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Reader Q&A : Advice for an aspiring editor

 

Hello,

I'm studying to become a film/video editor in post-production. So far, I'm having the time of my life! I love my classes, I love my projects, and I love the fact that every new editing assignment is a new sandbox to play in!

I've been a regular reader of your articles , and I get exposure to both Avid Xpress Pro and Final Cut Pro, and Final Cut Pro is quickly becoming my preferred tool.

I just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks for writing! One of my favourite things about being an editor is juggling art and cutting-edge technology, and your clear, well-written articles do a great job of making that combination easier.

I was glancing over your previous credits, and it's quite an impressive list! Do you have any words of advice for an aspiring editor in Toronto? As part of my program, I have to complete 150 internship hours at a professional post-production facility, and I'm really interested in doing online HD work in Final Cut Pro.

Once again, thanks so much for all your hard work! I've referred many of my classmates to your helpful articles, and I'm already looking forward to your next one!

Have a great day,

Jason

Hey Jason,

I'm glad you enjoy the articles. Like you, I went to college before jumping into the Post Production world! The best piece of advice I can give you is to know your machine. Know FCP, Motion, Shake and especially After Effects, as pretty much every post house in Toronto (and around the world) uses it. Do whatever it takes to make a name for yourself. In the beginning you will have to work days, nights, evenings, weekends and holidays to get your name out there, but once the dust clears, you will realize that it was well worth it. I was an assistant editor for a year before I started editing, and it gave me the foundation of understanding signal flow, digitizing and project organization (which will be my next article), and when I look back, I made the right decision, and would encourage everyone to be an assistant before you're an editor. Just NEVER call yourself a "Junior" editor, or you will be stuck with that stigma for a long time, and NEVER work for free. Hope this helps, and I'm glad you enjoyed my articles.

Do you have a question about editing or post production in general? Send an e-mail to us by clicking here, and you might just see it in our next Reader Q&A!