What to do when you’re an ‘editor’ (a work ethic post)
So you get a call from someone asking you to be an editor on a project they just completed. They say ‘I’ll give you the footage, notes, and it’s a pretty straight forward gig.’ Sweet. You kick back, and tell yourself this is going to be cake. But about two weeks into the project you start to realize that the cake is a lie.
Not only are you editing this project, your also coloring grading, finishing audio, doing graphics work and to top it off, you’re a PC guy so you need an IT solution just to read the drives they sent you!
Okay killer, take a breath.
So, it’s true, there is no cake…but you’re still having fun right? I mean, at the end of the day, you’re still doing things that you know how to do (and hopefully enjoy doing). It’s just the original job description of ‘editor’ accurately describes about 1/10th of what you’re actually doing to make this project see the light of day.
So what do you do when you’re an ‘editor’? Simply put: you solve problems.
Basically, the person coming to you has a problem. They’ve got all of this footage they paid a DP, AC’s actors, writers, etc to create and they need someone to make it work.
You know when you’re watching an action movie and there’s a giant-death-bringing-monster just around the corner and the cowardly marine guy is like ‘I didn’t sign up for this man!’? Well, aside from the fact that he almost always dies, he’s a coward! He doesn’t want to do something because it’s scary and it wasn’t in the job description. Don’t be that guy. Be the hero who attacks the Aliens with a freaking nuke.
Look, in any job (film related or not), your main goal should just be to solve problems for people. So are you hired as an editor? No, you’re hired as a problem solver. Your clients, bosses, whatever – just treat them with respect and courtesy and get it done. If you do that, I guaran-frickin-tee you, you’ll have a client for life. Stop whining that what they’re asking you to do isn’t “part of the deal” and just do it. And again, don’t just do what they’re asking, go the extra mile or two and make it amazing. Make it the best you can, because really and truely you have no idea who’s going to see what you’ve just made.
Every job is an opportunity, so take it.