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iGuy38

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 8, 2010
44
0
Maryland
.... or some major production of some sort? I'm 17 and gonna be getting a macbook pro soon so i can learn FCE then FCP later. I really enjoy editing and took a multimedia class during my sophomore year. Don't mean to brag, but I always maintained a 100% in that class. I want to become an editor for television but there is no chance I will be able to attend UCLA or NYU. Finding a decent film school is hard for me. Does anyone have a video editing career success story you wanna share with me so I can get some advice/tips?
 
Most networks and stations require a 4 year degree nowdays. 40 years ago you could get into a station easily with just a burning desire to learn and some raw talent.

I would try for Pell grants, student loans, etc. to get you through school.

Short of working for a network, you can always fly solo. Do your own thing. Write your own stories, shoot and edit.

Anderson Cooper did it somewhat like that. But he got a college education first. Then he wrote, shot, and edited his own stories and put them up for sale. That was how he got his foot in the door to working for CNN.

Good luck!
 
Dude you can go to any school that has a good communication department with broadcasting and get the skills and experience you need. The letters on your degree aren't as important as if you can do the work or not. You will get some eyebrows raised by going to one of those schools, but you have to still show you can actually do the job.

You sound like you have a good idea what you want to do, now go to college and immerse yourself in it so that you have something to show prospective employers in 5 years.
 
I've been out in LA for about 6 years now and have been editing full time for the last 3-4. Don't worry about getting into a big name school. It's a waste of money, IMO. Your work experience, not the name on your diploma, is what employers look for. Go to a school that has a good program but also offers the opportunity to work/intern at nearby post/production facilities so you get real world experience. If you plan on moving to a big market save up as much money as you can between now and then so it gives you something to live off of while you are bouncing around from one crap job to another until you gain enough traction to get your foot in the door.



Lethal
 
Don't worry about getting into a big name school. It's a waste of money, IMO. Your work experience, not the name on your diploma, is what employers look for.

+1. A strong portfolio is something you want when you are trying for a job in any creative/technical field. You can work on this while in college.

If an employer DOES care about what school you went to vs your portfolio then honestly you probably don't want to work for them.
 
Be prepared to do some non paid intern work. It is great way to start to build up a portfolio. Do not expect to make a lot of money at first but if you are talented your break will come.

I don't think any employer really cares where you went to school but a school can be key to the skills you learn.

There are two aspects to learning editing. Technical and creative. Any school will teach you the technical side of editing. I mean the "this is what this button does" sort of thing. That shows you how to edit but not why to edit. Any body can pick up a book and learn this type of stuff. If you want your school experience to be worth it picking a school that will teach you the creative process can be very important. Editing is a fine art and you need to understand concepts such as acting, composition, storytelling, pacing and so forth. Very few if any books on Final Cut actually teach these concepts.

I'm not saying you can't learn this stuff on your own. It is just harder to do so.

Finally editing is like any other art form. You need to practice your craft every day and be open to new concepts. Play around and experiement.
 
your attitude, the quality of your work and the connections you make on the job will get your more work than your degree ever will.
 
Thanks for the tips guys. I have no problem doing interning as long as it gets me somewhere. Does anyone know any decent non big name film schools that offer the creative side of editing?
 
Thanks for the tips guys. I have no problem doing interning as long as it gets me somewhere. Does anyone know any decent non big name film schools that offer the creative side of editing?

do you know where "somewhere" is at this point?
do you have a goal?
that's your first step.
having energy and desire are great things, but you need a goal to focus it.
what do you want to edit?

as for film schools...they don't offer courses in "creative" editing.
they teach you the theories behind editing, the equipment/software used, etc...
but the creativity comes from the editor.
it's not something you can teach.
it's something that is developed over time.
and what wil make you a great editor will not be found sitting in front of a computer trying to decide between a 10 frame or 7 frame dissolve for a particular moment in the timeline.
film schools can teach you the "math" of editing.
life experience can teach you the "creativity" of editing.

Take a look at Walter Murch's background.
liberal arts degree, met likeminded people in college that helped him get his first job on a film as a sound mixer/editor.

one thing you should do is constantly educate yourself.
go out and shoot video, import it and then edit it.
shoot anything. cats playing, people talking, sports, something scripted, etc...
then see if you can cut it together into something coherent.
show it to people and get feedback, take it in and compare it how you feel about it.

the other thing to do is to watch everything as an editor.
I do a lot of work as a director and editor of live music.
when I'm not working I spend my time on the internet searching for, downloading, and watching other people in my field are doing.
I look at camera positions, style choices, speed they cut at, etc...and then the stuff I like I try to incorporate into my own work.

use the internet to your advantage. download and watch everything that interests you. then try to recreate the elements/choices/edits you like over and over until you are happy. it's like learning to play a song on a guitar. you get up everyday and practice so when the opportunity for the big gig arrives you are ready to go.

another thing to consider: many of the great editors are artistically inclined
they paint, sketch, play music, etc...things you won't learn in film school.
it's those hobbies and the disciplines they require that inform and inspire their
creativity in the edit suite.
if there's any regret I have is that I never learned to sketch or draw.

btw - if you haven't watched this already you should:
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing
5113UeT00CL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


good luck.
 
Thanks for the tips guys. I have no problem doing interning as long as it gets me somewhere. Does anyone know any decent non big name film schools that offer the creative side of editing?

I interned at a large regional sports network for two semester thinking it would lead to something once I graduated... and guess what, it didn't work out.... So don't get your hopes up. But eventually it works out.
 
If an employer DOES care about what school you went to vs your portfolio then honestly you probably don't want to work for them.

That's my view as well. Judge me by my work not by a piece of paper on my wall at home.

I didn't go to a fancy film school. Instead I invested in all my own gear and started my own thing. I do music videos and now more commercials. Here are my last couple.

Music Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EniTlgfJu2Q

Lord and Taylor
http://www.jesterpictures.com/video/lordtaylor/maysale.html

I've edited all the Lord and Taylor spots you've seen recently on TV.
 
your attitude, the quality of your work and the connections you make on the job will get your more work than your degree ever will.

You said it. A degree can literally mean nothing in entertainment. Networking is the key, that and doing great work.
 
ask the teacher of your class about any colleges close by. I found out that there are two community colleges near me that have a really good film program, too bad I'm not headed for film school.
 
A lot of what I was going to say has already been mentioned in this thread. I've been a working editor (various jobs, ranging from industrial videos to narrative film), on and off for about 6 or so years. These are the observations I've made thus far in my own career:

1. Where you went to school doesn't matter much. I know lots of people who went to high-profile film schools like NYU, USC, UCLA, etc. who struggle to find work. Perspective employers in the entertainment industry look for two things: persistence and talent. You may score brownie points with a degree from a good school, but in the end, a fresh grad from NYU will consistently lose jobs to candidates who might have went to state colleges, but have better portfolios and business contacts. Good filmmakers in general are bred through talent and practice, not school.

2. Networking is key to the entertainment business. Television stations, movie studios and post houses in LA and NY literally get hundreds of resumes every week for ONE job opening. But with very few exceptions, they're always going to interview trusted referrals first. And even then, you still might be competing with 50+ candidates for the job.

3. Prepare to face rejection - and lots of it. This is a cut-throat business. Nobody really cares about whose feelings are hurt or what anyone's financial situations are. It takes years of honing your storytelling skills (along with dumb luck) to get to the point where you can consistently land good gigs and stay employed. There's a lot more people wanting to work in the film/TV business than there are available jobs.


And like -DH has already said, if you're thinking about possibly making the move to LA or NY to pursue your career, it's wise to start setting money aside NOW. You'll find yourself doing a lot of free work when you first start out and you'll still need the means to eat and keep a roof over your head in two of the most expensive cities in the country.
 
That's my view as well. Judge me by my work not by a piece of paper on my wall at home.

I didn't go to a fancy film school. Instead I invested in all my own gear and started my own thing. I do music videos and now more commercials. Here are my last couple.

Music Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EniTlgfJu2Q

Lord and Taylor
http://www.jesterpictures.com/video/lordtaylor/maysale.html

I've edited all the Lord and Taylor spots you've seen recently on TV.

Very impressive editing Jester. And yes, I did see that Lord and Taylor ad before. But now I'm thinking doing commercials is my thing. When I was in my multimedia class my projects were mostly PSAs and commercials. Was it hard getting in the commercial business?
 
And like -DH has already said, if you're thinking about possibly making the move to LA or NY to pursue your career, it's wise to start setting money aside NOW. You'll find yourself doing a lot of free work when you first start out and you'll still need the means to eat and keep a roof over your head in two of the most expensive cities in the country.

Scary to think about, but I guess if I really want it I have to.
 
Have you got any work to show of your own?

I like seeing what people of a similar age to me in a similar position can create!
 
Have you got any work to show of your own?

I like seeing what people of a similar age to me in a similar position can create!

Well, I do have one project I did for my multimedia class last year I uploaded to youtube back in April. It was edited in Pinnacle 12 and shot on one of their lousy dv cameras since my high school can't afford anything else: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bAwLks9HGU

I did about 6 different projects for that class and I could only upload that one because all my other ones have copyrighted material in them and I don't want youtube to take them down.
 
Very impressive editing Jester. And yes, I did see that Lord and Taylor ad before. But now I'm thinking doing commercials is my thing. When I was in my multimedia class my projects were mostly PSAs and commercials. Was it hard getting in the commercial business?

Really is all about who you know. I had a buddy that was workin on one and asked me to help out. We've done a bunch together since then.
 
That's my view as well. Judge me by my work not by a piece of paper on my wall at home.

I didn't go to a fancy film school. Instead I invested in all my own gear and started my own thing. I do music videos and now more commercials. Here are my last couple.

very nice stuff Jester! Can I ask what kind of equipment you use (camera) i'm in the market for a new camera :eek:
 
Editing For TV

Your "Texting in class?" Youtube vid was very good. You already have what it takes for TV. Short & informative. You made pictures of what you needed for the story. All movies, vids, documentary's, info's, & news segments come down to this..."What's your story?"
But Live Broadcast TV is different. There are timeline constraints to deal with and daily deadlines. Taped Shows, News segments and then Commercials (to pay the bills) are woven together. The News covers fast breaking, real time events with very little editing and very little content. You have to edit fast for noon or evening broadcast. You make 1, 2, or 3 minute segments or all three versions if a slow media day. Can you make your vid, "Texting in Class" in an hour or two? The Tv business is very fast paced and the pay is not high at all. But it's an adrenaline rush every day.
Tips: check out your local Community Access Tv Station and get involved as an intern. Most have knowledgeable people to teach you about the live Tv studio environment and good equipment to borrow to shoot your own segments. You can have a Tv Show of your own if you get a crew to help. You have to buy pizza to keep your crew. Also, Audio is more important than video and Good "B" roll footage is a must. Learn LIVETYPE. Small bundled lettering program. It used to come with FCP. It's fancy titling that will make your video segments stand out over the rest. Enter every video contest to earn $$$ for a good fluid head tripod. You are only as good as your tripod. Hope this helps.
 
Your "Texting in class?" Youtube vid was very good. You already have what it takes for TV. Short & informative. You made pictures of what you needed for the story. All movies, vids, documentary's, info's, & news segments come down to this..."What's your story?"
But Live Broadcast TV is different. There are timeline constraints to deal with and daily deadlines. Taped Shows, News segments and then Commercials (to pay the bills) are woven together. The News covers fast breaking, real time events with very little editing and very little content. You have to edit fast for noon or evening broadcast. You make 1, 2, or 3 minute segments or all three versions if a slow media day. Can you make your vid, "Texting in Class" in an hour or two? The Tv business is very fast paced and the pay is not high at all. But it's an adrenaline rush every day.
Tips: check out your local Community Access Tv Station and get involved as an intern. Most have knowledgeable people to teach you about the live Tv studio environment and good equipment to borrow to shoot your own segments. You can have a Tv Show of your own if you get a crew to help. You have to buy pizza to keep your crew. Also, Audio is more important than video and Good "B" roll footage is a must. Learn LIVETYPE. Small bundled lettering program. It used to come with FCP. It's fancy titling that will make your video segments stand out over the rest. Enter every video contest to earn $$$ for a good fluid head tripod. You are only as good as your tripod. Hope this helps.

Thanks for watching my video. I was worried because it is a little amateurish compared to everyone else's here since they edit in FCP. Anyway, that's why I'm not really interested in working for live broadcasts like the news. Too fast pace compared to other productions. When I edit I like to concentrate on what I'm doing instead of worrying about if I'm gonna be done by that day. Commercials/ads would be the best for me.
 
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