Fields had come "up from the cutting room floor" and out of the customary, near-anonymity of film editors. Regarding this change in her career path, Fields told Peary in 1980 that "All these young filmmakers are possessive.
Fields' transition from a behind-the-scenes role as an editor to a more visible position in filmmaking was influenced by this change in her career trajectory, which was attributed to her "upward mobility" and departure from the typical, anonymous nature of film editors.