Would I Make a Good Film and Video Editor?

Would I Make a Good Film and Video Editor?

Instead of being in front of the camera acting, maybe you prefer to stay behind the scenes. Film and video editors make about $60,000 per year, and the field is growing much faster than average. The role includes manipulating footage to entertain or inform an audience, usually from an office setting. Minimum requirements include a Bachelor’s degree.

Does it Match Your Interests?

People with Artistic and Entrepreneurial interests typically have a multitude of ideas about what they would like to create. John was one of those clients, Marjorie at TheCareerProfiler.com told me. Among his list of career ideas he presented was a  videographer.  A videographer plays both roles: camera operator and film editing, but getting him to commit to a single career was challenging. In fact, working with creatives like John usually requires a different approach. For John to be successful as a “entrepreneurial creative” he needs to set a bigger vision in place that acts like a beacon on a hill – drawing him ever closer to his vision – yet allowing him the freedom to play his way creatively toward the vision that was compelling enough to draw him. Take the Strong Interest Inventory to see how you compare to John. 

Does it Match Your Abilities?

On the other hand, Bill, a hard-working family man, landed a job as a camera operator in his local television station years earlier. Not only was he tired of the work, he needed to earn a higher income to support the demands of his family. When we reviewed his three career test results, we discovered that he didn’t really have the abilities or interests to do the work of a camera person. But through experience he had developed some of the skills. To love camera work, most people possess at least one of two reasoning abilities at the “driving level.” That is to say, they press unconsciously for expression. He had none of them. We recommended that he work with his current employer to obtain more of an administrative or managerial role, which he did, and he has been managing there ever since. Take the Highland’s Ability Battery to see how you compare to Bill. 

A Quick Glance at Film Editing

  • Artistic — Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.  
  • Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.  
  • Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.  
  • Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).  
  • Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. 
  • Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.  
  • Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).  
  • Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. 

Personality of a Film Editor

In a career as a film or video editor, possessing certain personality preferences and characteristics is extremely beneficial to the pleasure, general ease of work tension, and best fit an individual will find in this field. A certain Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®  personality type often finds happiness and satisfaction in this role more than others.

 

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