Question 1

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

Daniel Riser · Accepted Answer

“A lot of people want to glamorize editing and make it seem overcomplicated. Really it comes down to learning the art and craft. It’s okay for someone to start as a peon, grabbing what knowledge they can for free and learning how to edit from a professional. Hollywood likes to tell success stories of savants who come out of nowhere and change the world.
“Having dreams is good but it’s important to take steps to learn all that is possible because if an Editor or Assistant Editor takes on a job before they’re ready for it that can almost be career-ending. It’s a small industry and when someone is fortunate enough to get hired they’re trusted to do a good job. If they do a bad job it tarnishes their reputation and, at the end of the day, Producers talk.”

Question 2

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

Daniel Riser · Accepted Answer

“Some people foster the unfortunate belief that they are a genius who has been touched by divinity and they act like it. Nothing kills a career faster than that. Arrogance, superiority complexes, constant complaining, and not being a team player are all sure tickets to losing a job or never getting rehired.
“Professionals understand that the reason their work is great is because of the team with whom they collaborate. People can be genuinely good, trying to do what’s best for a project, but if they’re perceived as lazy, hard to work with, or condescending, then it’s the end. Filmmaking is such a competitive industry that it isn’t enough to be talented. They also need to be friendly and collaborative.”

Question 3

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

Daniel Riser · Accepted Answer

“People rarely have conversations about responsibility and developing clear methods of communication when beginning a project. They make assumptions based on personal opinions and that leads to problems down the line. This happens on both sides, with Editors and Producers, too.
“The best way to avoid any problems in the pipeline is to arrange a brief meeting where each person sits down and gives a description of each other’s role and responsibilities. Engaging in this manner will also help clarify relationships with other departments, who the correct people are to contact, and how timelines will work.
“One big problem that often happens is that delays occur, which cost either the Producer or Editor money. For an Editor that means turning down other jobs while thinking they must work on the Producer’s project then suddenly discovering that they won’t be needed until the following week.
“For the Producer, it can mean hiring a team and not having deliverables. This is a simple problem to avoid if the Producer and Editor communicate. An Assistant Editor who is proactive in clarifying their job duties will have an easier and more productive life and build a good habit for when they become an Editor.”

Question 4

What is one thing I should have asked which I didn’t?

Daniel Riser · Accepted Answer

“How do people know that this is the job for them before getting involved?
“Getting into the editing field is a time commitment. It’s important for people to have a good understanding of what they’re getting into before devoting time and money to learning as well as investing in gear.
“The best thing to do is research a couple different post-production houses and call to talk to a working Assistant Editor. They aren’t powerful and aren’t making a crazy amount of money but will have valuable information on what it’s like to work in the field.
“Spending some time on Google and watching tutorials is also a good idea for grasping the day-to-day of the job. Ultimately, because it takes years of work to get to a place where someone will be making decent money in the editing field, there needs to be a lot of passion for the art form to find fulfillment.”

Question 5

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

Daniel Riser · Accepted Answer

“Excellence.”

Question 6

What does an Assistant Editor do in film?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

An Assistant Editor is an indispensable colleague to a Film Editor. While the Film Editor concentrates on the actual cutting of a movie, the Assistant Editor is the person who makes sure all other needs are being addressed in the editing room. That means communicating with other departments and checking the rushes to ensure they are free of any technical problems.

Question 7

Is an Assistant Editor a good career?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

Whether or not an Assistant Editor is a good career depends on what a person wants from this particular profession. Assistant Editors are instrumental to the making of a film; that being said, they don’t typically enjoy the creativity of the Film Editor whose job it is to actually assemble a movie. Rather, much of what an Assistant Editor does involves more the communication and technical needs of the editing department. For a person who enjoys this work and is proficient at it, though, the life of an Assistant Editor can be highly rewarding.

Question 8

What is the difference between Assistant Editor and Editorial Assistant?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

An Editorial Assistant is often a person just beginning their professional career. As a result, they typically handle any assignments or duties given by the Film Editor or Assistant Editor, including runs from one facility to another and other more simple, mundane tasks as they learn about the craft. An Assistant Editor is a more experienced professional who is in many regards the righthand person to the Film Editor on a project.

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