How To Become an Edit Assistant

How To Become an Edit Assistant

What is an Edit Assistant?
An Edit Assistant is an individual that supports the Editor(s) in all aspects of putting together a production/film.

What is the job?
An Edit Assistant will be responsible for keeping a log of all materials coming into the editorial department. As well as video, this may include storyboard panels, animated scenes, dialogue, sound effects, and soundtracks. They will take care of digitisation, conversion, and storage of all the necessary footage and other assets.

In addition to this, Edit Assistants may also have administrative duties, which could include booking appointments with clients and in-house staff, making sure that equipment is correctly working, and placing orders with suppliers. The role will also involve an element of keeping up to date with changes in software and technology.

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How To Become a VFX Producer

How To Become A VFX Producer

What is VFX Producer?
The VFX (Visual Effects) Producer is responsible for achieving the creative aims of the Director or Producers through the use of visual effects. It is a senior role, with a high level of responsibility running the visual effects department.

What is the Job?
The VFX Producer works in pre-production, on set, and in post-production. On set, the VFX Producer is responsible for overseeing the schedule, as well as the budget of the visual effects department. This means they are responsible for ensuring that the VFX Artists and VFX Supervisor complete work in a timely and fiscally responsible manner.

In the pre-production stage, the VFX Producer will have to meet with creative and technical executives, in order to discuss the Director’s overall visual concept. This will allow them to estimate the amount of VFX work that will be required after filming, and allow them to decide how many on-set special effects will be used. This stage of production will involve adjusting the pre-determined schedule and budget to fit in with the planned work.

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How To Become a Post Production Supervisor

How To Become a Post Production Supervisor

What is a Post Production Supervisor?
A Post Production Supervisor is an individual (or a team) that helps a Producer achieve as much as possible in the edit process without going over the set budget.

What is the Job?
The Post Production supervisor oversees all aspects of the post production process. The role of the Post Production Supervisor will vary depending on the type of production and the budget.

Their main job is to provide an overall picture of what can be realistically achieved in post production.

Their role will also include making sure the Producers are aware of all of the creative and financial considerations of post production before work on the film starts.

Duties may include helping with employing staff for the edit, and supplying accurate information for the cost reports for the Production Accountant.

A Post Production Supervisor will work on production until all elements needed for the completion of the film are complete, including music and effects.

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How To Become an Ingest Operator

How To Become an Ingest Operator

What is an Ingest Operator?
An Ingest Operator is an individual who is responsible for managing, accessing and importing data ready for use by Editors.

What is the job?
The role of Ingest Operator involves ingesting a high volume of video rushes in a wide range of different formats from memory cards, cameras, hard drives and various online storage systems. Data ingestion is the process of accessing and importing media ready for immediate use, or for storage in a database for future use. It is their responsibility to transcode media into editable formats and the correct frame rates for the production. Overall, their role is to organise projects for Editors, which can involve setting up project files and syncing camera footage and audio. Their primary duty is to facilitate the timely ingest of media in preparation for edit.

The role requires a solid technical understanding and strong organisational skills. As well as the above duties, you may also be required to compile post-production paperwork and may be asked to assist the edit on certain projects. On top of this, you may be required to undertake other tasks such as general administrative duties.

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How To Become a Post Production Runner

How To Become a Post Production Runner

What is a Post Production Runner?
A Post Production Runner is an individual who is on hand to help out in the edit suites and around the building at a post production facility. They help out with all aspects of post production.

What is the Job?
Post production facilities are the places where film and TV dramas are edited. They can be independent companies or part of a large studio. Post-production companies often employ Runners to take care of the most basic daily tasks in their facilities, to ensure that operations run smoothly. In exchange, Runners have the opportunity to get the industry experience that they need to progress to more advanced roles.

Post Production Runners, as mentioned, will do a lot of basic tasks, from cleaning, to making tea and arranging meals. They also sometimes work on reception, answering the phone and ensuring that guests and clients feel welcome.

In addition to this, Post Production Runners will often have administrative duties, which can vary from labelling files, filing notes, printing, photocopying and distributing material. They are also often in charge of delivering and collecting packages.

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How To Become an Edit Producer

How To Become an Edit Producer

What is an Edit Producer?
The Edit Producer helps to co-ordinate the edit through working with the editor(s), and relaying information from other producers working on the production. They can also be involved in writing the script.

What is the Job?
As an Edit Producer, you will not work on location. The role starts at a later date, as they supervise the edit process. Sometimes, the Edit Producer is brought in to work from the edit suites, if the show is being shot and cut at the same time.

As the Edit Producer is not normally on location, they act as a fresh pair of eyes when it comes to editing. This is helpful with ensuring the scene is portrayed in the way it was meant to be. As an Edit Producer, you must constantly ask the question “how does this scene move the overall story I am telling, forward?’. If it doesn’t move the story forward, it is your responsible to recognise this, and remove or re-cut it.

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How To Become an Assistant Editor

How to become an assistant editor

What is an Assistant Editor?
As an Assistant Editor you will support the Editor in preparing all of the media of a project during the post-production stage.

Administration
To be an Assistant Editor, organisational skills are key in what is a very administrative job role. As an Assistant Editor you will manage the media, logging it, monitoring its movement in preparation for editing and ensuring that there is always sufficient storage space. Media will include special effects, sound effects, dialogue and camera footage.

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How To Kick-Start Your Career In Post Production

How To Kick-Start Your Career In Post Production

It takes a lot of time and work to shoot a feature film. But even when all the filming is done, the movie is only half-way through its path to be a finished product. The other half usually happens inside a post production house, where different departments work in synergy to put video and sound together into a blockbuster.

If you think post-production is the right path for you, here are the first steps to make your way into this world.

Figure out which department you want to work in
Most post-production companies structure their organisations (hence, human resources) along three main departments: Production, Editing and Sound. The first step, which you’ve probably already taken, is deciding which one of these is the right fit for you, depending on what you want your daily job to be like. Here’s an idea:

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Reality TV In Spain

As part of our ‘Working Abroad’ series, Post Production Assistant, Tom Strachan shares his experience working in Spain on reality TV series, ‘Geordie Shore: Summer Special’.

Geordie Shore: Summer Special
Geordie Shore: Summer Special

After a successful first series two hour long episodes were commissioned. The plan was to take the stars of the Newcastle based reality show to Magaluf. The show centred around eight young people who party hard, dress to impress and don’t look for relationships. Working in the reality TV genre you never can predict how things will go so you always have to be ready for it to go crazy.

The set was a luxurious villa complete with swimming pool, many large bedrooms and on the edge of the sea surrounded by expensive yachts. In Newcastle we’d worked out of a luxurious house but nothing compared to this. The heat was in the 30’s everyday and we all know how much easier it is to be happy in the sun.

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