How Aaron Greenbaum’s UNCSA Filmmaking skills shaped his role at Riot Games

Aaron Greenbaum (B.F.A. Filmmaking '13) knew UNCSA was where he belonged the moment he saw the School of Filmmaking's sound stages. Now, as Lead Editorial for Riot Games' Global Esports Content, he's made a name for himself in the fast-paced, innovative world of gaming content and becoming an Emmy Award winner. His path wasn't typical, but it's one that shows the value of hard work, adaptability and a creative foundation built at UNCSA.

After graduating, Greenbaum headed to New Orleans, hoping to take advantage of the city's growing film industry as a fresh alternative to Los Angeles or Atlanta. There, he hustled his way through — from cleaning warehouse floors to editing Zatarain's commercials. The hustle was ingrained and was a trait that only intensified after he moved to Los Angeles at 27. But it was a Facebook post that became "the ultimate catalyst," launching his career in esports and leading him to where he is today.

Greenbaum credits UNCSA's senior projects and avant-garde film classes with Professor Julian Semilian with sparking his creativity and shaping his editing style. "I'm often hired for the parts of an edit that are fast-paced, exciting and a little experimental," he explains. He encourages current students to maximize their time at UNCSA by diving into all aspects of filmmaking. "Learn everything — cinematography, directing, audio, production design, 3D, animation. The best editors don't just edit, and the best directors don't just direct."

A conversation with Aaron Greenbaum

In a recent conversation with the Alumni Engagement team, Greenbaum shared more about his UNCSA training, life as a full-time artist, and what advice she has for today’s young creatives. 

Why did you choose UNCSA?

UNCSA’s conservatory-style atmosphere — where every student was an artist — impressed me the most. When I saw the campus and the sound stages, I was sold. If I didn’t get into UNCSA, I was going to take a year off and apply again; it really was the only school I wanted to go to.

What’s your career journey been like since leaving UNCSA?

My career path was anything but conventional. After graduating, I spent a year editing a feature film and some music videos from my parents’ house before moving to New Orleans with a group of UNCSA alumni to start an art film collective. New Orleans had a growing film scene due to tax credits from the state, so we saw it as an alternative to Los Angeles (L.A.) or Atlanta. We hoped to make our films and foster a community of avant-garde filmmakers there, but without industry connections or financial stability, we struggled to make ends meet.

To stay afloat, I worked all sorts of odd jobs — everything from catering and coffee-making to Craigslist gigs — while taking on small editing projects. Over time, I built a modest client base, editing everything from weddings and real estate to commercials for brands like Zatarain’s and events like the NBA All-Star Game. Eventually, I landed enough work to support myself primarily through editing, but the lack of artistic fulfillment and the declining film opportunities in New Orleans pushed me to make a change. At 27, I packed my car and moved to L.A.

I was starting late by industry standards, but I felt hopeful. Through connections, I landed a role shadowing post-production on “Strange Angel.” Soon after, a Facebook post led to my first esports gig, which set me on a trajectory that’s defined my career for the last seven years. My journey since then has been shaped by two things: my love for gaming and the pandemic. Gaming helped me get those esports jobs, and the pandemic pushed me to pursue work that feels meaningful. Today, I get to follow my passion, creating content around the world with people I love working with.

Did any faculty members at UNCSA have a significant impact on you and your career?

My biggest mentor at UNCSA was Picture Editing and Sound Design faculty member Julian Semilian. He’s undoubtedly one of the most inspiring and incredible artists I’ve ever known. I learned so much from him during my time there. 

How has your UNCSA training shaped your career?

The montage skills I developed at UNCSA really set me apart in the editing field. I often get hired to work on fast-paced, more experimental or subliminally coded parts of the edit.

The montage skills I developed at UNCSA really set me apart in the editing field.

Aaron Greenbaum

I owe my ability in this area to the films and exercises I did at UNCSA — especially during Julian Semilian's avant-garde filmmaking classes. Working on flagship films during my junior and senior years also prepared me for professional environments post-graduation.

What challenges have you faced in your career?

The biggest challenges are likely still ahead. I’m still learning, and even though I have an Emmy, I’m nowhere close to the top of the proverbial mountain. Each job brings new challenges and the need for new solutions. One thing I’ve learned is to trust my skills but also to second-guess myself when necessary. Mistakes are okay, but dragging down a project by thinking your work is flawless isn’t.

What was a favorite project you worked on at UNCSA? 

My favorite project I made at school was an experimental VHS movie called "The Bachelorette Party." I was the Director of Photography for it, Micah Vassau was the director and Justin Dean was the editor. Anyone who knows those two would agree that they are true artists, and working with them on this project felt like lightning in a bottle.

Justin's approach to editing the film was so different from what I had imagined when we conceptualized it. It really blew my mind how far outside the box someone could think. His work on that project still resonates with me today.

What have been your career highlights so far?

Working on live events is incredibly validating. Watching thousands of fans in an arena or millions online react to our work has been a career highlight.

One of the most memorable moments was in Busan, Korea, in 2022. It was the first event we’d done with a live audience post-COVID, and the finals ended up being the most popular team in Korea versus a Chinese team. Needless to say, everyone in the arena was rooting for the Korean team, and after every line the Korean team spoke in our video, the audience would erupt. After years of doing this with no audience, it was a massive rush for our team to watch.

What do you envision as the future of your industry, and how can students prepare for it?

The esports industry, which I’ve worked in for seven years, faces a very uncertain future. My gut feeling is actually quite grim: that the future is an eventual fizzle out. My advice? Have a plan, but stay flexible.

Stay adaptable, keep calm and always have a backup plan.

Aaron Greenbaum (B.F.A. '13)

The film industry as a whole is going through tough times, too — many colleagues have either left L.A. or even left the industry entirely, and those who stay are often struggling to find work. Stories of friends working just a day a month have become all too common. I’m not claiming that I have figured out how to navigate all of this, but I think my early days of struggling in New Orleans, and living under constant uncertainty for as long as I did give me some valuable lessons on how to survive when times are extremely hard.

Stay adaptable, keep calm and always have a backup plan. No job is beneath anyone, so don’t hesitate to do whatever you need to get by — whether it’s making coffee, delivering food or walking dogs. I also truly believe that the people who weather the storm and come out on the other side are going to have better opportunities than they had when it started. 

Do you have any advice for current or prospective students? 

If I could go back, I’d use my time at UNCSA more wisely. I really didn’t take advantage of all the amazing resources the school had to offer.

My advice? Absorb as much as you can in every area of filmmaking. Learn about every medium — from miniDV tape to 3D animation. Don’t limit yourself; the best creatives are well-rounded. Oh, and watch as many movies from the archive as possible, until your eyes fall out. You never know which one might inspire your next project.

by Sarah Kelly

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