Tristan - Portraits

Tristan has been an editor and sound designer at L’Imagerie for just over two years. Alongside his work at the agency, he also freelances on animation projects for English-speaking YouTube creators. We sat down with him to talk about his journey, his passion for editing, and his daily life between the agency and his shared apartment.

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1. What’s your very first memory related to visual content that made you want to turn it into a career ?

I think the first time I ever edited a video was using an extension on Google Photos. There was a tool that could automatically create little edits, but it was limited to 50 photos with generic music. It made me want to find other smartphone apps so I could take things further.
Since I didn’t have a very good computer when I was around 17, I tried pretty much every editing app available on mobile. I used to make holiday videos or edits with friends to create memories. That’s really what got me into it.

It wasn’t exactly planned, because originally I wanted to become an automotive engineer… but it was still better than eight hours of maths and physics every week.

2. What has absolutely nothing to do with visual content but helps you recharge the most?

Living with roommates, without a doubt. It really helps me switch off, separate one day from the next, and avoid feeling like the whole week has turned into one long, monotonous day.
There’s always some social life going on, as well as a little bit of unpredictability : four or five of us hanging out in the evening, talking, playing co-op video games or board games that I usually lose almost immediately… At the moment, my favourite game to lose at is Ticket to Ride.

3. Where are we most likely to find you in your free time?

On my new gravel bike! No, honestly, if I have to be 100% truthful : on my computer, in my bedroom.
The door to our apartment is always open (until the day we inevitably get burgled), but I’m often shut away in my room on my PC, either working or playing Cities: Skylines.
Then, when my neck starts hurting, that’s usually the sign I’ve spent too long in my “harmful” posture… and that’s when it’s time to get some fresh air on my bike.

4. In practical terms, how would you explain your role within the team as simply as possible?

In post-production, we’re a bit like the rat in La Fontaine’s fable The Lion and the Rat. We come in right at the end: like the little rat gnawing through the ropes of the net to free the lion, we’re there to untangle things and save the project from all the little mishaps and hiccups that happened during pre-production and filming.
It’s a kind of “second pre-production” where we shape the final version.

And very concretely, sound adds a whole extra layer of life to an edit. My role when mixing is to make sure the project feels as alive as possible, with balanced audio levels and no single element overpowering another.

5. How do you manage your time between your two activities without getting sick of editing?

For me, editing is a good way to stay in my own world all day.
When it comes to organising my workload, I either get up early in the morning, around 6 or 6:30 a.m., to work on my freelance projects, or I work during my lunch break and then a little in the evening.
I still try to avoid working in the evenings so I can enjoy time with my roommates. It really helps me switch off and maintain a great balance.
On average, I spend four to five hours a day on my freelance project. There you go, now you know a little too much about my schedule.

6. What part of your work does the client never see, but makes all the difference?

All the quality-control passes.
Exporting the video and watching the entire two-to-four-minute film several times in a row to make sure there are no glitches, bad frames or audio issues. It takes a huge amount of energy and concentration.
If the job is done properly, the client doesn’t notice anything. But if it isn’t, it becomes obvious immediately.

7. If a student wanted to do exactly what you do tomorrow, what skill should they develop?

I think it would be communication. Explaining the workflow to the client and helping them understand the reality of deadlines and revisions. And that doesn’t only apply to clients, it’s just as important with the rest of the team.

You also need to be open to outside opinions. Whatever you’re working on, you naturally become immersed in your project during the editing process. Being able to welcome the fresh perspective of someone discovering the video for the first time, and then take their feedback on board, is part of editing. That’s how you move forward and improve.

8. Any final words?

Nothing in particular, except a little thank you to the agency for paying me to stay in my own world!
I’m looking forward to freeing up some time to get back on my gravel bike soon. We can end on that positive note!

*Since this interview was recorded, Tristan has completed his first bikepacking trip.

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