3 answers
Aaron
Student
Joliet, Illinois
4
Questions
Asked
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What steps would you recommend I take to prepare to enter Film & Editors
I've been interested in movies and videos and thought about being a Film & Video editor. I've been recently editing and making music, I have a few songs so being a film or video editor is good with music on certain scenes . I want to scale up and be a producer, edit and produced the biggest films and music. What are the most effective strategies for seeking a position in this field and what are the steps to become a great Film & Video Editor. #film #music #acting #music-industry #film-acting
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3 answers
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
838
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Aaron,
I think that you are well on your way to getting a job in video editing by practicing. Practice also allows you to learn about your own perspective on how video editing should be done. In other words, it is your voice. So continue to practice that. I think that you should consider how you see yourself working with video. Film is a very lofty and competitive industry with a lot of options - from major studios to independent studios. Television and streaming services are very powerful places to do video editing. I would offer that you should not limit yourself to film as video is becoming a powerful tool in this more video focused world. I am thinking about marketing and advertising as another area where you can use video and musical talents at a high level.
Finally you should consider how to grow your video skills through formal education. It does not have to be an expensive film school. I would say that interacting with others trying to achieve the same goal is powerful. You can learn what your strengths are and what you may still need to learn. In this day and age, you need to be networking with people who are also entering or already in the industry.
Gloria
I think that you are well on your way to getting a job in video editing by practicing. Practice also allows you to learn about your own perspective on how video editing should be done. In other words, it is your voice. So continue to practice that. I think that you should consider how you see yourself working with video. Film is a very lofty and competitive industry with a lot of options - from major studios to independent studios. Television and streaming services are very powerful places to do video editing. I would offer that you should not limit yourself to film as video is becoming a powerful tool in this more video focused world. I am thinking about marketing and advertising as another area where you can use video and musical talents at a high level.
Finally you should consider how to grow your video skills through formal education. It does not have to be an expensive film school. I would say that interacting with others trying to achieve the same goal is powerful. You can learn what your strengths are and what you may still need to learn. In this day and age, you need to be networking with people who are also entering or already in the industry.
Gloria
Kathy Chan
Videographer/Photographer
22
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Kathy’s Answer
Hey Aaron,
You have a very similar background to many of my friends who are full-time Video Editors - so know that you are on the right track! I will highly suggest looking at local marketing/advertising firms, non-profits, schools and universities and more that are looking for Video Editing interns. Networking is key as a Freelance Filmmaker, so be sure to take some time to attend events made for Filmmakers and aspiring filmmakers alike to meet more like-minded people!
More likely than not, companies will ask for your Editing reel or digital portfolio to showcase your best work. If you find yourself lacking in content to show, I highly suggest interning, volunteering and or assisting on some projects to help you started. Let the world know that you are interested in being a Video Editor and make it known that you are available to work on some creative projects! Make a post on Facebook or Instagram, or tweet that you are looking for some more pieces to add to your resume and get more creative work under your belt.
Don't be afraid to use stock footage to start off! In entry-level editing courses in college, many early projects use archival footage, stock footage, or self-tapes/recordings and more to create pieces used to build into your editing reel.
Consider the types of videos you will want to edit: music videos, documentaries, short narratives, feature films - and think about what you find yourself enjoying more. Editing videos for social media are different than editing documentaries and interviews, and so on. Find your preference and build your reel to reflect that - don't be afraid of going out of your comfort zone to learn about more things you may be interested in (special effects, animation, 3-D modeling and more!).
Good luck!
You have a very similar background to many of my friends who are full-time Video Editors - so know that you are on the right track! I will highly suggest looking at local marketing/advertising firms, non-profits, schools and universities and more that are looking for Video Editing interns. Networking is key as a Freelance Filmmaker, so be sure to take some time to attend events made for Filmmakers and aspiring filmmakers alike to meet more like-minded people!
More likely than not, companies will ask for your Editing reel or digital portfolio to showcase your best work. If you find yourself lacking in content to show, I highly suggest interning, volunteering and or assisting on some projects to help you started. Let the world know that you are interested in being a Video Editor and make it known that you are available to work on some creative projects! Make a post on Facebook or Instagram, or tweet that you are looking for some more pieces to add to your resume and get more creative work under your belt.
Don't be afraid to use stock footage to start off! In entry-level editing courses in college, many early projects use archival footage, stock footage, or self-tapes/recordings and more to create pieces used to build into your editing reel.
Consider the types of videos you will want to edit: music videos, documentaries, short narratives, feature films - and think about what you find yourself enjoying more. Editing videos for social media are different than editing documentaries and interviews, and so on. Find your preference and build your reel to reflect that - don't be afraid of going out of your comfort zone to learn about more things you may be interested in (special effects, animation, 3-D modeling and more!).
Good luck!
Colby Hanik
Assistant Field Marketing Manager
3
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Colby’s Answer
The best advice I can give aside from what Gloria wrote is just to keep doing it. Find some people who want to create and just make things. Every project you will learn something else and have more for your reel. While you are young and getting in, use that youthful energy to make connections and just get projects done. The more connections you can make now, the more it will help down the line. Editors is one of the positions in the film industry that always has openings for work. If you make the move to Los Angeles, there are tons of jobs there to break into the industry right out of school. But the best thing to do is just create, help on others projects, make your own, just work on getting faster and more detail oriented. And the best thing to do is spread the wings, learn After Effects, try to learn multiple programs, get the skill set to put yourself in a positions to beat others out. And then work on a great reel, show off your work.