Plan your career: Commitment to learning, determination, keys to move up in career

A movie editor is an artist, techie, and an entrepreneur. Editing is an ordeal of careful review, creative expression and scanning of miles of film footage to turn it into a compelling story. 

In earlier days, it was considered to be a job within a studio. But today, the editor joins the director right from script discussion and in travelling to the filming location to support the progress of the film. He also collaborates with music directors and sound editors. Today, online editing is getting more popular. The editors once stayed late in the comfort zones of editing suites are out there with the crew.

One has to have a command over computer editing tools and be well versed in Multimedia, visual effects and animation. Although a degree is not often considered necessary, a strong theoretical base in art and design is required. 

The editor’s job in the film industry is mostly contracted. But one gets opportunities to work in advertising agencies, corporates, faith-based groups, television channels and production and post-production houses. 

Your responsibilities as an editor include, assembling footages, synchronizing and storing in the computer, combine them with sound effects and graphics, cutting to sequencing the scenes and then move to ‘rough cut’ and ‘final cut’. And finally turn them into a finished product for broadcast. Once you move up the ladder, you should be able to oversee the quality of the works of your assistants, do the final cut, experiment various styles and techniques and even changing the screenplay sequences to make it engrossing. 

If you would like to realize your dream, you have to be prepared for intensive work, produce high-quality movie right from the start and make friends in the industry. Once you are an experienced and established editor, you will realise that you are already up the ladder working with top directors.

More than a degree, commitment to learning and determination to prove is the key. The courses are expensive and you need to constantly update your softwares with plugins. Keep on researching for new technology and bring in your personal creativity. There are a number of post-graduation specializations. The courses are also offered as certificate and diploma courses. There are several good institutes that offer quality courses in India and abroad. 

Develop critical mind and an eye for details. You need a high level of concentration, imagination and patience. Learn the skill of working under pressure and with deadlines. 

Begin working for an editor, move to a company and then start freelancing. The film and television industry is on a high growth rate and that presents a huge opportunity. 

Keep observing experienced professionals and experimenting with your works. Mastering the machines and developing new digital technologies, knowledge of other departments of film production including knowledge of cameras are essential. Keep watching movies that have won awards in editing category. Becoming an editor is an easy thing but moving upward as you wish is entirely another. As it is said, ‘the competition is your best friend.’ Not just the fittest, but the deserving moves up. It is an ‘invisible art’ and now, go ahead to make yourself visible.