Post-production editors are professionals who take original video footage and turn it into a creative story that entertains audiences. These individuals must be innovative and understand what impresses regular viewers both online as well as in television shows and movies. A person who seeks to become a post-production editor increases his or her employment opportunities by completing four years of professional schooling as well as gaining hands-on experience in this industry.
If you want to become a post-production editor, you should look for colleges or universities that offer bachelor’s degree programs in digital media production. These schools will require you to provide your high school diploma or the equivalent certification and might ask for any scores that you have earned on standardized tests. You additionally must submit your high school transcript and complete the school’s enrollment form prior to beginning classes to become a post-production editor.
Digital media coursework will teach you how to edit audio and video used for Internet and television applications as well effectively perform scriptwriting. You should practice using a variety of editing software programs to create a visual story that connects with your audiences, as these types of software allow you to place scenes in various locations or to add text to certain scenes. In addition, a course on scriptwriting covers how to combine dialogue and actions with selected characters to effectively get a message across to viewers.
Classes that cover establishing effective video environments and applying business principles to the film production field also are important for industry editors. For instance, you should learn how concepts such as lighting in a studio or in the natural environment affect the feel of a motion shot. Management classes additionally will teach you how to oversee staff and maintain budgets when completing video projects as well as cover legal issues related to the media.
Even if your chosen training program in digital media does not require you to complete an internship prior to graduation, you should look for firms in the entertainment industry that are willing to accept an intern. You can contact your school’s career services department to help you to locate potential practical learning sites that will prepare you to become a post-production editor. These experiences will provide you with the opportunity to practice setting up cameras to capture strong screenshots as well as sharpen your attention to detail when converting raw footage into attractive video. A person who would like to become a post-production editor must master all stages of producing a video in order to successfully bring an original idea to fruition.