Film Production Grad Highlights Work as VFX Editor

Steve Jacks '06 has come a long way from an internship on "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh." Today he works as a Visual Effects Editor at the heart of the Star Wars universe, with credits spanning "The Mandalorian," "The Book of Boba Fett," "Ahsoka," and "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew." In this alumni Q&A, he traces his path from an assistant editor on low-budget films to an apprentice editor on a union feature, joining the Motion Picture Editors Guild along the way, before his work on "I, Tonya" led to a move to Los Angeles, and, soon after, to a call from Lucasfilm.

Beyond the credits, Steve opens up about what actually keeps a career like his running: the people. He shares how his real focus these days is managing people, having hired more than half a dozen crew members and led teams of three to four on each project, and he reflects on how far strong communication and adaptability can take you compared to raw technical skill. He also credits his time at Point Park, and mentors like Liz Richards and Fred Johnson, with giving him hands-on filmmaking experience early on, plus a few words of advice for students weighing a big-city film school against Point Park's program. It's a great read for anyone curious what it actually looks like to build a career behind the scenes of some of the biggest franchises in Hollywood.

https://www.pointpark.edu/news-copa/steve-jacks-06

Steve Speaks at FORMER High School

A few weeks ago I had the chance to return to my old high school (which is now a middle school) to discuss how I came from a small school in Pittsburgh, PA to working on one of the biggest streaming shows in Hollywood as a visual effects editor. It was blast to reconnect with my old Media Arts teacher David Taylor and meet his seventh grade class. The kids were engaged and excited to hear about my journey. I had a great time speaking to them and helping them begin their focus on their interests to see where it might lead them in life.

A big thanks to all the staff and students at the South Fayette Middle School!

The South Hills Almanac wrote a piece on me here: CLICK HERE

An image shows Steve when he was in high school.

Steve with David Taylor, his old media team instructor.

Steve addresses the students.

Steve addresses the students in the auditorium of his old high school.

Steve with a selection of students who stayed to ask more questions.

Steve Jacks Discusses Work on "Discipline Win" Podcast

“‘What’s your backup plan?’ What ‘backup plan’? This is the backup plan. This is the only plan. There is no backup- this is the plan.”

Last week, Steve Jacks made a guest appearance on his brother's podcast! The Discipline Win Podcast focuses on education and leadership, and Steve is genuinely proud of the work Andy is doing there. It was a treat for the two of them to sit down together and talk shop, especially on a subject as personal as this one.

They dug into Steve's own path growing up, including the teachers who took the time to encourage him to chase film editing as a real career rather than just a passing interest. From there, the conversation turned into something bigger: holding onto your dreams, trusting the work you're drawn to, and why Steve believes so strongly in throwing out the idea of a "backup plan" altogether. For anyone with a young person weighing a creative path against a more "practical" one, or figuring that out for themselves, this episode is well worth a listen.

Give it a listen here.