Motivation Needed

[Scott Sheriff]

Lots of good tips here.
Mine would be ‘work on your mindset’.
Sure it’s great to have something, visually stimulating to work on, but the reality of it is that very few have the luxury of only working on ‘cool’ projects. Being an editor is part art, and part professional trade skill (like plumbing for example). And like all jobs, it isn’t always what you want it to be, but as a tradesman you must learn to turn your skills on when needed. There is no ‘method’ editing, and you shouldn’t have to be in the mood in order to edit.
What ever you are working on is someones project, and it means a lot to them, and your motivation should be the pride of being able to use a skill to help your client achieve his goal and tell his story.
I don’t want to insult you, but if you find lack of motivation, and the requirement to be constantly stimulated in order to achieve results, being a full time editor may not be for you and there is no shame in this. I have been doing it since the mid 80’s, and have seen plenty of people decide that it wasn’t for them and move on to something else in the industry.

[Vince Becquiot]

You haven’t done boring until you’ve done RX training videos, with guest VO artist: Jim (AKA the guy who qualified since he also happens to be the one to setup the company PA at Christmas parties).

If I posted that video, you would instantly regain consciousness, dim the lights and figure out that your job just ain’t that bad.

Did I mention Jim’s heavy breathing and slow pace?

If you work with fluorescents, gel them ASAP and shop for some tracks…

Vince Becquiot

Kaptis Studios
San Francisco – Bay Area

[Bob Cole]

[Aaron Cadieux] “I’ve complained about my job on the Cow many times.”

Just a reminder: this is a public forum, and if anyone Googles your name, they can find this post.

There’s a lot of great advice in this thread. You could, indeed, just “suck it up,” and focus on the craftsmanship side of editing, or work faster, or divide the work so that the management process itself makes it interesting. But if most of your work bores you, it may be a sign. I agree with Scott that there’s no shame in moving on if editing is consistently a boring chore. Even if you’re really talented, if it doesn’t float your boat, move on – it could be the best thing that happens to you.

Only when work regularly draws on all or most of your talents can you be happy in work.

Bob C

[Kai Cheong]

I’m with Marcello on this – break the task down into something very rational and organized. It’s really a mental game – you just have to accept this is not an inspirational, life-changing, creative edit. Though what you’re working on is sort of meaningful – since it’s going to be something to help the elderly.

Often, I find that even though THINKING about an icky/long-drawn out edit makes me feel demoralized and frustrated, once you get into the actual task of cutting and splicing, it gets pretty mechanical and automatic. Then time passes and your videos gets built – slowly but surely.

Sometimes, I do get left alone to make certain edits on my own time. And in all honesty, the spirit AND flesh can get pretty unwilling. But it all boils down to knowing you have a job to do and the faster you start it, the quicker you get through it and the more time you get to enjoy [without having the silly edit haunting you at the back of your mind].

Get into the right frame of mind, build up your ‘mental set up’ time [you can be doing some form of procrastinating here but you know you’re just setting up for the job ahead] then fire up your NLE and go at it!

Kai
FCP Editor / Producer with Intuitive Films
https://kai-fcp-editor.blogspot.com
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