Editing Demo Reel

[Shane Ross]

The COW has a Demo Reel Forum. Many people post there.

https://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_view_posts.cgi?forumid=173

To get you started you can view mine at:
https://homepage.mac.com/comeback/professional/Menu20.html

Shane Ross
Alokut Productions
http://www.lfhd.net

[John Calhoun]

here ya go…

https://www.reelsondemand.com/index2.html

pxlmvr

[Mark Dannunzio]

Hey Shane.
That’s a great Reel!
Are you a full time editor? If so, how did you get your job? Did you have a desent reel in the begining? Also, is it hard to find full time editing jobs? Would I be safe if all I knew how to use was FCP? Thanks Shane
-Mark

[Shane Ross]

Click on my head at the top of the forums for a quick history of me.

Thanks for the kind words on my reel. It needs to be updated.

Am I a full time editor?
Yes I am. I am a fulltime FREELANCE editor, which means that I am constantly looking for work and updating my resume and reel.

How did I get my job?
Reputation. I started out an apprentice editor, then a tape vault manager, then because of my knowledge of the Avid, and because I took an Avid class, I became an assistant editor (this really is the way to start…assisting…unless you don’t have assistants in your market). Then I cut side projects on my own (short films, demo reels) and cut scense from projects I was working on. Then I learned how to online and became a finishing editor…then back to assistant. Then someone needed and editor and my name came up as one who was ready to move up. When that ran dry, I made a reel and shoped myself to various companies around town. If they liked my work, they hired me. Then because of my reputation as a good editor, I kept getting work.

Full Time editing jobs are few and far between. If you land one…it is a blessing. Mainly I get work from a 6-week to 10-week stretch. My last gig was 8 months…and that is long term. But, then again, I am in Hollywood, so the market is very different here than in say Cleveland or Atlanta.

Did I have a decent reel? Well, read my bio…at first I didn’t. It took a while to get stuff on it, but eventually I got there. My first stuff was short films, and didn’t sell me well. Eventually I cut scenes from series and was able to use those, and got more and more editing responsibilities so I got more stuff. it took time. 3 years as an assistant.

Knowing FCP only…depends on your market. Here, it is wise to know Avid too. Depends on what the prevailing system is in your area. It is always wise to know the systems people use. But NEVER call yourself a “Final Cut Pro Editor.” You are limiting yourself to a product. Just call yourself and editor, and know as many systems as you can. I know Avid (darn well), Premiere (barely), Media 100 (even more barely) and FCP (darn well).

Shane

Alokut Productions
http://www.lfhd.net