Meet BAVC Media Instructor: Ken Schneider

Meet Ken Schneider, a longtime editor, documentarian, and dedicated mentor. He currently teaches Aesthetics of Editing here at BAVC Media. With roots in sound engineering and lighting for local projects, Ken’s filmmaking journey took a pivotal turn when he stepped into the world of documentary editing, sparking a deep love for sculpting raw footage into compelling narratives. Ken has made a profound impact not only as a filmmaker but also as a teacher, guiding new storytellers at BAVC Media. In this interview, Ken shares insights into his approch to film, the lessons he hopes to impart in his upcoming Aesthetics of Editing class, and his commitment to storytelling.

Tell me a little bit about yourself!

After kicking around sound engineering for club bands and gaffing/grip for local features in the late 80s/early 90s, I volunteered for an assisting editing gig on a doc, in exchange for room and board in the LA hills. Working in the trenches with a talented and very intense mentor, I became smitten with the art and craft of editing long format, unscripted film. I quit my straight job at City College, said farewell to my lighting crew, and committed to editing. I have not looked back.

I am also a family man—my wife Marcia Jarmel and I, along with making 5 feature docs and numerous shorts, also made 2 kids, now in their 20s and, decidedly not filmmakers. Three years ago, I left producing and directing, as the fundraising and competition had become a grind. Instead, I spend my nights and weekends on my other passion, carpentry and woodturning.

Tell me about your background as a filmmaker.

I came to film through a love of story. Having spent my college years as an English major,  the transition into docmaking seemed natural, once I discovered documentaries. 

My professional ACT 1 began in the Broadcasting Department at City College, where I was given a set of keys, which allowed for self-education during nights and weekends, in both the audio and video production and post facilities. When the opportunity arose to work on local features and music videos, I jumped at the chance, learned a lot, and had a ton of fun but, within a few years, I was disappointed with the quality of material. It was then that an old friend from LA invited me down there to assistant edit her doc. I was uneducated on editing, and thus never really considered it as a path. But after spending a summer at her knee, helping her sculpt 85 hours of verité footage into an hour show, I knew I’d found my path.

When did you first cross paths with BAVC and what about the organization’s mission and vision resonates with you?

My association with BAVC Media goes back to the mid-80s. when I online edited a piece I’d worked on at City College. Around ’93, my wife and I finished her first feature doc there. Since then, I’ve edited Regret to Inform (Oscar nominee) there, mentored for the New Jewish Filmmaker Program, taken courses, and taught them. BAVC Media’s commitment to community video has always and continues to inspire me.

What advice would you give a young person who has a story to tell but doesn’t know where to start?

Watch a variety of films in a variety of places (not just Netflix, for example) and think about how you will render your story.  

What are you most looking forward to teaching in your classes?

I look forward to the energy of the classroom, to the give-and-take between teacher and student. Even though I’ve shown some of the same clips to numerous students, there are often new takes on them, a constant reminder of the plasticity of film and of storytelling.