WHAT DOES A FILM & TV EDITOR DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A Film & TV Editor Do?)

Daffy Film Editor / Photo Credit: Clampett Studio

WHAT DOES A FILM & TV EDITOR DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A Film & TV Editor Do?)

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What Does A Film & TV Editor Do?

Film editing is a technical part of the post-production process of filmmaking. The term is derived from the traditional process of working with film which increasingly involves the use of digital technology.

With an artful eye and technical skill, the editor painstakingly pores over hours of footage to select the best takes and links them together. This artist/technician creatively draws out the emotion of the story, building suspense, humor, melancholy, and joy.

The film editor works with the raw footage, selecting shots and combines them into sequences which create a finished motion picture. Film editing is described as an art or skill, the only art that is unique to cinema, separating filmmaking from other art forms that preceded it, although there are close parallels to the editing process in other art forms such as poetry and novel writing. Film editing is often referred to as the "invisible art" because when it is well-practiced, the viewer can become so engaged that he or she is not aware of the editor's work.

On its most fundamental level, film editing is the art, technique and practice of assembling shots into a coherent sequence. The job of an editor is not simply to mechanically put pieces of a film together, cut off film slates or edit dialogue scenes. A film editor must creatively work with the layers of images, story, dialogue, music, pacing, as well as the actors' performances to effectively "re-imagine" and even rewrite the film to craft a cohesive whole. Editors usually play a dynamic role in the making of a film. Sometimes, auteurist film directors edit their own films, for example, Akira Kurosawa, Bahram Beyzai and the Coen Brothers.

With the advent of digital editing, film editors and their assistants have become responsible for many areas of filmmaking that used to be the responsibility of others. For instance, in past years, picture editors dealt only with just that—picture. Sound, music, and (more recently) visual effects editors dealt with the practicalities of other aspects of the editing process, usually under the direction of the picture editor and director. However, digital systems have increasingly put these responsibilities on the picture editor. It is common, especially on lower budget films, for the editor to sometimes cut in makeshift music, mock up visual effects and add temporary sound effects or other sound replacements. These temporary elements are usually replaced with more refined final elements produced by the sound, music and visual effects teams hired to complete the picture.

Duties

The editor is supported by a staff of assistants and assistant editors, and is responsible to the director and producer. He or she is hired during preproduction; at this stage the editor reads the script and discusses the director’s vision for the film or television show. This person can make a significant impact on principal photography by collaborating with the director and cinematographer. He or she may make suggestions concerning unnecessary scenes to be cut from the script, additional scenes to be shot, or specific camera angles. Rarely will the editor visit the set during production; he or she reports to the cutting room to review dailies and begins putting together a rough cut of the story. Scenes are shot out of order based on logistics, so the editor works with detailed notes from the director and script supervisor to piece the shots together and establish continuity. A bit of clever editing covers technical mistakes during photography, and can even hide a few poor performances.

After principal photography has wrapped, the editor works closely with the director to review the initial rough cut, discuss notes, and begin the final cut. This person also collaborates with the visual effects team, sound editor, dubbing crew, and other post-production technicians to bring together all of the finishing touches. The editor works scene by scene, frame by frame, to weave together a series of visual images that support the director’s vision and tell a coherent story.

Skills & Education

A college degree in film and television production is preferred. An editor should understand photography, lighting, color theory, and the exposure process of various types of film stock. It is also necessary to have experience with implementing visual effects in postproduction, sound editing, and dubbing. Expertise with Avid and Final Cut is required; an editor should be skilled in the processes of both linear and non-linear editing. As digital video becomes more sophisticated, it is imperative that editors continue to educate themselves on emerging tapeless technology (though the old-school skills of a film and tape cutter are still in demand). That being said, it all comes down to storytelling. Regardless of technical skill, an editor must have a distinctive visual aesthetic, a highly evolved sense of pacing, and a meticulous attention to detail.

What to Expect

This job is best suited to someone who doesn’t mind working in solitary confinement. Most of the editor’s day is spent in a small, dark room. The hours are long and toiling over months of footage can be a tedious process—but the reward of seeing your finished product on the screen is worth it. To pursue a career as an editor, you should first gain experience in the second, then first assistant editor positions. The American Cinema Editors education program offers internships, and rookies can get their feet wet working as an apprentice at a post-production studio or as a production assistant. Editors can become members of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, an organization of IATSE Local 700.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures,

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Daffy Film Editor / Photo Credit: Clampett Studio