Ep 273: Cutting the Story: Juli Berg on Documentary Editing, TV Post, and a Life in Film

In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, host Damien Swaby speaks with Juli Berg, an accomplished film and television editor and post-producer whose creative path began in junior high school and evolved into a decades-long career in documentary, unscripted television, music videos, and independent film.Juli shares the early experiences that shaped her artistic identity, the unexpected moments that led her to the School of Visual Arts (SVA), and the pivotal decision to pursue filmmaking professionally.

She explains how her early academic strengths intersected with her love for art, eventually leading her to earn a BFA in Film/TV from SVA—a choice that set the stage for a distinguished career in post-production.

After graduating from SVA, Juli began her career as an assistant editor in the documentary world, working alongside legendary editors including Larry Silk, Lillian Benson, and Jonathan Oppenheim.

Her first professional editing assignment—ABC’s In Concert—merged two of her passions: music and picture editorial. Over the years, she has:

Edited numerous short films screened at domestic and international festivalsDirected, produced, and edited a wide range of music videosServed for two years as an Avid editing instructor at SVA, helping develop the next generation of editorsBuilt a reputation as a self-sufficient editor and post-producer capable of managing narrative structure, pacing, and story architecture independentlyDelivered over 80 episodes and specials as Editor/Post-Producer on History Channel’s long-running series American Pickers

Juli is passionate about honoring the work of everyone involved in the filmmaking chain. She approaches editorial storytelling as a form of writing—shaping raw footage into its best possible version while maintaining the integrity and intention of those who shot it.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the podcast. Follow Damien Swaby for more filmmaker interviews and insights into the craft and business of storytelling.

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