Assisting

B

bungloid

New member
Hi all,

I'm an assistant editor at an ad agency's in-house post production facility in New York.

This is my first job out of college, and I just don't feel like I am doing what other assistant editor's in the industry are doing. I'm typing this message at work, because I have no other work, and I rarely do.

I was wondering if there were any other assistants (or past assistants) on the board who could just talk about what it is they do as an assistant, what they think makes a good assistant, etc. I want to learn, but I get very little experience where I am.

Resources would also be greatly appreciated. I ain't afraid to read and I've certainly got the time. :/

Thanks
 
I like it when they stay off forums while at work.
lol
Man as long as the clips are in the right way and labled correctly, we're good.
 
Maintain tape logs.

Capture footage.

Organize footage...meaning add descriptions and put into separate bins. Dailies bins, then perhaps bins by subject.

Import Music...label music with descriptions so I can tell at a glance if it might work or not.

Import all other media types and organize. Pics, graphics.

Perhaps do the initial radio edit/assembly of show with temp VO.

Perhaps edit music into the show (higher end assistant work)

Manage the media and drives. Make sure that the drives aren't too full. Perform daily drive maintence like getting rid of unused renders.

Output shows to tape or DVD or web and upload for clients.

Help me when I have a technical issue I can't figure out.

Know what footage we have and where I might find it. They need to know the footage as well as I do, or better. So pay attention when you are capturing and logging!

Later on, tackling scenes or rough cuts...depending on our confidence in you.

Basically we are the heroes, and you are the sidekicks. And you might advance to hero after you pay your dues and prove your worth.

I was an assistant for 4 years...now I edit. Assisting is a dying profession, unfortunately...
 
I've noticed, when working on reality television jobs, that there are a lot of people who call themselves Assistant Editors when they are merely "Digitizers." A good Assistant is so much more than just someone who hits the Capture button on an Avid.
If you are serious about being a good Assistant Editor, and you'd like to work on feature films or narrative television, then I'd recommend tracking down a copy of Norman Hollyn's "The Film Editing Room Handbook." This book has been the Assistant Editor's bible for many, many years. Although it contains a bit of older information about working with film workprints, it also contains valuable information about computer editing workflows, ordering opticals, turning the show over to the soundhouse, etc. If you're serious about a career in post production, this book can't be recommended enough.
 
Saying that assistant editing is dying profession is entirely untrue. Maybe in smaller post houses or small productions..but not everywhere else.

And what you do as an assistant depends entirely what kind of show/project it is and what kind of editors are on the show/feature.

Reality shows you may spend your entire day multi-grouping 7 cameras, features you might do temp sound design, sort though selects...there's a million things to do on every type show. Oh, and all the fun stuff that comes with online and delivery hasn't changed one bit.
 
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