be Avid or Final Cut, can be taught by a certified instructor or even self-taught with manuals or books, but there's one thing that can't be so easily learned; the difference between an editor and an artist. Anybody can buy a canvas, a brush, and some paint, but few can create art with it. My goal is to give the reader the tools and know-how to become an artist, not just a button pusher," says Zappia. "A good editor must have a delicate balance between technical know-how, inventiveness, creative ability, and social grace. If you think you’re the smartest guy in the room, keep it to yourself and check your ego at the Door!"
While offering decades of wisdom from a leading broadcasting editor, Smartest Guy In The Room also offers a rare snapshot of the industry from the perspective of the people shaping the story. The technology may change, but the native skills to make the most out of a director’s vision and an actor’s talent remain the same. Anyone who wants candid, hands-on insight into this fascinating vocation is certain to gain invaluable information and inspiration from one seasoned pro, who proves on page after page to be the smartest guy in the room.
To order your copy of Smartest Guy In The Room, please visit http://www.marcozappiaeditor.com.
Marco Zappia, http://www.marcozappiaeditor.com, +1 8182193456, [email protected]
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