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a melancholic film editor
Dear Colleagues this is not the classic help request for technical issue but I would feel inadequate to post this reflection somewhere else, I apologize in advance for any inconvenience.
I edited videos for more than 10 years, advertising ‘ , promos, shorts and feature films.
I have always done my job with a great passion,
I have always considered the “editing” as an opportunity to drive emotions giving an order to the right ‘ “circumstances”, of course this is very personal.I’m not able to perform my job as I used to , not anymore , the market is every day more and more saturated of peolple doing the same job and the demand is less, fees are lower and the quality of the work often every time less interesting.
At the moment I’m editing virals videos, promo for the web, it seemed the most logical thing to do to me.
I still remember the pleasure of being part of a project with a team of specialists and work until late at night and then go to bed destroyed, but with the feeling that your creative talent has been used for real to enrich a story that would have excited many people ,
Maybe I’m the only one suffering for these but if there is some fellow out there more or less in the same situation please answer this, how did you reinvent yourself without destroying years of specialization ?
Thanks guys,
a melancholic film editor 🙂 -
6 Replies
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That’s the challenge everyone is facing whether you have been in the business for a while or just starting out. When supply outsized demand then costs go down – in some cases it’s not worth doing it. You have to go on “value” but getting customers to know and appreciate value is also a challenge these days. A friend posted this on Facebook today – read the job description, qualification, and then the pay. And that’s even with the employee supplying their own “mac laptop”. The sad part is that someone will take the job – to what level of satisfaction is TBD, but that is where all this has been heading for a while.
Michael
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Wow that is really insane.
one one hand we need to reposition the profession learning new tools and be constantly updated to be more competitive
but on the other hand I realize that I’m spending most of my time doing another job that is developing an effective commercial side to get more clients…
As you said that’s the challenge.
Thanks Michael for your reply!
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Victoria,
The community I work in is no different from the vast majority. There’s plenty of competition for work; and, the pay is very low. What I’ve found, over the years, is that there’s nothing like developing a good reputation to set myself apart from the garage editor. When the reputation exists for being dependable and of high quality, the work seems to find me. And yes, many times I’ll take the job because of the fun I’ll have, more than what they want to pay. I know, you can’t pay the rent or the grocery bill with the fun to be had, but, somehow, things always seem to work out if I just keep smilin’.
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“things always seem to work out if I just keep smilin'”
it’s a good mantra!! -
Seriously, as you’ve noticed, everyone and their cousin is stepping into the biz. What sets me apart, as a professional, is my positive and upbeat attitude. Anyone can be an editor, but, it takes a special person to go at the job with enthusiasm, commitment, and energy. Potential employers know this….and they can’t resist someone who’ll bring what few others can bring to the job.
Of course, all this is assuming the technical skills are there to start with. An experienced,technically savvy person will beat those garage editors, every time, hands down.It does take a certain amount of self confidence to pull it off at the potential hire interview. Take that in there with you.
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Sure Bill,
that is an interesting point, positive aptitude always pay back,
one more think I’ve learned,
at the beginning I was more focused on the performance than the editing in itself, now I know that it is not a matter of technical skills,
to me editing is a meticulous work, patience is a constant,thanks Bill
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