please help! any professional editors

EPsymp wrote on 4/1/2003, 10:59 AM
Career day just so happens to be today. I've been trying to arrange something with a local editor but they are either busy or not at the office. In the past week I've talked to enough answering machines to last me for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, with all my e-mailing and telephoning, nothing worked out. Largely my fault...but lets just say I've learned my lesson. Anyway, if there's any professional editors out there I would appreciate it if you could give me half an hour of your time so I could do a quick interview. I'm interested on how to enter this field of work...also, this is a 100 point project. So if anyone reads today and is willing to help me out...post your email or send it to me GPJumpingBean@aol.com so we can talk. Thanks! I know the great people in this forum won't let me down.

Comments

EPsymp wrote on 4/1/2003, 1:26 PM
If no one responds, I swear I'll switch to premiere!! I just have 14 questions I want you to answer, it'll just take 5 minutes.
Chienworks wrote on 4/1/2003, 1:59 PM
Perhaps you could post your questions in here.
EPsymp wrote on 4/1/2003, 2:40 PM
I didn't really want to bother eeeeveryone in this forum with my dilemma, but here goes. Thanks to anyone who answers anything.

Questions for you!
What are the reasons for your career choice?

What are the qualifications for the job?

What does the job entail? What are the personal qualities needed?

How do you see yourself in ten years?

What contributions to society does this job make?

How are reasoning and responsibility a part of this career?

Would it be easier to get a job in this field if I moved out of Iowa…say to California?

Did you go to 2 or 4 years of collage, if at all? What is necessary to be a contender for a
good job

What type of editing do you mostly do-special effects or small detail?

What are the chances of someone getting a job editing Hollywood films?

Who are most of your clients?

Is there stiff competition for this job?

Are most editing companies run out of the home, workers self-employed?

When did you become interested in this profession?

Are $100,000 studios necessary for starting businesses?

Do you ever regret your career choice? For what reasons do you like/dislike it?
Hy_Hardwon wrote on 4/1/2003, 6:07 PM
What are the reasons for your career choice?
Glamor, babes, wealth, drugs, freewheeling sex, mortgage payments

What are the qualifications for the job?
One eye, one ear, one digit on each hand, one temporal-lobe, opposing thumbs a plus

What does the job entail?
Making chicken-salad from chicken-sh*t

What are the personal qualities needed?
Compassion, delicate demeanor, mediation skills, automatic weapons

How do you see yourself in ten years?
Dead, face down in a pool of my own vomit

What contributions to society does this job make?
Radiation from monitors sterilizes otherwize negative contributions to the human gene-pool


How are reasoning and responsibility a part of this career?
Those are words my lawyer and probation officer use, not me.

Would it be easier to get a job in this field if I moved out of Iowa…say to California?
Michigan actually has better welfare and medicaid benefits than either.


Did you go to 2 or 4 years of collage, if at all?
I did 10yrs, with time-off for a couple of jobs I pulled on behalf of the guards.


What is necessary to be a contender for a good job?
A strong demo-reel and pictures of the boss having a tryst

What type of editing do you mostly do-special effects or small detail?
Yes.

What are the chances of someone getting a job editing Hollywood films?
If you can even spell Hollywood, you can work there.

Who are most of your clients?
Fellow former inmates, and other CEOs

Is there stiff competition for this job?
Only for the swimsuit-edition video, otherwise we draw straws and whoever loses gets the job.

Are most editing companies run out of the home, workers self-employed?
Yes, most editors are run out of their home, and call themselves self-employed... it sounds better than homeless.

When did you become interested in this profession?
When the work-release program offered it instead of the laundry

Are $100,000 studios necessary for starting businesses?
No, it is easier to go broke with a 500,000.00 studio

Do you ever regret your career choice?
Not a bit. I loved it dearly when I still had enamel on my molars

For what reasons do you like it..
The chlorine in the hot-tub helps my acne

/dislike it?
rubbing down the guys with heaps of hair on the back


BYE, HY





Tyler.Durden wrote on 4/1/2003, 6:52 PM
OK, I'll take a stab... (of course, I cannot top the candor and wit of the previous poster)


What are the reasons for your career choice?
Facinated with editing.

What are the qualifications for the job?
Tech skills, people skills, interest in how meaning is created

What does the job entail?
Helping clients fulfill the intended purpose of the project, without confusion, conflict or delay

What are the personal qualities needed?
Imagination, curiosity, GOOD LISTENING, open mindedness, creative midwifery

How do you see yourself in ten years?
Blind, deaf, dumber

What contributions to society does this job make?
Hopefully supporting enough messages that make society better while getting my bills paid

How are reasoning and responsibility a part of this career?
Editors are charged with the care of hard-fought-bought materials of production; and charged with assembling programming in a fashion that enhances the original vision.


Would it be easier to get a job in this field if I moved out of Iowa…say to California?
Not always, regional and small markets can provide open-access to learning opportunities often dominated in larger markets... building skills in the boonies can pay-off when you hit the bigs.

Did you go to 2 or 4 years of collage, if at all?
College is good. To help all manner of clients, be exposed to all manner of ideas.

What is necessary to be a contender for a good job
Skills, willingness to learn, willingness to work, a good looking reel

What type of editing do you mostly do-special effects or small detail?
Yes.

What are the chances of someone getting a job editing Hollywood films?
95:1

Who are most of your clients?
Fortune 100 deadbeats... they pay, but sometimes oh so sloooooooooooooow


Is there stiff competition for this job?
Yep. In numbers, more than talent.

Are most editing companies run out of the home, workers self-employed?
Now that is probably true.

When did you become interested in this profession?
Film school

Are $100,000 studios necessary for starting businesses?
Nope, you can always rent what you aint got; and with Vegas you got a lot.


Do you ever regret your career choice? For what reasons do you like/dislike it?
No regrets.
Likes: diversity, challenges
Dislikes: overnighters, burnt coffee, snippy clients, deadbeats





HTH, MPH

Tips:
http://www.martyhedler.com/homepage/Vegas_Tutorials.html
Bear wrote on 4/1/2003, 7:16 PM
What are the qualifications for the job?
A basic knowledge of video editing that can be obtained at many high schools today.

What does the job entail? What are the personal qualities needed?
You need a lot of time to listen to clients and understand your customer's needs and to then translate those thoughts into video.

How do you see yourself in ten years?
Still Editing,

What contributions to society does this job make?
I don't really about society alto I have done a number of historical videos that bring things to the public that they would not normally see. Just did a video on the history and methods of making Maple Syrup. People really like it and get a honest knowledge of the process.

How are reasoning and responsibility a part of this career?
Sometimes you have to soft peddle things to clients regarding the content of videos that your edit. People can go over the top and live to regret it.

Would it be easier to get a job in this field if I moved out of Iowa…say to California?
No, I think you make your market. People all need editors they just need to be educated to that fact.

Did you go to 2 or 4 years of collage, if at all? What is necessary to be a contender for a
good job
I think you can do well right out of high school if you want to work for someone for a couple of years.

What type of editing do you mostly do-special effects or small detail?
Small detail, only other video editors are impressed wiht the special effects, clients want the story.

What are the chances of someone getting a job editing Hollywood films?
Slim and none make a name for yourself in a small to med sized town and then move up in the market. People do not realize it but hollywood is a union town and tough to get work in.

Who are most of your clients?
Videographers that take on to much during the wedding season. People that have two or three take video of occassions and bring all the origionals to me.

Is there stiff competition for this job?
NO

Are most editing companies run out of the home, workers self-employed?
Yes

When did you become interested in this profession?
I love people and I love video and what it can do. As you will note people come first because you have to really like working with people that video you are editing is thier baby not yours. Video is painstaking work in many ways like putting a jig saw puzzle each piece has a place you just need to be willing to invvest the time to plan it. Oddly enough you also need a good ear for music as I feel the proper music is probably 40 percent of the overall video (well maybe 30 percent)

Are $100,000 studios necessary for starting businesses?
Nope, a good computer preferlly one you cna dedicate ot video, two hard drives one for video capture only. a 2 mgz or faster cpu. and a couple of good SVHS machines and a DVD burner (I prefer internal and I use Sony just personal preferance) then buy a good used Digital 8 Camera to use as a imput out put device. And of course Vegas Video 4 + DVDA total maybe $3000. As you grow in your business you will find what other items you like and add them as the income from the business dictates.

Do you ever regret your career choice? For what reasons do you like/dislike it?

I used to be a DJ and a Videographer that specialized in weddings due to disablity (legs have no feeling thus no balance) so I started editing and home video transfers and home movie transfers. I wish I had done it years ago it is so much fun to create something from the raw footage you start with. I have worked with local cable channels and local school districts and find both places great places to start. For example one high school and tow local cable channels right around here offer free instruction and allow you to use the equipment, what a great way to start do a few videos of you own and see if you are any good and love it. editing is not a profession it is a passion.
Good luck and if you are ever in Maine the latch string is always out. We live on top of a mountain (we still have five feet of snow) I have a little 10 by 12 room that becomes the world at my fingertips when I am editing. I continue to learn again for free ( well I will pay for a DSE book anytime) and make friends that I probably will never see physically but I have caught a glimpse into thier soul and I will take that view anyday.
davidhague wrote on 4/1/2003, 7:30 PM
Is an Aussie angle OK?
EPsymp wrote on 4/1/2003, 9:14 PM
Haha, go for it. Thanks to everyone, you've made my day.
Cheno wrote on 4/1/2003, 11:31 PM
What are the reasons for your career choice?
I love to tell stories.

What are the qualifications for the job?
Desire and patience.

What does the job entail? What are the personal qualities needed?
Just about everything you could imagine / A good imagination

How do you see yourself in ten years?
hopefully with 20/20 vision (lasik)

What contributions to society does this job make?
I try to do a couple of PSA's each year.

How are reasoning and responsibility a part of this career?
Reason keeps you sane / Responsibility keeps you eating.

Would it be easier to get a job in this field if I moved out of Iowa…say to California? Less competition is IOWA

Did you go to 2 or 4 years of collage, if at all? What is necessary to be a contender for a
good job
some school. watched a lot of movies. talk to alot of people. the latter 2 cost less and got me farther ahead in the business.

What type of editing do you mostly do-special effects or small detail?
small detail. I leave the FX to the kids.

What are the chances of someone getting a job editing Hollywood films?
Why not edit a film that has passion and less red tape?

Who are most of your clients?
People who understand time and talent costs $$

Is there stiff competition for this job?
There can be in any job.

Are most editing companies run out of the home, workers self-employed?
I am.

When did you become interested in this profession?
Watching Raiders of the Lost Ark for the first time.

Are $100,000 studios necessary for starting businesses?
nope.

Do you ever regret your career choice? For what reasons do you like/dislike it?
I don't ever regret it. When I look back I try to learn from it, not dwell on it. I love the freedom and the people I get chances to work with.
shawnm wrote on 4/2/2003, 2:35 AM
What are the reasons for your career choice?

I love digital media (audio, video, graphics). I also love telling stories.

What are the qualifications for the job?

Depends on the job (they're all different), but in general you need above average computer skills, an eye for detail, a great ability to communicate with people, humility and an inhuman ability to stay awake during long boring performances. It doesn't hurt to be a quick learner either.

What does the job entail? What are the personal qualities needed?

To do this job, you MUST be able to collaborate with people on their artistic vision - this means you need to be patient, intelligent, diplomatic, personable, flexible, and above all... learn to resist the urge kill, when a client expects you to turn their "humorous" video on the deployment of Company X's DNS infrastructure... into Citizen Kane.

How do you see yourself in ten years?

Still mastering the art of editing.

What contributions to society does this job make?

I (sometimes) help tell important stories.

How are reasoning and responsibility a part of this career?

Any job as technical as digital video editing requires higher reasoning skills, as you will spend about 20% of you time wading through white papers, magazines, conferences and forums (as part of your continuing education). An editor is also responsible for bringing the overall "look" and feel of the video to fruition (per the director's vision).

Would it be easier to get a job in this field if I moved out of Iowa…say to California?

No, you can edit anywhere people are producing video.

Did you go to 2 or 4 years of collage, if at all? What is necessary to be a contender for a good job.

I didn't go to college at all, I made my living as an actor and sound recordist for about seven years, eventually these skills brought me into the world of digital video - but I've never met another editor without a formal education. To get work, mostly you need a really good demo reel and/or good references.

What type of editing do you mostly do-special effects or small detail?

Both - but mostly (90 %) small detail.

What are the chances of someone getting a job editing Hollywood films?

Your chances of working in Hollywood are proportionate to your ability to make friends with people who work in Hollywood. It is an unerring fact that who you know, is often more important than what you know.

Who are most of your clients?

Large corporations.

Is there stiff competition for this job?

Yes, but by good friends. :-)

Are most editing companies run out of the home, workers self-employed?

yes

When did you become interested in this profession?

About five years ago, when the price of a PC that was capable of editing video became affordable to me.

Are $100,000 studios necessary for starting businesses?

It depends on the services you want to offer and what kind of space you have available to you. If it's *just* editing wedding videos and offering services for small businesses and private individuals, then you don't need $100,000 - however, if you want to add pro audio (voice-overs/ADR), do your own fulfillment etc, then you will need a pretty good chunk of money. :-)

Do you ever regret your career choice? For what reasons do you like/dislike it?

No, it's very rewarding when it all comes together. I love working with the media and being part of the team that makes a great video. I dislike waiting for the latest, greatest technologies - I want to play now. :-)