Her Story
About Staci
Staci Vice is an accomplished film and television professional whose career spans nearly three decades in post-production, content operations, and creative leadership. What began as a childhood fascination with storytelling evolved into a lifelong commitment to the entertainment industry. Growing up in a small Indiana town, Staci pursued her dream despite being encouraged to choose a more conventional path. Her passion was sparked by an early movie-going experience watching Star Wars, an experience that ignited a fascination with cinematic storytelling that continues to fuel her work today. A graduate of Purdue University with dual degrees in International Film Studies and Mass Communications, she further expanded her academic pursuits through studies at the University of Chicago, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Cambridge.
As a First Assistant Editor, Staci has built a reputation as both a creative and operational leader on major union productions. Her role extends far beyond editorial support, encompassing workflow architecture, team leadership, asset management, and coordination among producers, directors, editors, and post-production departments. Often functioning as the operational equivalent of a post-production executive producer, she oversees complex workflows and manages teams responsible for bringing large-scale productions to completion. Her distinguished body of work includes collaborations on high-profile projects and industry-recognized productions, earning her multiple Emmy honors and nominations, including recognition for her work on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the acclaimed documentary series Simone vs. Herself. Beyond editing, she has pursued interests in scripted development, writing, business operations, and media strategy, demonstrating a unique ability to bridge creativity with executive-level management.
A dedicated advocate for entertainment professionals, Staci serves on the Board of Directors of the Motion Picture Editors Guild and actively contributes to numerous industry committees focused on outreach, communications, political engagement, women’s leadership, and emerging technologies. She is also involved with initiatives addressing the impact of artificial intelligence on creative industries, helping shape conversations around ethics, workforce sustainability, and responsible innovation. In late 2024, she established a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting industry workers facing financial hardship and career disruption. Despite surviving a serious automobile accident in 2025 and navigating one of the most challenging periods in Hollywood’s history, Staci has remained focused on service, advocacy, and long-term solutions for creative professionals. Currently expanding her expertise through work in the financial sector while maintaining strong ties to entertainment, she continues to champion the industry she loves. Guided by resilience, intellectual curiosity, and a deep appreciation for storytelling, Staci credits much of her work ethic and determination to her upbringing and to the example set by her father, whose steady support and commitment to hard work continue to inspire her today.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Staci
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a genuine passion for storytelling, a commitment to continuous learning, and a deep belief in the value of collaboration and service. Since childhood, I have been captivated by the magic of film and television, and that passion has driven me throughout nearly three decades in the industry. As a First Assistant Editor, I have had the privilege of leading talented teams and helping bring creative visions to life, while my involvement with professional organizations, industry committees, and emerging technology initiatives has allowed me to contribute beyond my day-to-day role. Equally important has been my desire to support and uplift others, whether through mentorship, advocacy, or community engagement. I believe that when you truly love what you do, remain curious, and stay dedicated to helping others succeed, meaningful opportunities and lasting success naturally follow.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say you have to really, really enjoy it, and then if that's the case, don't stop. Continue on. Definitely don't give up.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge right now is that Hollywood has sort of imploded. I'm in meetings where we're talking about extinction-level events for whole industry sectors due to AI. It is so bad - I deal with people daily who are foreclosing on their homes and can't feed their kids. We don't really have a safety net. I'm attending meetings with some of the first people in the country tackling these issues of AI, and we're talking about ethical ways of going about doing business with the technology, as opposed to a giant land grab and a winner-take-all. There's even talk about a constitutional convention for how Hollywood communicates with itself. This group is funded by billionaires, politicians, all the way to the smallest denominator, which is what I would put myself. The difference between generations is that older generations, if they don't have jobs or ability, they have assets - that's not the next three generations right now. A lot of stuff is not working out for a lot of people right now. I'm in rooms with top Hollywood people all the time, and it's all of us experiencing this.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
What's most important to me is being able to help people I actually care about. I love creating stuff that makes people feel amazing - not only giving them hope, but really making them have tangible benefits so they can survive and actually thrive. When I worked the car giveaway for the Oprah Winfrey Show and saw the faces of the audience members when they got the help they needed, that was a massive moment for me. The audience was entirely a bunch of people who really actually needed cars, and to have a day like that in your life, it feels longer than a day - it's exhausting on the highest of levels but amazing. I want to use the momentum of something like that. People have told me the difference between me and others is that they think I actually care, and I absolutely do I'm not giving lip service. I really do care. It's something I think of from the morning I wake up to the evening. I don't want to play political games I actually do want to give meaningful change, opportunity, and tangible benefits that people can actually use. The level of creativity that we're allowed in my work is what really keeps me going. I enjoy complex language, complex theory, and coming up with new and unique things. I learned a lot from my dad, who was an amazing factory worker and a very stable, enabling force.
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