So you want to be a "Professional Editor"? Read this first

[CrackTheSky]

Thanks to Castor Troy's Tips For Becoming A Professional Editor, I've gotten several job offers and have already made over $50,000! Not only am I now the envy of a greater portion of the professional editing community, but I have multiple big-name studios competing to acquire my skills for their next hit movies!

Thanks Castor Troy!

[rubyeye]

You’ve written an excellent post, Castor, and I’d like to expand on it with a couple of my own experience and recommendations (if I may):

While your point of view is mainly that of an editor in the “Hollywood Film Industry”, it is NOT the only arena where editors can make a career - it’s just a matter of knowing where to look. Video game productions, "streaming" internet media sites, special effects houses, and local independent studios are just a few places I’ve constantly seen job offers for editors. Given the diversity of industries embracing video as a communication and delivery tool for their business, it helps to also diversify your skill set beyond just being an “editor.” First, it makes you much more valuable (i.e. hireable) to a studio because many editors often do multiple tasks besides just cutting footage - especially at smaller studios where almost everyone does everything. Second, you will find it easier to change careers later down the line if you every get sick of editing, or simply find you are better/happier doing something else.

I just recently began working at a start-up company as an Assistant Editor, and one of the most important skills I believe every editor must have in their arsenal is organization! Developing a system of labeling your media and grouping them in proper folders will make your workflow more efficient, and give you (and other editors) more time to actual be creative in cutting the project. In fact, it was because of this skill that another studio contacted me to hire on as an Assistant in helping to organize their media files during productions.

As for getting recognition .... I don’t know why anybody interested in “Fame & Fortune” would want to be an editor. Editing is about “Power & Control.” It’s about being the Masters of Storytelling and the responsibility of making (or breaking) people’s careers with a simple push of a button. I don’t want to be they guy on stage, I want to be the guy who makes the guy on stage look good - because without people like me .... he’s nothing.

[Castor Troy]

You’ve written an excellent post, Castor, and I’d like to expand on it with a couple of my own experience and recommendations (if I may):

While your point of view is mainly that of an editor in the “Hollywood Film Industry”, it is NOT the only arena where editors can make a career - it’s just a matter of knowing where to look. Video game productions, "streaming" internet media sites, special effects houses, and local independent studios are just a few places I’ve constantly seen job offers for editors. Given the diversity of industries embracing video as a communication and delivery tool for their business, it helps to also diversify your skill set beyond just being an “editor.” First, it makes you much more valuable (i.e. hireable) to a studio because many editors often do multiple tasks besides just cutting footage - especially at smaller studios where almost everyone does everything. Second, you will find it easier to change careers later down the line if you every get sick of editing, or simply find you are better/happier doing something else.

I just recently began working at a start-up company as an Assistant Editor, and one of the most important skills I believe every editor must have in their arsenal is organization! Developing a system of labeling your media and grouping them in proper folders will make your workflow more efficient, and give you (and other editors) more time to actual be creative in cutting the project. In fact, it was because of this skill that another studio contacted me to hire on as an Assistant in helping to organize their media files during productions.

As for getting recognition .... I don’t know why anybody interested in “Fame & Fortune” would want to be an editor. Editing is about “Power & Control.” It’s about being the Masters of Storytelling and the responsibility of making (or breaking) people’s careers with a simple push of a button. I don’t want to be they guy on stage, I want to be the guy who makes the guy on stage look good - because without people like me .... he’s nothing.

Exactly. Hollywood is only a small dot on the map. Even though I said there were 3 major cities for editing, you can find work anywhere if you're willing to look or you can even make work yourself.

[McDirty]

Pretty good post Castor. Some good info shared. I apologize if I'm jumpin in all of a sudden, there might some things I say that's already been said.

Ashyukun said:

The other part that I'd definitely reinforce is the it's very much WHO you know and not WHAT you know/can do in the media industry.

I agree.
I would definitely say 90% of the time, this is what lands most people their jobs in the media industry.

Here's a tip too that might help AMVers who are considering working in media:
It's also not just your skills and talent that's going to land you your job, but also your skills in finding people and networking people. A lot of times, people just sit around and wait for the phone call for their next job. The people who are more likely to have success in finding jobs are people who know how to find referrals to people up the job ladder. The first step is starting with the people you know already and go from there. Taking a career workshop or a course would certainly help in learning about networking people and referrals.

[JaddziaDax]

This is a good post to show to people who tell me I should be a professional editor...
Also a lot of the same mentality is what drove me away from acting...

Oh man. If I were to write this post about acting, then it would be 10x as long and 100x as harsh.

I'm glad everyone feels more informed after reading this thread. I hope I didn't destroy several dream in the process.

Trying to get anywhere in the movie business (especially the Hollywood Scene) is all about who you know... as for acting you are right it's 100x worse.. I've already given up on trying to even imagine getting anywhere in that scene.

I came to amvs because I wanted to entertain people, and with what I do here I can do that in my own way and on my own time. I still try to keep with that idea..

Its mostly local friends and family members that tell me I should go pro, but I don't want to turn it into a job O:

[outlawed]

Instead of editing go into video production business for yourself.

Setup a seminar scam and release infomercials http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYqDS9i8zJw

Or perhaps come to the realization that with the low cost of and quality from a DV cam you can make ez-mode softcore entertainment by visiting Mardi Gras. Protip: remember to have your friend carry a bag around with extra beads while you mysteriously claim but I'm down to my last one; pls flash 'em

Oh wait someone already did those =p

[rubyeye]

Pretty good post Castor. Some good info shared. I apologize if I'm jumpin in all of a sudden, there might some things I say that's already been said.

I agree.
I would definitely say 90% of the time, this is what lands most people their jobs in the media industry.

Here's a tip too that might help AMVers who are considering working in media:
It's also not just your skills and talent that's going to land you your job, but also your skills in finding people and networking people. A lot of times, people just sit around and wait for the phone call for their next job. The people who are more likely to have success in finding jobs are people who know how to find referrals to people up the job ladder. The first step is starting with the people you know already and go from there. Taking a career workshop or a course would certainly help in learning about networking people and referrals.

Adding to this, I recommend joining social networks specifically geared toward areas of Video/Film production like Creative Cow or Texas Filmmakers. Also, start getting involved with volunteering at conventions and film festivals. You can make "tons" of connections not just with the producers & filmmakers showcasing their work, but invaluably with other volunteers and the people running these events.

[Brad]

I've been meaning to add my thoughts to this topic for a while, but, I'm Brad. But I think I can schedule in a couple paragraphs.

What Rubyeye stated is definitely close to where I fall. While I agree with a bunch of the points Ryan made in the original post, to be quite honest, it's pretty film-centric. The fact of the matter is, there are VERY few jobs available editing films (even indie films. Editing features is an even smaller percentage). Granted I don't have any concrete statistics to back this up, but based on pretty much everything I've experienced first-hand and heard second-hand from both professors and working professionals, probably 70-75% of editing work is in the commercial industry. Another big chunk of that is for web-based video, music videos and television programs (though there's a lot of crossover between those). Then in a small percentage leftover is for the few editors who work on actual features. All of these different mediums have different methodologies and working conditions for editors. The idea that every editing job you do will be under heavy-duty scrutiny by a director is simply not the case. Today for example, I spent 8 hours in an FCP suite working on a commercial spot, and I spoke to the director/producer of it maybe twice throughout the day. I recently helped out on a 2.5 minute spot for the Chicago Blackhawks where the director was doing the editing herself. Basically what I'm getting at is, each job is going to be slightly different. Some editing jobs will be simple as hell and won't require the crazy long grueling hours of capturing, logging, drafting, revisions, etc. And some will take weeks of tweaking and long hours.

I guess my main point is, while as I said, a lot of what Ryan was saying is true, there are a lot of generalizations being made about what an editing job is always like, and the fact is, there are no generalizations. The big point I will definitely agree on is that editing in the commercial world is very much NOT like editing an AMV. They can certainly share similarities and the knowledge you gain from working on AMVs can help you transition into real-world projects, but it's very important to realize that just because you really love making AMVs doesn't automatically mean that you'd love editing for a living. However, I'd guess that most people probably already realized this. But for the few of you who have had this idea, it's important to think about the differences and make an informed decision about whether or not you'd like to pursue it as a career. My biggest recommendation would be to just go out and make a short film or a "real" music video or something that ISN'T an AMV but still requires substantial editing. Try it out and see how much you enjoy the process and the outcome. If you find that you're just not having the same kind of fun you used to have, then perhaps it isn't for you.

[Megamom]

I worked in television for a few months, it really was hell for me, takes too much time editing choose the best scenes, edit audio, create templates and

Honestly I'll never be professional editor, I prefer to become a director

[Pie Row Maniac]

I passed up a job editing gay porn six months ago.

Wish I hadn't.