Advice on becoming an editor

[Maud Dillingham]

As someone who has been laboring in the assistant editor trenches for several years, I can tell you that the AE track is no guarantee of becoming an editor. If you want to be an editor, you have to edit, period. As other posters have mentioned, this means working AFTER work on your editing so that if and when you get a chance to cut something for somebody who matters (i.e. a producer at your “A” job), your chops will be razor-sharp. When he or she says “Dazzle me!” you want to be able to do just that. If you stay ready, you ain’t got to get ready. And, these days you have to know After Effects and Photoshop, too. Have fun!

Maud Dillingham
http://www.mauddillingham.com