How to Get a Job as a Film Editor

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By docjenny
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Get a Job as a Film Editor

Apart from luck, you need good communication skills, strong desire, and solid editing knowledge to become a film editor. Once you have these, follow the steps below to get a film editing job in Hollywood.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Learn how to edit on Avid and Final Cut Pro nonlinear editing systems. The majority of Hollywood studio movies use Avids while many lower budget indie films use Final Cut Pro. (Some still use Lightworks, but this is rare.) Find local film editing classes and sign up. Once there, spend as much time as you can on the computers, practicing the various ways of cutting picture, sound, music, and visual effects. Get Final Cut Pro or Avid Xpress if you can and practice editing at home.
Step 2

If you want to go to film school to learn editing, be sure the school has Avids. Take all the editing courses offered and cut as many of your classmates' films as you can. Build relationships with the future directors of your school. Film editors are generally hired by directors, and directors almost always hire the same editors. Some examples of this are Steven Spielberg and Michael Kahn, Tim Burton and Chris Lebenzon, and Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker.
Step 3

Cut a reel of your editing work. If you have no experience, ask friends to help you shoot a few short scenes and trailers on video. Once they're in the can, edit them. If you are happy with your work, cut them together in one long sequence, using title cards to introduce each piece. Begin and end your reel with a moving or still contact page. Include your name, contact number, and email address.
Step 4

Edit everything you can get your hands on, pay or no pay. Check Craigslist and student crew notices in Backstage for editing positions. Many of these films look for Final Cut Pro editors and pay extra to editors with their own equipment. Taking this independent movie route, be prepared to work with no assistant editors, apprentices, post supervisors, or production assistants. Some independent films budget for only one person in post-production--the editor. (This is sometimes a blessing in disguise.) Be sure to add your work to your reel.
Step 5

If you want to take the union route to film editing, start with a job as a post-P.A. on a union film. ('P.A.' stands for 'production assistant.') Make sure you have a reliable car and car insurance. Tell the post-production supervisor, editor, and assistant editors that your goal is to edit. Ask the post crew if they are willing to mentor you. If you do a good job and the editing crew likes you, expect to get hired onto their next shows.

You should be able to move up to a union apprentice position within one to three movie jobs. (If you don't, look for another crew to work with.) After that, you should be able to move up to a union assistant editor position within one to two shows.

Most union assistants work as the 1st assistant editor for at least three movies before getting a chance to cut scenes for the final theatrical version of a film. Once your editor gives you scenes to cut for the final version, ask for associate or additional editor credit. After you have edited successfully as an additional editor, try to get work on your own as an editor. The editor that mentored you should be able to help you find work.
Step 6

Write a proper film crew resume. See links in the Resources section for instructions.