What Does it Take to Be a Film and Video Editor?
Job Description: Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.
Film and Video Editor Responsibilities
- Conduct film screenings for directors and members of production staffs.
- Determine the specific audio and visual effects and music necessary to complete films.
- Supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in film editing, assembling, and recording activities.
- Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.
- Mark frames where a particular shot or piece of sound is to begin or end.
- Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.
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Film and Video Editor Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Film and Video Editors say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Related Job Titles
- Supervising Film or Videotape Editor
- Digital Media Coordinator
- Movie Editor
- Television Producer
- Video Tape Transferrer
Job Opportunities for Film and Video Editors
In the United States, there were 34,200 jobs for Film and Video Editor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 17% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,800 new jobs for Film and Video Editor by 2026. The BLS estimates 4,000 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Film and Video Editor are Utah, Georgia, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Wisconsin, or Missouri. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Film and Video Editor
The typical yearly salary for Film and Video Editors is somewhere between $31,940 and $170,040.
Film and Video Editors who work in New Jersey, New York, or California, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Film and Video Editors in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $51,480 |
Arizona | $70,420 |
Arkansas | $40,880 |
California | $112,530 |
Colorado | $54,310 |
Connecticut | $73,710 |
District of Columbia | $69,410 |
Florida | $50,410 |
Georgia | $64,470 |
Idaho | $45,550 |
Illinois | $64,820 |
Iowa | $53,730 |
Kansas | $46,720 |
Kentucky | $64,580 |
Maine | $56,090 |
Maryland | $53,920 |
Massachusetts | $74,090 |
Michigan | $64,620 |
Missouri | $56,160 |
Montana | $48,020 |
Nevada | $45,560 |
New Jersey | $87,150 |
New York | $92,170 |
North Carolina | $51,570 |
Ohio | $54,430 |
Oklahoma | $43,870 |
Oregon | $52,720 |
Pennsylvania | $61,920 |
South Carolina | $41,740 |
Tennessee | $70,100 |
Texas | $61,990 |
Utah | $54,010 |
Virginia | $64,590 |
Washington | $71,120 |
Wisconsin | $52,260 |
What Tools do Film and Video Editors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Film and Video Editors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- JavaScript
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Extensible markup language XML
- YouTube
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite
- AJAX
- Adobe Systems Adobe Flash Player
- Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffects
- Adobe Systems Adobe Premiere Pro
- Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Systems Adobe Director
- Apple QuickTime
Becoming a Film and Video Editor
Individuals working as a Film and Video Editor have obtained the following education levels:
What work experience do I need to become a Film and Video Editor?
Film and Video Editors Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Film and Video Editor might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Film and Video Editor sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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