let's cut

Questions like these are a bit difficult for me to answer, mostly because the road to becoming an editor varies person-to-person, job-to-job, etc. Some people jump straight from one AE gig to an Editing gig. Some work as an AE for years until making the jump. Some never make the jump. 

From Editors I’ve talked to: work your way up. Ask questions. Learn as much as you can. Actually EDIT (without being asked, if possible. Make the initiative). Network. Study the art (TV shows, movies, whatever). 

"I know nothing about post production so whenever there's a problem, I will always side with production."

The vast majority of work I’ve done in the past two years has been with Premiere. Most of the ad agencies and boutique production studios I’ve been working with go with Adobe for that “all in one” package.

Resolve being “free” and getting better with it’s editing capability, I believe, will start to pop up more and more in the next few years.

In the end an “L” cut is an “L” cut no matter which program you use. Most editors, who use multiple platforms, set their keyboard shortcuts up in each program to be as close to what they use in the others. Doing that is a major help in learning to use a new platform and a major time saver.

If you want to work in TV or movies my advice would to be to go to LA or NY and do what you can to get into a place as a logger or better yet an Avid assistant editor. You may have to pay your dues as an intern too but it can be worth it.

If you plan on staying where you’re at I’d still look for an assistant editor position in whatever program appears to be the major product in your area. Being an AE is something that expands your knowledge of a program ten fold. If that’s not possible though, and it is rare in smaller markets, and you end up cutting right out of the shoot, my biggest piece of advice would be, listen to your clients. You are working for them. An ad agency I was recently at will no longer hire people right out of school because none of them would listen or take directions well.

Also just keep in mind. If you go the PPro route, nearly every place I know of that uses it wants their editors to also know some After Effects and Photoshop.

It’s so surprising to hear that people put of college refuse to listen because college is all about listening. Luckily I’m not that way. But thank you for reminding me to be weary. I just moved away from SoCal to Colorado Springs. I was planning on gaining experience where it is a little less competitive, then return to L.A. with something to show for myself. Not sure if that is a good move or not. Alex Buono, the DP at SNL, told me that people are often working with their best friends so it isn’t always about what you’ve worked on or how great your reel is. It’s all about how you approach the project. People will hire you if you want to help them with their image. It’s also about who you know (goes without saying, but heck).

I have this foolish dream that the harder you work, the more you’ll move up. Moving up isn’t necessarily what I want. I just want to work on projects and help tell the story. Even if I just go grab the coffee or do logging as an intern. Haha! So for now, I am desperate to learn as much as I mentally can and hope to make the connections that I need. Luckily, photoshop is a breeze, but I just recently obtained After Effects. So much to do, so little time.

The vast majority of work I’ve done in the past two years has been with Premiere. Most of the ad agencies and boutique production studios I’ve been working with go with Adobe for that “all in one” package.

Resolve being “free” and getting better with it’s editing capability, I believe, will start to pop up more and more in the next few years.

In the end an "L" cut is an "L" cut no matter which program you use. Most editors, who use multiple platforms, set their keyboard shortcuts up in each program to be as close to what they use in the others. Doing that is a major help in learning to use a new platform and a major time saver.

If you want to work in TV or movies my advice would to be to go to LA or NY and do what you can to get into a place as a logger or better yet an Avid assistant editor. You may have to pay your dues as an intern too but it can be worth it.

If you plan on staying where you're at I'd still look for an assistant editor position in whatever program appears to be the major product in your area. Being an AE is something that expands your knowledge of a program ten fold. If that's not possible though, and it is rare in smaller markets, and you end up cutting right out of the shoot, my biggest piece of advice would be, listen to your clients. You are working for them. An ad agency I was recently at will no longer hire people right out of school because none of them would listen or take directions well.

Also just keep in mind. If you go the PPro route, nearly every place I know of that uses it wants their editors to also know some After Effects and Photoshop.