Video Editor (Film Video Editor) is a very important professional of the film and other visual media making team. He plays a very important role in the post-production work in any audio-visual media. He is responsible for the editing of soundtracks, film and video for motion pictures along with cable and broadcast visual media industry. Professional Video editor’s job profile includes selection, re-arrangement and modification of segments of video footage derived from various sources.
Video Editor is the technicians who own the task of refining the video and making it meaningful under the guidance of the director. He is supposed to rearrange the scenes that have been shot, insert music, sound and add special effects. Being skilled technician his role is to make the available visual media more refined and meaningful thus he is not required to make any directorial decisions, such as determining the quality of acting or usefulness of a scene in the film/movie etc. He has to use their technical skills to the satisfaction of the director. This makes the career of a video editor interesting as well as challenging in the sense that he has to use his skills to the satisfaction of the director.
Video Editor Eligibility
To pursue a career in video editing, one need not require any specific educational qualification. In fact, anybody with considerably good creativity and lots of imagination can enter the field of video editing. However to be able to work in a good organization and have an edge over the other candidates some below-given training course can be an added advantage.
Video Editor Required Skills
- To pursue a career in video editing the aspiring candidates have to be quite imaginative as well as competitive to be the best in this quite prospective but competitive field.
- They also have a sound knowledge of related computer software as most of the editing is being done on such software now a day. Most film editors use computers or nonlinear digital editing systems to edit film whereas those working with Television films use computer software and nonlinear digital editing systems to edit the film for commercials, station identification, and public service messages on television films and tapes.
- They should possess a keen eye for detail and a critical mind; creativity; patience and concentration; ability to listen to others and to work well as part of a team.
- Candidates should have a high level of self-motivation, commitment and dedication; organisational and time management skills; ability to work under pressure and to deadlines; communication skills, both written and oral.
- Video Editor should be a good time manager such as to manage his own time and the time of others.
How to become a Video Editor?
To be a successful video editor the aspiring candidates have to follow the given steps:
Step 1
After clearing 12 class preferably in the related subjects aspiring candidates can get admission in Certificate courses of 1 or 2-year duration or Diploma courses or 1 to 3 years duration or UG course of 3 years. Some of the courses are:
Certificate Courses
- Certificate Course in Digital Editing
- Certificate Course in Non-linear Editing
- Certificate Course in Professional Video Editing with Avid Media Composer
- Certificate Course in Professional Video Editing with Final Cut Pro.
- Certificate Course in Video Editing
Diploma Courses
- Diploma in Film Editing
- Diploma in Video Editing
- Diploma in Video Editing and Sound Recording
UG Courses
Step 2
After completing one or more of these courses of varying durations where one has to go through all the major aspects of the video editing field, the aspiring candidate can join media and film industry at a high note. However, candidates with UG degree in any stream can go for related 1 or 2 years PG courses to join the field
Post Graduate Courses
- Post Graduate Certificate Course in Video Editing
- Post Graduate Diploma Course in Editing
- Post Graduate Diploma in Post Production (Editing)
Master's Courses
Institutes offering Courses for Video Editor
- Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi
- Tezpur University, Tezpur (Assam)
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- Fortune Institute of Communication and Television, New Delhi
Video Editor Job Description
- Video Editor Job description includes editing of soundtracks, film and video for motion pictures along with cable and broadcast visual media industry.
- They are responsible for the selection, re-arrangement and modification of segments of video footage derived from various sources.
- Video Editor work also includes refining the video and making it meaningful under the guidance of the director.
- He rearranges the scenes that have been shot, insert music, sound and add special effects.
- A Video Editor job also includes making the available visual media more refined and meaningful.
Video Editor Career Prospects
The job prospects in video editing as a field are growing at a fast pace with the demand for good and technically very sound video editors. More encouraging about this career is that the demand is not limited to a particular segment rather the work is diversified ranging from art designing to production of videography. Professional video editors can find placement in Television Centres, News channels, film and music video industries, advertising agencies, multimedia and web design companies and internet portals to name a few.
The emergence of a new domain in the field i.e. music and video clips on websites has widened the scope of employment to a great extent for these professionals. Besides the organized sector freelance video editing jobs are also available for the budding video editors who want to opt for this profession on a part-time basis. Thus a good video editor can access the world job market and do various type of video editings like online video editing, offline video editing, special as well as image cleanup and colour correction to name a few and that too in his own comfort hours.
Video Editor Salary
With the increase in the audio-Visual media in every field of mass media like TV, Movie and above all Internet/Web Video Editors are in high demand nowadays. The beginners can earn between Rs.20,000 to Rs.25,000 per month. After some experience and exposure to the practical work, one can demand as high as Rs.50,000 per month or per assignment.
