NEW YORK—The Association of Independent Creative Editors (AICE) is launching a chapter in Toronto, the first outside the U.S. This marks the beginning of what is intended to be an expansion into international cities, noted AICE president Richard Gillespie, owner of Dallas-based Fast Cuts Edits.
"AICE represents the best of editing … and editing is making general motion into an international community," he related. "We see editorial houses establishing outposts overseas, overseas companies establishing outposts in the U.S., [U.S.-based editors] repped overseas and vice versa—so it makes a lot of sense that AICE starts looking at representing editors worldwide. We feel we represent the best in the U.S.; this seems a natural step."
Prior to opening in Toronto, AICE represented roughly 550 commercial editors in 125 AICE companies in the U.S. The eight U.S. chapters are in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York and San Francisco.
Now AICE welcomes founding Toronto-based member companies Axyz Edit, Blue Highway, Flashcut, Panic & Bob Editing, Relish, School, Stealing Time and Third Floor Editing.
"We are really excited and hope more international companies will join," said newly named Toronto chapter president Mary Beth Odell, partner/executive producer at Flashcut. "We are creative editors, and having an international forum where we can share creatively what is going on in postproduction is really exciting for us."
The new chapter board is rounded out by secretary Sarah Brooks, partner/executive producer at School; treasurer Tony DeSousa, producer at Axyz; and VPs Kate Bate (partner/executive producer at Relish), Wendy Linton (executive producer at Blue Highway), Sam McLaren, (executive producer at Panic & Bob), Jennie Montford (executive producer at Third Floor) and Heidi von der Gathen (executive producer at Stealing Time). Odell and Linton will represent Toronto on the AICE’s overall board of directors, which is made up of two members from each chapter. Suppliers such as post houses and labs will be welcomed as Toronto chapter associate members.
AICE is dedicated to advancing the significance and contribution of the creative editor, primarily in the area of commercials. Early plans for AICE-Toronto include educational workshops, discussion groups on burgeoning technologies and participation in peer-assessed, international award competitions. It is also the intention of AICE-Toronto to work closely with the Commercial Production Association of Toronto (CPAT) on local issues.
When asked about past issues—notably the so-called runaway production topic—that could potentially divide membership interests, Gillespie reported that the decision to open in Toronto was a unanimous one, and again emphasized that the business has become global. "I don’t think that [runaway] is as big an issue as it was," he opined, "and I don’t think editors [are affected] as much as production." He acknowledged that some AICE member companies may take actions to keep work in their local areas, but asserted that AICE as an association would not get involved in these sorts of issues.
"This organization is concentrated on promoting the craft of editing," added Odell. "I’m sure individual companies will have specific concerns, but I don’t think that is the mandate of AICE. … I think we have a lot more in common, and we will be concentrating on that. In commercial broadcast advertising, borders are nonexistent. We share some clients and directors … and concerns both on the technical level and in terms of business practices."
