Fresh Cut: Fernanda Toledo

Some people chase the spotlight. Fernanda Toledo is more interested in making sure the spotlight lands exactly where it's supposed to. As an Online Conform Editor at Mirror Mirror, she's the calm, detail-oriented force helping projects make the leap from editorial to final delivery—without ever losing the creative spark that made them special in the first place. When she's not piecing together final masters, she's chasing live blues music, exploring the open road on her motorcycle, or convincing us all to stay a little more curious. We sat down with Fernanda to chat about life in finishing, the art of solving puzzles, and the adventures waiting beyond the edit suite.

Meet Fernanda

Dasha: What is something that you're always hoping people will bring up in conversation?
Fernanda: Music. I've been listening to a lot of Terry Reed. Um, he passed away last year, actually. He's much older, but uh he was like a British blues rock singer songwriter from the late 60s with one of the most incredible voices I've ever heard. And I just rediscovered him and have been listening a lot lately. So I just like swapping music recommendations and discovering artists I've somehow missed.

Dasha: What's a positive trait that people always compliment you on?
Fernanda: Staying calm under pressure. Sometimes a little too calm, haha. Uh yeah, I mean I mean I feel like even when something unexpected happens, I just usually like figuring out a solution before panicking. You know, panicking never does me any good. Like it's not the end of the world. It's gonna be okay. You know,

Dasha: What is something that you think is wildly underrated?
Fernanda: Curiosity. Uh I think asking why you know uh one more time usually teaches you more than pretending that you know everything or the answer to everything. Uh I think you can never be too curious. Of course there's situations that you want to you know not ask too many questions like especially when when it's something when you're doing a work and you're under pressure you know and people are trying to do their thing you don't want to be bombarding them with questions but usually I think that curiosity is a good thing.
Dasha: Yeah, absolutely. It's good to stay curious.

Dasha: What's something that you're looking forward to in your personal life?
Fernanda: Exploring more of the United States actually. You know, I've always loved the idea of discovering places by road, whether it's a weekend hiking trip or like a cross-country motorcycle trip. Discovering small towns or even restaurants and talking to different people, meeting strangers. I love all of that. So, I think that's something that I'm looking forward to, especially now that I work fully remote, you know, that would be amazing to have more of in my life.
Dasha: Are there any specific regions of the US that you're wanting to go to?
Fernanda: I've been to quite a few. But one that I absolutely love and for some reason feel a strong connection to is Monument Valley, UT.
Kyle: Pretty.
Fernanda: There is a lot of good bike riding there. Uh I just feel like a special connection to that place and I love it. And also Yellowstone. I've been to Yellowstone once, but it was during winter time. So, it was beautiful, but you know, during winter time, you can only enter the park if you're on an official tour. I want to go during spring or, you know, just a season where I can actually explore and go on hikes and camping and all that.

Staying Curious

Dasha: So, for people who might not know, what does an online conform editor do?
Fernanda: I think we're basically the bridge between the edit and the and the final master. So, you know, we take all the creative decisions made during editorial and make sure that everything comes together correctly. Um, you know, reconnecting the highest quality media, coordinating VFX, color, graphics, audio, legal disclaimers, and just making sure the final deliverables are just technically perfect. um without losing the creative intent which sometimes can get lost.
Dasha: What's your approach to making sure the client's creative vision carries all the way through?
Fernanda: I think I try to understand what's most important to the client from the beginning so that every technical decision supports that vision, right? So finishing is a lot about solving problems without losing what made the piece work creatively in the first place. So communication between everyone that's involved – offline and then producers, online clients, etc.
Dasha: What's your favorite part of the job?
Fernanda: I love solving puzzles. I appreciate it. Uh, and every project's a little different and I don't know, I feel like there's something really satisfying about taking dozens of new pieces and make them feel uh seamless and yeah, just putting everything together, you know? I really like that.
Dasha: Yeah. How do you define success?
Fernanda: That's very cliche in post, but uh I think when nobody notices the finishing, you know, when the audience is completely immersed in the story and everything works, I think we've done our job right. Unlike, you know, whoever finished that Game of Thrones episode with a Starbucks cup.
Kyle: Or maybe there was a time traveler that was in there. You never know, man.

Dasha: In your opinion, what's the most underrated part of the finishing process?
Fernanda: Workflow you know when everyone knows where things stand and there's a solid process in place it just becomes much easier to solve technical challenges and keep the projects moving and of course that's tied directly to communication
Dasha: And what do you think makes a good collaboration between production, post, and finishing?
Fernanda: Trust and transparency I think are very important and transparency. You know the earlier everyone communicates the easier it is to solve problems and when you know before they become big ones.

Dasha: How did you get into the finishing and post-production world?
Fernanda: I've always loved editing. Like as a kid, I was constantly making little videos and editing clips from YouTube just because I enjoyed it. And I still love editing my own personal projects. But once I started doing it professionally, I realized that I didn't love the pressure of having to be creative on a deadline. So really what I gravitated toward was the technical side of post production. You know, like solving problems, building efficient workflows, making sure everything comes together as intended. And that's what led me to finishing. And I enjoy it much more than offline editing for sure.
Dasha: I'm curious. Do you still have any of the YouTube videos that you used to edit?
Fernanda: Oh, yeah. And my my family blackmails me with those, They have them on DVDs. They're like, "These are so bad. Like, if you ever do something and you become big, like, we're definitely we're haunting you with these.”

Dasha: Um, was there a project or mentor that shaped your approach early on?
Fernanda: I think there wasn't just one project or mentor. You know, I think my approach was shaped by a lot of the talented people I've worked with throughout my career. Just learning from experienced producers, offline editors, online editors just taught me that the technical skills are important, but staying organized, communicating well, and keeping a level head are just as valuable.

Dasha: If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in this industry, what would it be?
Fernanda: I think that ties to my first answer – stay curious. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Technology and workflows are constantly changing, but no one knows everything. And I feel like that's with everything in life, right? Not just post. I think like people who keep learning and then aren't afraid to admit what they don't know are the ones that are always continuing to grow. So,
Dasha: Yeah. And we have so much to learn from each other.
Fernanda: Oh my gosh. Everyday.
Kyle: We should make a “stay curious” motivational poster for the office. It’s just like a golden retriever with a Sherlock Holmes hat.

Dasha: If you weren't doing this, what weirdly specific job would you have instead?
Fernanda: I think I will probably lead motorcycle expeditions somewhere in the world – Iceland, Patagonia, or somewhere crazy like that. I would love that for a few months.
Dasha: That is so cool. That could turn into a whole lifestyle.
Fernanda: I love having a routine though, you know? I love my home, so I feel like I could do that, but I would also need a break from time to time, you know? But that would be amazing.
Dasha: Maybe that's like the summer gig.
Fernanda: Yeah. Like make a reality show that’s like an expedition for women on motorcycles. That would be cool.
Dasha: Sign me up.
Kyle: Do it!! You have the McLaren shirt on, by the way. We need more racer content.
Fernanda: Oh yeah, McLaren F1. Yeah, like I'm big into F1. You know, it's always been a big sport in Brazil. I grew up on it.

Dasha: Which tools do you rely on the most?
Fernanda: you know what, and I'm not sure if like other people use that. I'm sure they use something similar, but uh, there's this software called Invisor. Uh, and it's it just tells me all the specs of the videos that I exported, you know, so bit rate, frame rate, codec. So, I rely on that a lot when I'm making deliverables. And of course, Premiere, but that goes without saying.
Kyle: Yeah. I don't think I've ever heard of Invisor.

Dasha: Which part of the process always tries to humble you?
Fernanda: Speed changes, recreating them perfectly, during the conform can sometimes be very very tricky, especially when there are a lot of other effects going on. So, I think they're just a good reminder uh that there's always something new to figure out. Yeah, when speed changes with different frame rates, they can get a little tricky.
Dasha: So I’ve heard. Just never ending.

Dasha: Is there a film or ad whose finishing inspires you?
Fernanda: Interstellar for sure. I think the amount of technical innovation behind the film is just incredible. The visual effects team actually developed a new rendering software just to create that black hole in the movie because there wasn't anything in the market at the time that they could use. So,
Dasha: Wow.
Fernanda: Some of the frames from that black hole in the movie took over like a hundred hours to render. So, that's just fascinating to me. And I don't know, I think that complexity just serves the story. You never think about the technical work while you're watching it. It’s seamless. I can't even imagine the post budget it had.
Dasha: Oh my god. Me neither. That movie is so good.

Dasha: How do you balance technical precision with keeping the creative vision intact?
Fernanda: I think that technology should never really be the focus. I think the technical work exists to support the creative work – not to compete with it. It’s important to have that balance of knowing that one is just there to support the other.

Rest & Relaxation

Dasha: When you're not working, how do you like to recharge?
Fernanda: Running, hiking, camping, road trips, spending time outside, you know, getting away from my screen just helps me come back with a fresh perspective.
Dasha: Yeah, for sure. What's the last road trip that you took?
Fernanda: It was Memorial Day weekend. I went to Yosemite. It was like a motorcycle thing with a few of my friends. So we just rode up there and camped and just rode all weekend. It was fun. We try to do it every year.
Kyle: Did you stay in the valley?
Fernanda: Not exactly. We were just uh off in a tall town called Mariposa. So, it's like a big motorcycle rally. They actually reserve the fairgrounds for this event.
Kyle: What kind of motorcycle do you have?
Fernanda: It's a BMW GS. So, it's an adventure bike.

Dasha: What is something that you like to nerd out about outside of work that might surprise people?
Fernanda: Blues music. Actually, a lot of people are surprised when I say that I'm very into blues, like blues rock.
Dasha: Blues is cool. It has a very fascinating history, which I really love.
Fernanda: For sure. One of the things that I try to do outside of work is to just go to a lot of festivals and concerts. That's very important for me. At the beginning of every year, I'm like, "Okay, who's touring this year? Where am I going? How do I start planning?"
Dasha: Is there one that you're really excited about coming up this year?
Fernanda: Yeah. There's this band that I've always loved and I try to see them every year. They're called Tedeschi Trucks Band. So, it's a couple, Derek Trucks, who's a phenomenal guitar player. He's been playing since he was like literally eight years old. That's when he started playing with the Allman Brothers. So he's incredible. And his wife, Susan Tedeschi, is an amazing guitar player and singer. I think they have like 12 members in the band. And it's the most incredible band to see live and I try to see them every year. I saw them play last year a couple of times at the Greek and this year they're playing the Hollywood Bowl and they are playing the Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival in Austin in September.

Dasha: What is a small everyday thing that you like to do that makes you feel grounded?
Fernanda: I play something on vinyl every morning when I wake up. There's just something special about it to me. I think probably the fact that it's not easy to skip it, you know? So, you're like, "Ah, I don't feel like listening to this song." It just grounds and teaches me patience in a way.
Dasha: I used to do the same thing. And it really is so grounding. I need to get back on that.

On Mirror Mirror & Lucky Day

Dasha: What do you think makes Mirror Mirror a good partner for clients?
Fernanda: I think everyone genuinely cares about the work here you know by doing a great work. Um there is this a strong balance between technical expertise and collaboration which I think make feel makes clients feel supported throughout the process and it's actually I think the first place I worked where I worked where I feel like there's a lot of communication between us and the clients directly you know without like necessarily a middle person and I think that makes a huge difference. Maybe also because I've always worked in agencies, so there's an agent agency people that are dealing with the clients. But I like having this this direct communication. I think it makes things easier.

Dasha: What is something that the team here does especially well?
Fernanda: I think it's the communication. People are just so quick to help each other, you know, and everyone's working towards the same goal. So, I think I think that's great. And I also love that everyone is very respectful of each other's time, you know. I think that that can be rare in post-production. So, I really love that, too.
Dasha: Yeah, that's a great answer.

Dasha: Who on the team is calmest under pressure?
Fernanda: I want to say Felicia because I've worked with her the most, you know. Uh but I think I think we make a team. Yeah. Between her working well under pressure and me being way too calm sometimes, like we're okay. We're doing okay.
Dasha: Yeah, I think I remember in her interview – I think maybe it was the question what do people compliment her on – she was saying that people always comment on how calm she is like when things get stressful. She's just like very levelheaded,
Fernanda: Right, it's not that serious. Let's calm down and let's figure it out, you know?

Dasha: Who on the team would survive a zombie apocalypse and who would not?
Fernanda: I don't know. I mean, I feel like both of you guys will probably do just fine. You sound like outdoorsy people, you know. I think I think you probably have valuable skills, you know, that would make you survive. Who would not?
Dasha: Debatable.
Kyle: It’s possible.

Dasha: Who gives the best pep talks?
Fernanda: I mean, thankfully I feel like I haven't been on a project here that called for a pep talk yet, so hopefully I can keep it that way. I think Spencer or Nick Thomas would probably be great at it.

Dasha: If you could swap jobs with someone else on the team for a week, who and why?
Fernanda: Do I have to switch jobs? I really like my job.
Dasha: You don't have to. Just if you were curious.
Fernanda: I mean I feel like I'm still a little new and I mean everyone's so good at what they do. I I think I'll rather just spend another few months learning from them first and then I and then I can answer that.
Dasha: You're nicer than me. I would switch jobs for a week just because I'm curious. I'd be like, "Let me switch jobs with Chris for a week" just like fully knowing that I would absolutely screw everything up. It would probably be so bad, but I'm curious to walk in his shoes.
Fernanda: Yes! Oh, I love that.
Dasha: And then hopefully my job would feel like a vacation to him. Cuz my job's a little more straightforward than leading an entire company, you know... So, you're nicer than me where you're like, "Let me learn the ropes first and get some training under my belt." And I'm like, "Nah, let me just FAFO."

Rapid Fire

Favorite TV show: Most recently – Severance. I really like that show. I love the rabbit holes that you only find out about on Reddit, and then you have to rewatch the episode.

Movie: Interstellar. That's like top three for me.

Book: A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean.

Food: Brazilian barbecue. It's my thing.

Restaurant: That would be one in Rio actually. It's called Braisero. Very, very good.

Color: Blues! All across the board.

Dasha: Same goes for your favorite music?
Fernanda: Blues. You got it.

Dasha: And what's your favorite place on earth?
Fernanda: Banff during summer is something else. I spent a couple of weeks there last summer and it was magical.
Kyle: I've never been, but it does look magical.

Dasha: Three people to have dinner with. They could be dead or alive.
Fernanda: Hmm, Christopher Nolan. Ry Cooder -- he's an American composer and guitar player who did a bunch of movie scores. And third would be Robert Redford, I think he was a phenomenal human being.

You can check out Fernanda's work here. 🏍️