The queen of Christmas has spoken — and it’s officially the season 🎁
MakeMake editor Louis Palacios returned to edit Mariah Carey’s 2025 “It’s Time” video, the now-iconic signal that ushers in the holidays for millions around the world. To celebrate, we caught up with Louis to talk about being part of a viral tradition, his favorite collaborations, and the creative instincts that keep his edits sharp
What does it mean to you to edit a piece that kicks off the holiday season for millions each year?
Mariah Carey’s “It’s Time” videos are such a massive pop-culture event, and knowing they kick off the holiday season for millions blows my mind. As an editor, I’m always shaping timing. But with Mariah, I get to help shape her timing, the exact moment she declares the holidays officially begin. Being part of that tradition two years in a row has been pure joy.
What are some of your favorite projects?
This Is Me…Now
Working with Jennifer Lopez on this project will always have a special place in my heart. It was the perfect blend of dream collaborations and personal milestones. It felt like so many specific dreams I had been working toward since I was a kid finally came alive.
Ram College Football
Editing with Joseph Kahn is electric every single time. I love that I was able to edit on set, feel the energy in real time, and watch Terry Crews and those trucks command every frame. I had so much fun with that team.
You often edit on set and shape the edit as it’s being filmed. How does that immediacy impact your creative decisions and collaboration with the team?
I thrive editing on set. The immediacy of hearing what’s working, what the director loves, and how the creative evolves in real time is invaluable. It allows me to start building instantly. My selects become obvious, my instincts sharper, and the communication crystal clear. There’s something incredibly satisfying about leaving set with a cut right as we wrap. It keeps spirits high, keeps the momentum alive, and elevates the entire process.
How long have you been editing?
It’s hard to pinpoint where the journey officially began because creativity has always been in my DNA. I played piano in elementary school, was glued to MTV in middle school, experimented with Photoshop in 6th grade, and by 9th grade, I was filming music videos on my parents’ camcorder and editing them with my friends for fun. Editing didn’t feel like something I “started.” It felt like something I naturally grew into.
What’s your favorite part of being an editor?
The relationships. Hands down. I get to collaborate with people I grew up admiring, and it never stops being exciting. Some say “never meet your heroes,” but my experience has been the opposite. Working with them has been inspiring, humbling, and creatively energizing. Those connections are everything.
What is your dream project?
I would love to work with director Francis Lawrence in any capacity. Growing up, my holy trinity of music-video directors was Joseph Kahn, Dave Meyers, and Francis Lawrence. I’ve been fortunate enough to collaborate with two of them already, and the kid in me still holds onto that last dream. It feels like a full-circle moment waiting to happen.
