As a lifelong DC fan, my journey into fan editing began with Justice League. Like many, I was disappointed by the theatrical cut, but I discovered fans on YouTube reimagining what the film could have been. Then I found a full Justice League fan-made edit, and I was blown away. That curiosity led me down a rabbit hole of fan edits.
I had no editing background, just a growing curiosity. Fittingly, my first attempt was Zack Snyder’s Justice League. It was a rough cut, full of imperfections, but it taught me a lot. That early version proved I could do this, even if the tools and finesse weren’t fully there yet.
What really pushed me further was discovering a fan edit of Star Trek Into Darkness. The changelog was so detailed, so intentional, it opened my eyes to how deeply an edit could be reshaped. With changes so seamless they felt native to the original. That kind of care stuck with me. Now I try to pass that feeling forward: if someone stumbles on my work and feels that same spark, then the cycle continues.
My process has evolved since that first rough cut. I can rebuild full ADR lines, re-score scenes, and stitch together SFX from scratch when they don’t exist. My toolbox is growing. I always choose movies that I love. My goal is to craft a version that I’d want to watch over and over again. I want you to feel what maybe got lost the first time around, just buried under noise.
Editing is therapy. The biggest challenge is also the most thrilling: to create something new using only the scenes I have. Even with limited resources, no reshoots, no new footage, a fan edit can still feel new. The further I can step away from the original, the more honest and powerful the edit becomes.
The process is demanding, the tools are getting better. Each project deepens my passion. I’m no longer limited by what I can’t do, only by what I haven’t imagined yet. This is my way of pushing creative boundaries. It drives me to keep improving, take on new challenges, and share my vision with a wider audience.
Fan editing is a labor of love. It’s even better when creative minds come together. If you're a fan editor and interested in collaborating, I’d love to connect! Whether it’s sharing ideas or working on a joint edit let’s bring those ideas to life!
Connect at lightspeedcuts@gmail.com