Avid Artist: Matt Wafaie

Matt Wafaie is an experienced LA-based editor, producer, videographer, and composer. He got his start making award-winning content for the government television station “DC8” in Douglas County, Colorado. There he grew from humble beginnings directing and editing the best damn street sweeper training videos the workforce has ever seen to winning his first regional Emmy as a composer for a musical biopic about controversial local legend, Kit Carson.

Despite finding some early success directing and editing music videos, Matt has primarily spent the last two decades editing various genres of unscripted content for nearly every major network and streamer. A few recent credits include the smash hit Welcome to Wrexham starring Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, The Biggest Loser, American Idol, and The Voice, for which he was Emmy-nominated in 2024. Matt is a Television Academy member and has also taught editing at his alma mater, Colorado Film School.

When not in the edit chair, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, and two destructive puppies. His many hobbies include composing music, all things tech-related, and typing about himself in the third person. He is honored to be included on the list of talented editors featured as an Avid Artist.

Avid: What do you enjoy most about editing The Voice?

Matt: What I like most about editing The Voice is that it’s the product of a large team of highly talented people which combines high-end production value with deeply real and personal storytelling. It allows me to flex my muscles on everything from comedy to true heart and to celebrate some truly amazing singers and coaches.

Avid: How did you find out about the nomination and what was your reaction, as well as the reaction from your friends and family?

Matt: Funny enough, I was congratulating a friend of mine on being nominated for a different category when I received a similar text congratulating me. I hadn’t yet fully perused the nomination list and it was the best total spoiler ever. My daughter was pretty sure that it means I’m famous now. I’m sort of a big deal around my household.

Avid: What was the biggest challenge you face editing The Voice?

Matt: For me, the biggest challenge of so many shows is that, at the end of the day, we have a limited amount of running time per episode and we have to lose moments that we all truly love. As much as it’s a challenge to make those decisions, I consider it a privilege to just have too much great content.

Avid: How did Media Composer help you craft this episode?

Matt: The Voice is a collaboration between a lot of talented people with a lot of footage which demands a robust tool for us to work together effectively. Media Composer offers the stability and functionality that allows a large number of collaborators to work together smoothly and efficiently.

Avid: What inspired you to want to be an editor?

Matt: I was originally aiming for a career as a director and composer but, early on, I found that my favorite part of the film/television production process was always the edit because that’s where all of the hard work and creative ideas become a reality. Editing is one of the final steps of the process and it’s fun to spend my days actually crafting the final product.

Avid: What is your approach to finding and building the story within the footage?

Matt: I feel that my primary role as an editor is always to make audiences “feel” something, whether that's laughter, tears, or everything in between. When you’re dealing, as we do in unscripted tv, with real people and real situations, you need to do more than just tell their stories. You have to help the audience “feel” that story just as those who’ve experienced it in real life have. When I set out to create a scene, the first thing I ask myself is what the audience should be feeling which will inform every editing choice I make along the way.

Avid: How has knowing Media Composer helped your career?

Matt: Since my earliest days in the industry, Media Composer has been considered the “industry standard” and I certainly wouldn’t be where I am without it. I work on a lot of large scale shows and all of them rely on Media Composer in order to work effectively.