Sr. editor Cristina Rackoff has joined the roster of Moondog Edit. The editor spent the last year and half freelancing for a number of top New York postproduction companies. Prior to that she was with Big Sky Editorial for over a decade.
A self-taught editing enthusiast, Rackoff mastered Final Cut Pro even before entering the School of Visual Arts’ editing program. “I always knew I wanted to be an editor,” she said, adding that she became so fluent with the program that she worked for Apple Computer while attending SVA, teaching Final Cut at their SoHo store, giving presentations, and doing private tutoring.
After graduating from SVA, she landed a job at Big Sky Editorial, quickly becoming an assistant to editor Chris Franklin. Over the next 10 years she worked her way up to a sr. editor role, handling a wide range of projects for some of New York’s biggest agencies and clients.
It was at Big Sky that she edited “Your First Time” for the 2012 Obama for America re-election campaign. Starring Lena Dunham, it coyly confuses your first time voting with your first carnal encounter. In it, Dunham talks in a rapid, quick-cut patter about how, for your first time, you should want to do it with a guy who can provide you with health insurance and, who got the troops out of Iraq. It made the shortlist for the HPA Awards and has nearly three million views on YouTube.
The comic timing of “First Time” reveals one of a number of Rackoff’s skills as a storyteller. Whether dealing with personal care and beauty brands, lifestyle brands, even alcoholic beverages, her ability to hone in on the subtle nuance of performance and visuals while supporting the script and the agency’s creative vision is seen in spots for Cigna, Post, Clairol, Cover Girl, Wild Turkey, Garnier, Gerber, and Victoria’s Secret Sport apparel.
In addition to her work with advertising clients, Rackoff also contributes to projects in a range of other media forms. She edited the audio for actor Matthew Modine’s award-winning iPad app, “Full Metal Jacket Diary,” which recounts his experiences taking photos during production of the Stanley Kubrick classic.
She also teamed with filmmaker Tessa Blake, who came out of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, to edit her short film, “Election Night.” The dramedy about a political candidate and his family has been a favorite of festivals around the world and was an official selection of the Cannes Film Festival Emerging Filmmaker Showcase in 2015. Rackoff also worked for the political advocacy consulting firm Siegel Strategies, working on fast-paced public issue campaigns and even editing content on location at rallies.
Like many editors, Rackoff chose to go freelance for a period of time to get a better sense of the current state of the postproduction industry and to broaden her roster of contacts and assignments. It was during this time that she met Moondog Edit EP Courtney Ryan Law, who brought her in to work on a handful of projects. She also met Moondog owners Bernadette Quinn and Pete Kasko and felt the pull of the company’s distinct atmosphere and culture.
“I immediately felt like part of the family at Moondog,” said Rackoff. “The vibe is very positive, and there’s always so much happening. There’s lots of creative talent here, and I wanted to be a part of it. I love the work we do--people are shooting, editing, doing effects, and music--it just drew me in.”
