television editing [Archive]

Ross Blandon

01-05-2004, 06:05 PM

Hi all,

I'm doing a research assignment on Television Editing, and was
wondering if anyone here has had any experience working in this field?

If so would you please take the time to answer a few questions? Answer
as many or as few questions as you like, in as much detail as you
like.

The assignment requires that I interact with those in the industry.

Questions:

Linear and non-linear editing

Have you had experience with Linear and Non-Linear systems?
What systems have been used at your past work places, and can you list
the names of your work places (optional).
Which method do you prefer to use? Why?

Editing Software

What editing software have you found to be used at your current and
past work places? (i.e. Avid, Final Cut) And can you identify the
employers that use them? (Optional)
Which software do you prefer to use, and why?

What skills do you think are necessary in a good editor?

What advice would you give to someone who is starting out in editing?

And finally, would you recommend any websites that may be of use in
answering the above questions, and generally finding out more about
editing?

Thank you for your time. It is much appreciated.
Feel free to contact me via email on:
rbland02@postoffice.csu.edu.au

Russ

02-05-2004, 01:05 AM

"Ross Blandon" <rbland02@postoffice.csu.edu.au> wrote in message
news:b54626a4.0404302358.18f273f5@posting.google.c om...
> Hi all,
>
> I'm doing a research assignment on Television Editing, and was
> wondering if anyone here has had any experience working in this field?

> Linear and non-linear editing
>
> Have you had experience with Linear and Non-Linear systems?
> What systems have been used at your past work places, and can you list
> the names of your work places (optional).
> Which method do you prefer to use? Why?

Linear is the older editing system, but is quickly been overtaken by
non-linear. Linear is regarded as being faster, and is still used in some
news environments purely because of speed of delivery, and stations (mainly
regional) not being willing to shell out the cash for new non-linear
systems. That is changing, and within a few years linear suites will
probably be very rare.

There is also a workflow where an edit is "offlined" on a non-linear system
and the EDL (edit decision list) is taken to a liner suite for "onlining" to
generate the master program. Traditionally linear (tape-to-tape) systems
have been regarded as having the highest quality. Again, this is changing
and while programs are still offlined, they are more often onlined in a
high-quality non-linear suite.

> Editing Software
>
> What editing software have you found to be used at your current and
> past work places? (i.e. Avid, Final Cut) And can you identify the
> employers that use them? (Optional)
> Which software do you prefer to use, and why?

I'm not an editor, but these days you generally find a mix of systems - FCP
is becoming very common, but the various versions of Avid are still the
system of choice for high-end production. That said, a good editor can
produce just as good an edit on either system, they simply tend to be faster
for some kinds programs on a particular system.

> What skills do you think are necessary in a good editor?

That's a can of worms - I'd do a bit of Googling if I were you. In a
nutshell tho, a good sense of timing, rhythm, flow, story and pace.

> What advice would you give to someone who is starting out in editing?

Start cutting - not just any old crap, get someone to shoot a little film
for you - something with a story and some kind script - it doesn't need to
be anything significant, and try and cut it together. Then get somone
utterly unrelated to the program to watch it. They won't be able to tell you
what you did wrong, but you'll find out if it worked, and you might get a
sense of what part your cutting contributed to the success of failure of the
storytelling.

Beyond that, watch and learn. There is great editing available to see on
your TV - you can only start to appreciate it once you've tried doing it
yourself.

> And finally, would you recommend any websites that may be of use in
> answering the above questions, and generally finding out more about
> editing?

I'd suggest you call AFTRS and talk to them. Production is a people
industry, and you get a lot further by getting out and talking to people
than Googling and email. AFTRS offer master classes and clinics where just
by being in the audience you learn an immense amount. When I was starting
out, I learnt an incredible amount about editing by going to a lecture by
Richard Francis Bruce where he went through the film Se7en explaining how
he'd cut certain scenes.

Some production houses take work experience or shitkickers, but it's often
hard to get in - if you specify that you're interested in editing as opposed
to directing etc, you may get a little further.

Russ.