Luiz was an editor in his homeland of Brazil. He was recognized for his editing on the TV show Legendarios in Brazil (winning the Premio Jovem Brasilerio award), Deu Ole (Brazil’s top sports show), and the morning news show Dia Dia, and others. Having spent ten years as a busy editor at most of the major television stations in San Paulo, he was working but not content. The idea of collaborating with a director to tell a story on a much more grand scale had always been a dream and, after attending an NYFA workshop, the Americans he met there inspired him with their tales of the possibilities in the US. In particular, the opportunities available in advertising, movies, and documentaries were numerous in the United States and these were the ones which raised his interest.
During this same period, Luiz worked with the highly recognized Creative Director John Jaxheimer (known for his work with Apple, AT&T, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, ESPN, Kenneth Cole Fashion Label, DirecTV, Colgate, HBO, Microsoft, Nissan, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Time Warner Cable, Starbucks, Rolling Stone and TNT) on two documentaries; This Is A Big Deal: Chef JJ Johnson and The Cecil and Roots of the Rivalry: Timbers vs. Sounders. “Luiz was absolutely essential to the success of all of these productions. He combed through countless hours of footage to find the perfect shot in compiling his final edited cuts, often digging through B roll to interlace with the main footage, and even incorporating still photography with motion graphics in a way that seamlessly blended the two components. This Is A Big Deal was also noted at the Esquire Awards in 2014 for being the perfect introductory piece about its two acclaimed subjects – Chef JJ Johnson and Harlem’s historic restaurant The Cecil, which was named the best restaurant in all of New York in 2014 by Esquire.”, exclaims Jaxheimer.
The most recent project which finds Luiz at the editing helm is V-Card the Film. This documentary about an early 20’s New Yorker and his coming to terms with his intact virginity is a humorous and heartfelt look at how American society views sexuality and its norms. Mixing “man in the street” interviews with “confessional” and even animation, makes this film a very different as well as fulfilling project for Luiz. He states, “I’m always ready for a challenge and a chance to grow and learn. The editing in the film is highly important because there are so many people and I need to help the audience connect with them as quickly as possible. Dillon is the subject of the film so he is present throughout but some people are only there for seconds. We also decided to use animation in part throughout the film. I’ve had enough success with that medium that I was able to help the film reach the tone that we were striving for. That’s what I’ve wanted ever since I was in Brazil, a chance to push myself and learn from the talented people around me. It feels good.”