Editor Christine Wolf of Picture North enjoys a bit of a double life. (Triple, if you throw in her equine pursuits.) A fixture in the Chicago post production community, she’s been editing commercials and brand content for over two decades, with a long association at Whitehouse Post before landing at Picture North in 2022. But she’s also a rocker, whose band, Exedo, dropped its debut album last year. (You can check out a recent performance here.)
Christine says she’s drawn to projects with profound emotional impact and creative visualization, striving to foster the strongest avenues for narrative, theme, and ideas. When not cutting, jamming or riding, she likes to chill in the outdoors or relax with her husband and her pooch.
With a showreel that includes work for such brands as Disney, Guinness, Ford, TRESemme, Pacifico, and YouTube. And just in time for back to school, there’s a cute, funny and sentimental spot for Build-A-Bear Workshop from Highdive that’ll give you a smile.
The Howler caught up with Christine recently to ask how she spends her Golden Time. Here’s what she had to say.
Where do you live? What do you like best about where you live?
Christine Wolf: What I love most about Chicago is the creative community. For nearly two decades, I’ve balanced editing with being in a band, and the DIY music and post production communities have been the anchors that kept me here. They’ve shaped my career, my friendships, and my life.
So how’d you get into post production? And how long have you been in your current role?
Christine: I discovered my passion for editing while making my thesis film in art school. I shot hours of interviews, live music, and footage from a pirate radio collective that I was a part of, and I realized that shaping the story in the edit was what I loved most.
That discovery led me to Chicago's post production community. I started interning while I was still in school, and after graduation, an assistant editor I met in the music scene encouraged me to get back into post. I landed an internship at Cutters, worked my way through every entry-level position, became an assistant editor, and eventually an editor at Whitehouse Post, where I spent 15 years.
In 2022 I joined Picture North to help define and grow the post department alongside Martin Rodahl, Neha Schultz, Stacey Nuzbach, and Michael Nowicki. It's been incredibly rewarding to cultivate such a collaborative team and expand our post-production capabilities.
The moments that have shaped my career have always been about people sharing knowledge and opening doors. I was fortunate to come up in a time when there was a clear path into editing through mentorship and hard work, and I’m passionate about creating those same opportunities for the next generation through our internship program and by mentoring younger talent on our team.
How often do you end up working on the weekend? How much time do you spend on work-related stuff from Friday night to Sunday night?
Christine: My schedule is very project-based, so it can vary quite a bit. As a full-time editor, I generally work a standard Monday through Friday schedule, but when a project calls for nights, weekends, or travel, I'm happy to do what's needed.
That said, I really value my time away from screens. If I have a free weekend, I make a point to disconnect and recharge. Creative work requires focus and fresh perspective, and I've learned that taking care of myself ultimately makes me a better collaborator and editor.
What’s your favorite weekend decompression activity? How often do you get to do it?
Christine: On the weekends, I want to be outside as much as possible. You'll usually find me walking my two pit bulls, Hazel and Stanley Tucci, riding my bike with my husband, or working in my garden.
But my favorite way to decompress is spending time with my horse, Pete. He's a 26-year-old senior and 2,000 pounds of pure love. I head out to the barn whenever I can, and it's the place where I feel the most grounded.
Owning a horse is so much more than riding. Most of the time is spent grooming and doing chores, like mucking out his stall, adding extra shavings so his bedding is nice and dry, groundwork, and finding opportunities for him to socialize with other horses. Basically, making sure he has the best quality of life that I can provide for him.
There's a mindfulness to it that helps me completely disconnect from work, and it also taps into the same part of my brain that editing does—it's about observation, multitasking, problem-solving, and always learning. It's the perfect reset, and I treasure every moment I get to spend with him.
It’s a three-day weekend. How do you spend that bonus day?
Christine: In the warmer months, that usually means swimming in Lake Michigan or kayaking on a river. Being near the water is one of my favorite ways to reset.
When the weather turns colder, I don’t stop exploring, I just slow down a little. I’ll spend more time writing music, getting lost in a good book, or seeing as many movies as I can in the theater. Any extra day that lets me recharge creatively is a gift.
How much time do you spend on your phone/tablet/laptop on a typical weekend?
Christine: Definitely less than during the workweek, but probably still more than I'd like. I spend so much of my job in front of a screen that I try to use my weekends to unplug as much as possible. It's an ongoing work in progress, but I make a conscious effort to put my phone away and be present.
What have you been watching lately?
Christine: Right now I'm really enjoying the creepy, fun ride of “Widow's Bay,” and I'm just starting the latest season of “House of the Dragon.” I'll watch anything in the “Game of Thrones” universe – give me dragons, political intrigue, and great world-building, and I'm in. More dragons, please!
What do you listen to? What’s on your playlist?
Christine: Because I spend so much time listening to music for edits, the way I listen has really changed over the years. I'm constantly digging through playlists and saving tracks that might be perfect for a project.
At home, though, I try to slow things down. My husband and I have a collection of about 1,800 records, so we make a point to put on a different album while we're making dinner, cleaning the house, or reading on the couch with our dogs. It's a much more intentional way to experience music.
I'm also a big fan of Bandcamp because it supports artists more directly. Lately I've had the Sweeping Promises singles on repeat while I wait for their new album. I've also been listening to the Australian band Station Model Violence. My own band, Exedo, toured Australia years ago, and it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life, so I'll always have a soft spot for music from that part of the world.
Best weekend live experience of the past year? What made it special?
Christine: I’ve had a few unforgettable live experiences this past year.
Seeing the Joffrey Ballet perform “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” for the first time was absolutely breathtaking. The choreography, set design, costumes, and storytelling were all incredible. It was one of those performances where you completely lose yourself in the world they’ve created.
I also loved seeing Chicago band Cabeza de Chivo at a sold-out show at the Empty Bottle last fall. There’s something special about being shoulder-to-shoulder with people in a room celebrating live music.
And as a lifelong Keanu Reeves fan, seeing him reunite with Alex Winter in “Waiting for Godot” on Broadway was pretty special. It was, appropriately, most excellent.
So it’s Sunday night already! How do you get ready for Monday morning? What’s your routine?
Christine: Sunday nights are all about slowing down. My ideal evening is a home-cooked meal, hopefully with enough leftovers to make the week ahead a little easier, followed by curling up on the couch with my two pups and a good book or movie.
It’s a simple routine, but it’s the perfect way to recharge, reset, and start the week feeling grounded.
