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Current state of the Video Editing industry
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I for one think the industry is fantastic right now. Our income is better than ever, we’re winning awards, our clients are happier than ever with our work, and the future is very bright. It is not all gloom and doom. The storyteller has more and better options than he’s ever had before. Embrace that!
If you’re starting out, it might be smart to find a job outside of the larger markets that lets you experiment in lots of various realms within the industry (Nashville, Atlanta, Denver). Shooting, graphics, editing, etc – the roles are merging and the more you know the better off you’ll be. Build up an aesthetic sense – find the people who really know their stuff (they’ll usually be the quiet ones that aren’t talking about how great they are), and learn from them. Experiment. Have fun.
Even in a bad economy, cream still rises to the top. Nobody ever makes good money starting out, so plan on having roomates, a crappy car, and near squalor living conditions for a few years. You’ll look back on those days with fondness. Top Ramen tastes good when flavored with hope and dreams.
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You’re quite welcome, Hunter, and I’m very glad that you found my input helpful. And, it’s not a one-way street … being younger doesn’t mean I and others don’t also learn from your perspectives.
Hunter Hempen “So in turn, I am told by other, perhaps younger (no offense), professors that there IS a “demand” out there…is my generation simply more optimistic, or blind to reality?”
Maybe neither … you generation just lives in a somewhat different world than people of significantly different generations so your perspective and reality are somewhat different too. Perhaps when two perspectives seem opposites on the surface, one doesn’t necessarily have to be “right” and the other “wrong” … seems to me both your professors have very valid points.
Hunter Hempen “Now to find out what to do with my life.”
Obviously, only you can answer that so perhaps find the balance of the two perspectives that works for you … maybe you’re a person who will only be happy doing something where you’re practically guaranteed a particular minimum income level or maybe you’re a person who will be equally happy doing something you enjoy even if you might have to struggle to make a living … again, only you can figure that out.It’s unfortunate that some interpreted my comments as “doom and gloom”, but more importantly, I hope you didn’t get that impression. Risks of discussing complex subjects in writing rather than verbally are easy and frequent misunderstandings. So, in case this wasn’t evident from any one phrase out of a larger point, I love what I do, as do most people I know in the production world. At the same time, I would consider it irresponsible of me to convince someone just entering the field that the number and quality of opportunities in the industry at large seems to be on a trend of increase. It’s important to consider both the pros and cons when evaluating anything and the cons are typically less obvious and, thus, at least equally important to discuss/consider.
It also seems to me that the whole point of your question was to gather various viewpoints to consider … I agree that’s a good approach. Again, my belief is that neither of your two professors is necessarily wrong. Are there good opportunities out there? Absolutely … I’ve found some so I know with certainty that there are. Are the quality and amount of them increasing or decreasing? Personally, I’d have a hard time arguing that either the quality or amount is increasing relative to the decades over which I’ve observed the trends. I just haven’t seen much of that happening, but then again, just because I haven’t witnessed it doesn’t mean it couldn’t possibly be happening somewhere or to some degree.
All in all, I’d recommend against letting any one thing I or any other single person says sway you … perhaps consider that, for example, when one publishes research, there’s good reason why citing more than one source is typically a requirement. Best of luck!
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By the way, Alex, I sincerely apologize if you feel that I misinterpreted your comments or took them out of context … just seems the conversation is relevant to the questions posed here.
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Personally, the best analogy I can think of right now is that for many, many years, the world of production was a huge city where the only source of water was special wells. Some of those wells were crafted carefully, dug deep, and located with care so that they corresponded with traditional deep sources of water.
Technology started making it easier to dig wells. So easy in fact that everyone and their brother started digging them. But the VAST majority of the people drilling the new wells were new to the water business and most of their wells are shallow, and most of them are positioned poorly.
Right now, folks are selling water on every street corner. So many vendors that it’s barely possible to charge enough to make a profit in the water business. But running a water business is still surprisingly hard work. And not a lot of people will likely stick with it and make it their careers in the long haul.
So those of us who’ve learned to position our wells carefully – and who understand how to operate a sustainable business long ago learned not to try to FORCE the market to do what we want, but rather to keep flexible and watch and be ready when things dry up a bit. Yes, there are still relatively large contracts being let for water. Yes, prices are down. Yes, there’s a GLUT of cheap water sellers everywhere. But those conditions change.
If you love the water business – you’ll find a way to be around when the folding tables and cheap street merchants get tired of playing and look for an easier way to make a buck.
Cuz the water business is not really all the easy.
My 2 cents anyway.
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[Hunter Hempen] “several professors say the industry is dead and dying,”
The old model of specialized individuals for every single aspect of post production is gone. The old model of people very overpaid for very little actual work is gone.
The craft of video editing is probably more alive than ever before thanks to iMovie, Final Cut Pro and Premiere making the tools so affordable for everyone. Anyone can edit video today, it’s not just in the realm of million dollar edit suites.
THE most important thing in the industry today is talent. In the case of my company, that talent is storytelling. What I see coming out of colleges today are a lot of very slick demo reels that are so overproduced and feature so many motion graphics I have no idea what was the original project and what is the demo reel. It’s not that hard to put together 1000 edits in a 3 minute demo reel set to music. It’s really difficult to show me 3 minutes of a good story.
I have a three part series here on the Cow about starting and growing your own business along with another article about “thinking big.” Essentially I started out at CNN back in 1990, went to another company in ’95, started my own Post company in ’98 with a partner and then started my current company in 2001. Everything I did up to 2001 was a learning experience to prepare me to start my own company and even there I was completely unprepared for the path this has taken me.
In 2001 I was just planning to be a freelance editor working either at my home or at a client’s facility. Too many people enjoyed coming to my house because we’re set in a quiet area out in the woods. So I ended up moving into an office nearby so folks didn’t have to come into our house any longer. Then one client propelled us to a new level by bringing us into the national broadcast arena. From that we’ve grown to 4 edit suites and currently have a new 6000 square foot facility under construction that will house 8 edit suites and a 5.1 surround sound mix room / color enhancement suite.
The big part of this expansion is I am not going to follow the “old model” and jack up prices to obscene levels just because we have a big building. We’re being extremely frugal with this place, taking advantage of the down market (the land was a foreclosed property) and simply giving us and the clients more room. Our rates will remain exactly the same and I’m not going to go out and hire a bunch of staff hoping that “if I build it they will come.” We will do some smart hires and then bring in some very talented people in the Atlanta area as needed for projects. In addition, we’ll have the facility available for local editors who need a place to digitize, master, meet with clients, etc… who would need to use a “big facility” from time to time.
In addition I’m developing four of my own original television series. Why? Well because of the “current state of the economy” I’m taking more control of my own destiny. Yes we’re still building our clientele roster, but by developing our own programming, and partnering with others in the area doing the same, it allows us to have some control over what we do and some security to know that we’re funded for X years.
So the point I’m making in this rambling note is that the “video editing industry” is not dead. It has simply evolved into something that does and does not resemble what it once was. But then nothing about television or film production really resembles what it once was. If you don’t keep up and evolve with it, you’ll be left behind.
I honestly think you’re coming out in the best and worst of times right now. It’s great because you have the tools, it’s the worst because everybody else does too, even those who didn’t go to school for video production.
Look for a small production company or an in-house corporate production company where you will wear multiple hats. These are always great places to start out because you learn a little bit of everything and knowing about everything makes you more valuable as you move forward with your career.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media“Foul Water, Fiery Serpent” featuring Sigourney Weaver coming soon.
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Has the business model changed – you bet is has. Is there a future for someone young to become an AVID editor at a post house – probably not. Today, you have to do everything. And more importantly, you have to learn what others do not know. What your professor does not know – this is what you have to know. This is how you stay ahead.
I have told this story before – back in the stone age (early days of AVID editing), I told a young David Kuther (leading editor/graphics guy in NY) that if could learn how to import Photoshop graphics into an AVID, everyone would hire him (seems like a joke today, doesn’t it) – well, he did exactly that (because no one knew how to do it), and he skipped many steps into getting accepted by the NY commercial editorial market. So when you hear the “I am an editor, I dont go graphics, don’t do audio, don’t do color grading, don’t do websites, don’t do file encoding, don’t do streaming” – whatever it is that THEY don’t do – this is what you need to do.
Look at RED, and Alexa. These new “young guys” would never have a chance at getting into the 35mm Panavision film market, but the RED and Alexa (and CAnon) opened up the doors for tons of new young DP’s, where the old dogs will never learn these skills, and never get the opportunity that a new young guy will.
The most important thing is that your school, and your professor CANNOT TEACH YOU any of the things that you will need – you have to teach yourself, you have to be aggressive, have the passion, and have a little luck in choosing the right “new thing” or things to learn, that will seperate you from the rest of the pack.
The industry is dead for people who follow the old model (I used to edit for all these companies and now, it’s all in house, and there are no jobs out there) – well, there is MORE TV THAN EVER BEFORE, more stations, more shows, more web videos, and guess what – someone makes all that stuff.
Work hard, and you will make it. Most people give up. don’t give up.
Bob Zelin
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I agree with just about everything everyone has said, especially Bob Zelin and Walter Biscari’s comments…BUT…I believe you have to be both positive and pragmatic. The economy sucks right now. Sure there will be people who are doing well even in these tough times, but one thread mentioned trying mid-size markets like Nashville and Denver. I know people in both markets and can say with certainty that long-standing production companies, ad agencies, photography companies and design firms in both markets are closing their doors. And these are not start-up or young companies…these are companies with prestigious awards lining their walls and reputations that shine like the sun.
Many of these companies WERE branching out, and “doing thing differently” as everyone suggests. The fact is, your ability to survive or thrive in this economy is DIRECTLY related to your established client roster. If you were doing work for people that DO need content now, you’re probably thriving. If the bulk of your work was for companies or in industries that are cutting back or struggling, you too are probably struggling. Case in point is companies that were heavily tied to the auto industry. Do you think no matter what they were doing in terms of broadening their skills or offerings…that they’re doing well right now?? Probably not.
You can do everything that everyone suggests in these forums and STILL succumb in an economy like this. That’s the reality.
Should this dissuade the original poster from getting into the industry? Not if he loves the work. But as everyone has mentioned…he should be aware that making himself as marketable as possible (having as many skills as possible) will dramatically improve his chances of getting a job. But like those companies that have closed…there are no guarantees.
Chris Blair
Magnetic Image, Inc.
Evansville, IN
http://www.videomi.com
Read our blog http://www.videomi.com/blog -
Although the job description of “video editor” continues to expand to an implied fluency in many areas rendering the age of specialists increasingly to the “high end,” I’ve found that it is helpful for individuals to have areas of content expertise.
For instance, Mike Cohen’s company specializes in surgical/medical videos. His knowledge of that field translates into effectiveness and efficiency. Most of my work is in sports – though any editor can edit sports video, cutting sports video for a living for 13 years has made me better and faster when I cut sports.
Have an idea of WHAT you want to edit. Although editing skills will translate (I’ve edited documentaries, news, and magazine show features effectively) having a solid knowledge of a particular content area can help get you in the door and keep you happy as you learn yet another new technology to do an L-Cut.
Best of luck,
Tom Meegan
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I just had this conversation with a client the other day. The question was asked “what is it exactly that you do??” Well…I’m a…
Videoeditor-shooter-sounddesigner-soundengineer-photographer-lightingdesigner-mographdesigner-liveeventproducer-IMAGdirector-digitalsignagemanager AND……
Musician who plays in four bands…Yea….that about does it…
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
[Tom Meegan] “For instance, Mike Cohen’s company specializes in surgical/medical videos. His knowledge of that field translates into effectiveness and efficiency.”
Good point Tom. I went to school for Mass Communications, which in early 1990’s terminology meant video production (pick one, corporate, broadcast (news or sports), or independent, or radio, or journalism)). We graduated with knowledge of all of these areas. I at one point considered being a tv news reporter, but my experiences as a tv news intern changed all that.
Having a niche helps. However within a niche, as in my experience, there are sub-specialties – but as others have said, you have to know a little of everything and a lot of a few things. Do we use a lot of After Effects in medical video? Not too often, but we have someone on staff who knows the software and what can be done with it. Sell yourself not just on what you know, but also on what you can do for a client. Why be R2D2, who is really good at fixing hyperdrive generators, when you can be Han Solo, who can fix things, program a computer, negotiate contracts, pilot a ship, hold his own in a fight, dress sharply, crack a good joke, mentor a young farmboy, get out of dicey situations and gets the girls.
I am a video editor as one of my job duties, sure, but also a project manager, manager (of other people, budgets, proposals, marketing, new business development, etc), writer, instructional designer, producer, director, graphic designer, etc. The “etc” is a catch-all for whatever comes along that needs doing.
Don’t leave college planning to be just one thing your whole life. Plan on the “etc”.
Mike Cohen
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