Editing

[Jerryv]

A while ago i asked some quistions about studying cinematography before pursuing a directing career. But now i am most certain that editing is by far the thing that comes as close to directing as anything beside directing will be. I think every good director can edit, or knows about editing (at least the creative side of editing).

I have a few quistions.

1)is it common that editors make a transition to directing? It seems to me that editing is a really good background for someone who wants to direct.

2)If not, is there a known reason for it? (I know not everyone wants to direct, but a lot of people do)

Further more, i know editing is a really tough job, it takes great skills and dedication to become a film editor and i dont want to suggest that editing is easyer than direction, but... I want to direct, but i also know its one hell of a job, and very, very difficult to get work as a director. So difficult that iam wondering if i can make it as a director (yeay, i believe in myself etc, but sometimes being realistisc about it... and i must admit i think its one of the difficults jobs in the film industry, its so hard...).

But i really love making movies, so i want to work in the filmindustry, the creative side of it. Editing is a second choice of me, i like editing and think its a really creative job, you are putting a story toghter. BUT i dont want to sit in a darkroom all day long... watching the footage over and over and over and over again... day in day out... that is holding me back from editing.

What are your opinions? ofcourse the most common answer will be "do what you want to do" but i dont think its really strange to ask my self the quistion "is there something else other than direct?" Are the people here, or know editors, who wanted to direct but have choosen to edit?

And do you think (with skills and dedication)its easyer to land a editing job than a directing job? (in the 'holygrail' films).

 

[Solomojo]

Martin Scorcese and David Lean started out as editors...not bad company.
I'm a feature film editor here in Los Angeles and would say that if you own/have access to an editing suite you can actually offer something tangible. I was mentored by Kubrick's editor of Full Metal Jacket and find that an editor can't bluff his job (for more then a couple hours) while a director can successfully bamboozle his way quite far into a production (not referring to Kubrick!)

I find that (at least in LA) you will find a "director" everywhere you throw a rock but editors are few and far between and usually don't troll Area or Hyde because they're in their Dark Room doing work...get used to the Dark Room. The Dark Room is your friend.

Editors have the unique position to see all the footage and have a great idea of what is necessary and what is extraneous. Twelve angles of coverage for one scene usually ends up with the editor using one, two or three angles....rarely 12. Knowing this and experiencing it day in and day out in the Dark Room leads to good grasp of what a director should be shooting and makes an editor an excellent candidate for directing...IF that's what he wants to do.

Not sure what the "holygrail" films you were refering to...unless it's a Monty Python sequel I haven't heard about...woo hoo!

 

[felero]

Editiing is a very tough job, but can be a very good steeping stone to go into directing someday. I am now a director and I used to work as editor for Flame and Henry. It's true that you will get a lot of materials from other directors and you will realized which materials are nice and not nice. They say that a good editor can become a good director, because in editing you have to have a storytelling sense, like the writer. In directing you will need that storytelling sense to convey what you want to say in your film. If you don't have access in film editing or dark room, you may opt to use software such as adobe premier or final cut pro to hone your skill. I myself learned from other directors when I edited their materials and went to their shoot to observe. At the same time, try to buy books about directing. By reading that you will also learn how to edit the way a director edit or see his film. Also bear in mind that whether you are an editor or a film cutter, or an audio man, etc., you can also be called a film maker even if you are not yet a director. If film making is truly in your heart, you will get there no matter how rough the road ahead of you. Good luck to your journey and don't forget to pray.

 

[Jerryv]

Solomojo, with "holygrail" i am just trying to say "the thing that almost everyone wants, the highest goal for us filmmakers -that is, in my case, motion pictures-.
hahaha...

Thank you both for your advice. You are both saying that editing is a good basis for a director, i am glad iam not the only one to think that.

I know that a editor must enjoy sitting in the darkroom watching footage over and over again... iam just afraid i cannot do that, that i will get nuts from it.

...altough i have never tried a real long project from anyone else. I edit my own short films but want to finisch it too quickly, i dont have the patience to keep editing because i want to see the completing of the film. I want the results to quick.

But that is with my own short films, wich i directed and shot... so i do think that is a difference than editing someone elses project.
After all the work that i have done on the project, i just want to show it! And thefore cannot fully enjoy the editing proces.


What about one of my first quistins "And do you think (with skills and dedication) its easyer to land a editing job than a directing job? (in the 'holy grail' films)."

 

[milksac]

I know that a editor must enjoy sitting in the darkroom watching footage over and over again... iam just afraid i cannot do that, that i will get nuts from it.

LOL. I've been editing for a couple of decades. A few weeks ago I had a couple of girls in the suite that were observing the process. After about 5 minutes of racking a shot back and forth to find the right moment one of the girls turned to the other and said "I couldn't do this, it would drive me insane". So yeah, it takes a certain level of patience to be an editor.

But that is with my own short films, wich i directed and shot... so i do think that is a difference than editing someone elses project.
After all the work that i have done on the project, i just want to show it! And thefore cannot fully enjoy the editing proces.

IMO, it's better if the director doesn't edit his own film. The director can get locked into an idea of how a scene should play out. Oftentimes an editor can bring a different perspective and improve the scene by approaching it a different way. Collaboration is the cultivating ground of creativity.

What about one of my first quistins "And do you think (with skills and dedication) its easyer to land a editing job than a directing job? (in the 'holy grail' films)."

There's no "easy button" in this business. There's very little structure. No clear cut path to go from a wannabe director to a director of "holy grail" films as you say. Get out there, work hard and show them what you can do. If it turns out you're a great director the big gigs will come.

 

[Jerryv]

Thanks for the reaction

Did they say that after ONLY 5 minutes... LOL!

But what if someone likes both jobs? directing and editing? in wich proffesion is there more change of sucses? (i know the whole filmindustry is hard to come in, and especially directing and editing, but... i have the feeling that editing is more stable, more change of getting there...).

 

[milksac]

I can't answer anything regarding feature work, I'll leave that to the people out on the West coast. Most of my work is broadcast spots and high end corporate. IF you like both jobs, then do both. One of the best directors I know is also one of the best editors in the city. Regarding your chances for success, like I said in the previous post that's all up to you. This isn't Vegas, there are no odds for success, it's a creative business where the best thrive and mediocre struggle.

 

[evandroc]

"one of the girls turned to the other and said "I couldn't do this, it would drive me insane". So yeah, it takes a certain level of patience to be an editor."

i think it takes a certain level of insanity to be an editor(i´ve been doing that for ten years).
in small jobs, sometimes i have to direct and edit. i try to shoot when i´m compulsive, and nothing can stop me, and edit when i´m depressive, when nothing is good enough. it works for me