Video editor Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Video editor

Hours

30-40 per week
Starting salary

£25,000 + per year

If you want to get into film or TV, and want a job that is both creative and practical, this could suit you well.

Film or video editors put together pictures and sound to produce a piece for film or television that is suitable for broadcasting. Skilled editors can have a big influence on the quality of the finished piece.

In this job you will need to have a good sense of timing, to put together pieces that flow well. You will need attention to detail and patience. You will also need the ability to meet tight deadlines.

This is a job where your technical skills and experience, plus your personal qualities, are likely to be valued more highly by employers than qualifications. You can get experience through voluntary work, working for equipment hire companies or by being a 'runner'. Courses in film, video or media production can teach you some of the skills you will need.

The work

As an editor, you would be part of a 'post-production’ team that joins together raw material recorded by the camera and sound crews and adds any extra sound effects, graphics and special effects. You could work on projects from feature films and TV programmes to corporate videos, commercials and music videos.

Depending on your specialism and the size of the project, your job would include some or all of these tasks:

finding out about the needs of the project from the director or client
transferring film or video footage to computer
examining the footage and deciding which shots to keep and which to cut out
cutting and joining shots using editing software
keeping a clear idea of the storyline, even though you may be editing scenes out of sequence
creating a 'rough cut' from the chosen material
digitally enhancing picture quality
using computer software to add titles, graphics, sound and any visual effects
putting all the elements together, in order, for the final version
creating DVDs.

On larger projects, you could be one of several editors with different jobs and specialisms, such as offline editing (making the rough cut), online editing (producing the final version) or sound editing.

Hours

You may work standard office hours or shifts, as film editing studios are often booked at night. You may need to be flexible and work at short notice if necessary, and it is common to work long hours and overtime to meet deadlines.

Post-production editing takes place in enclosed studios and editing suites, where you would spend long periods working on computers.

Income

Starting salaries can be up to £25,000 a year for ongoing full-time work, although it is common to work for much less at the start of your career. Experienced freelance rates can be between £1100 and £2000 a week (before tax).

Freelance rates can vary widely. You could negotiate fees based on the type of production and your own track record. Contact BECTU for current pay guidelines.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

Most employers will be more interested in your technical skills and personal qualities (such as common sense and initiative) than your formal qualifications. The key is to gain as much experience as you can (paid or unpaid) in the post-production process and in using editing equipment.

You could get relevant experience from:

editing student or community film productions
working for an editing equipment hire company
work experience as a runner in an editing facilities house.

You may find it helpful to take a course in film, video or media production. This will not guarantee you a job, but it should help you to gain practical skills in using editing equipment. The most useful courses include work placements and the chance to build contacts in the industry.

Several colleges and universities offer courses, including:

City & Guilds Level 1, 2 and 3 Award, Certificate and Diploma in Media Techniques
BTEC Level 3 Certificates and Diplomas in Creative Media Production
BTEC HNDs, degrees and postgraduate courses.

Check with course providers for entry requirements, and see Creative Skillset’s website for details of industry-approved courses.

As you gain experience, you should make a 'showreel' DVD of productions you have worked on, to demonstrate your skills to employers when looking for work.

'People skills' and customer service experience are also important, as editing often involves working in close contact with clients.

Training and development

You would usually start as a runner or trainee in a post-production house, and progress to assistant editor and then editor as your experience grows.

You would mainly learn on the job, but you may find it useful to take short courses in specific editing software and equipment such as Avid, Final Cut Pro and After Effects.

At the start of your career you may be able to get some training as part of an apprenticeship-style new entrant scheme, such as programmes occasionally run by broadcasters and regional screen agencies. Contact Creative Skillset Careers for information on any new entrant schemes that may be available.

You should keep up to date with new equipment and technology throughout your career. Visit Skillset’s website to search for relevant short courses, and for advice on how to fund your training as a freelance worker.

Skills and knowledge

As a video editor you would need to have:

a mixture of creative and practical skills
a good sense of timing and visual awareness
a high level of attention to detail
excellent communication skills
the ability to work as part of a team
willingness to work long hours when necessary
the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
patience and concentration
good computer skills.

More information

Creative Skillset (Opens new window)
Focus Point
21 Caledonian Road
London
N1 9GB
www.creativeskillset.org

Creative Skillset Careers (Opens new window)
Tel: 08080 300 900 (England and Northern Ireland)
Tel: 0845 850 2502(Scotland)
Tel: 08000 121 815 (Wales)
www.creativeskillset.org/careers

BKSTS (Opens new window) - The Moving Image Society
www.bksts.com

Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU) (Opens new window)
373-377 Clapham Road
London
SW9 9BT
Tel: 0845 850 2502
www.bectu.org.uk

e-skills UK (Opens new window)
1 Castle Lane
London
SW1E 6DR
0207 963 8920
www.e-skills.com

Opportunities

You would usually work on freelance contracts for post-production facilities houses, independent production companies, and television broadcasters. Contracts can be anything from a few days up to several months' work on a feature film. Competition for work is strong.

Some jobs are advertised in the national and trade press and on industry websites. However, it is more common to find work by contacting companies yourself, through word of mouth, and using a crew directory or diary service to market yourself.

Once you are established in your career, you might also use an agent to find you work and negotiate your fees.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and useful contacts (links open in new window):

Mandy
Broadcast Freelancer
BBC Careers
ITV Careers
Grapevine Jobs
UK Screen Association
The Knowledge (contacts directory)
Kays Production Guide (contacts directory)

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The TV industry is part of the creative industries, which is represented by Creative Skillset. This includes: advertising; animation; computer games; corporate and commercial production; fashion and textiles; film; interactive media; photo imaging; publishing; radio; and television.

The TV industry comprises: terrestrial broadcast TV; cable and satellite broadcasters; independent production companies (Indies); and a growing number of community TV companies, which share the analogue spectrum of 18 Restricted Services Licences.

The TV industry is characterised by a small number of large businesses and a large number of small companies. Broadcasters, such as the BBC and BSkyB, dominate the landscape of larger businesses, and increasingly, smaller independent production companies are merging or being bought out by other independent production companies to form much larger businesses, such as RDF Media Group.

Key facts:

55,900 people are employed in the TV industry, which is estimated to be 11% of the creative industries workforce.
The TV industry comprises over 1,450 businesses, including:
- 10 (terrestrial) broadcast TV
- around 250 cable and satellite broadcasters
- around 1,100 independent production companies (indies)
- a growing number of community TV companies
More than a third of the workforce is freelance, including 57% of the independent production workforce, 26% in broadcast TV, 12% in cable and satellite and 3% in community TV.
Nearly half of the TV workforce has undertaken unpaid work within the creative industries.
The TV workforce is highly qualified and a high proportion has media‐related degrees.

Jobs in the industry include:

Art and Design – Art Director
Camera – Script Supervisor, Camera Operator, Camera Assistant, Lighting Camera Hair and Make‐up – Make‐up & Hair Artist
Journalism and Sport – Broadcast Journalist
Lighting: Lighting Director, Gaffer
Performing – Actor, Presenter, Agent
Production – Director, Producer, Executive Producer, Location Manager, Production Manager, Researcher
Sound – Sound Supervisor, Sound Recordist, Boom Operator
Studio and Broadcast Technology – Transmission Engineer, Vision Mixer

National and regional data

The largest number of employees in the TV industry is located in:

London
North West
Scotland
Wales
South East

The East Midlands hosts several independent production companies with regular television commissions and corporate production work, including: Kingfisher, Channel 2020, The Media Group, 360 Red, Whistling Gypsy and Main Street Media. ITV Local and BBC East Midlands are based in Nottingham. Midlands Asian Television (MATV), based in Leicester, has a restricted service licence to broadcast news, current affairs and bought‐in Asian films and TV programmes to the Leicester area. The channel also has a cable arm, Channel 6. The regional workforce is around 600.

In the East of England, ITV Anglia and BBC East produce regional news. In Norwich, Town House TV produces the daily Trisha Goddard Show for Five. Imago Productions make a diverse range of programmes. Eye Film & TV works across documentary, drama and corporate production and is involved in training. In Wortham, Bungalow Town Productions make and distribute award‐winning feature documentaries for worldwide cinema and television. There are around 900 people employed in the industry.

In London, there are around 36,600 people working in broadcast TV, cable and satellite, and independent production, which is 65% of the industry.

The North East houses two terrestrial television broadcasters, BBC and Tyne Tees. Tyne Tees' regional output is factual and a quarter of Tyne Tees non‐news regional output is commissioned from independent producers across the region. In 2000, Tyne Tees created Signpost, which is now the leading supplier of on‐screen British Sign Language translation. There are around 400 people working in the industry.

Television broadcasting is an important component of the creative industries in the North West. There are around 4,200 in the workforce. Manchester is a large and established broadcasting centre and the leading regional TV centre outside London. The BBC is relocating London‐based staff to mediacity:uk in Salford. ITV (formerly Granada), also based in Manchester, produces a significant amount of network and regional programming. Independent production is strong in the region with over 90 production companies in the region.

In the South East, there are around 2,400 people working in broadcast TV, cable and satellite, and independent production. The region is home to key broadcasters including ITV Meridian, BBC South and BBC South East, ITV Local, Six TV and Kent TV. Over 10% of the UK's 1,500 plus production companies are based in the region and some companies have regional offices in the region. This represents the largest grouping outside of London and includes companies making feature films, corporate audio visual material, programmes for broadcast television and commercials. Maidstone Studios in Kent are a significant creative industries cluster; the region also boasts two major broadcast support employers, Virgin Media and Arqiva.

The South West has a strong production sector in Specialist Factual and Natural History production, both at BBC Bristol and in the independent production sector. Bristol is an established hub for television production. Two Four, one of the strongest independents outside of London and spanning TV, Interactive and Digital Media and Facilities, is based in Plymouth. There are around 1,800 people employed in the industry.

In the West Midlands, both the BBC and ITV Central have studio bases in Birmingham. The BBC has two bases, namely the Mailbox where regional and network television and radio productions are produced, and the Drama Village at the University of Birmingham. ITV Central is located in purpose‐built premises. There is a strong base of small independent production companies. The main output of these companies is factual entertainment for network and cable television. There are over 1,200 people employed in the industry.

Yorkshire and the Humber has a rich history of media production due in part to ITV Yorkshire being based in the region. ITV Yorkshire has a strong drama base, producing Emmerdale and several network dramas including Heartbeat, The Royal and The Royal Today. The BBC has two main centres in the region BBC Yorkshire and BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. There are over 1,800 in the TV industry workforce.

Northern Ireland is significantly under‐represented in terms of network production. There are approximately 1,200 people employed in the industry.

The total value of TV production activity in Scotland was over £111 million. Of which £54 million are attributable to commissions from the main UK broadcasting networks. Network production in Scotland has declined since 2004. There are over 2,500 people in the TV workforce.

Compared to the size of the population (approximately 3 million people), levels of network production are low in Wales. The Independent sector in Wales is a significant employer. Consolidation with the Independent sector has led to Welsh companies, such as Tinopolis and Boomerang, becoming major players within the UK TV sector. There are around 2,400 people employed in the industry.