Research - Editor

What does an editor do?

A film editor is part of the post production team. The editor needs to be imaginative and creative to furfil this role, and is also a main part of the post production team. A editor gets selected scenes and music and puts them together before the film is broadcasted. Editing is also known as a art in story telling, which is unique to the cinema, or once the original cinema showing stage is over to DVD. Depending on the editors skills will depend of how good the film is and how good the quality will be. Obviously timing the music and the motion pictures together requires a lot of skill in editing. Editors work closely with the director to get a final project.

What the job role requires to be a editor

To be an editor you will need to know how to;

• Assembling raw footage, mostly camera shots in preparation on putting them onto a computer.
• Recieving a brief or orders from the director/main crew members on what they want you to do. (E.G. Script, Shot list, or the screen play.)
• Inputting the rushes and sound to make a final production, also syncronising them together and putting them on the computer.
• Creating a "rough cut" of the production so that they can show it to the crew members and also get suggestions to improve before the final production.
• Digitally cutting the recorded files to make the timings right for maximum impact for the audience.
• And also re-ordering the content so that the final production is smooth.

Ontop of this they might be asked to;

• Regular constaltations with the director/producer or the post preduction team.
• Getting used to one directors preferences incase they ask you to editor another film/ get on with your work instead of keep asking questions.
• Overlooking other people during their editing, to make sure they are doing the right job (Depending how high up the heirarchy you are).
• Experimenting with styles and techniques so that you can have a range of suggestions to the editor.
• Writing and timing voiceover/commentary to the production.
• Suggesting or selecting appropriate music.

Source (http://www.prospects.ac.uk/film_video_editor_job_description.htm)

Date viewed 6/10/11

Date made July 2010.