Re: Old Editors vs New Editors

Its an age old discussion that will probably never fully resolve itself - Experience or Enthusiasm.

Personally - i want both in an editor.

i think what a lot of "young'uns" don't realise is that linear maybe an outmoded methodology but it taught you lots of skills and techniques that are still vital parts of a good editors toolkit. It certainly taught me to think ahead. To use my eyes and mind together to quickly analyse the shots, to do a mental edit before i begin cutting because a linear suite doesn't have a bin full of pretty little reminder icons, nor does it have multiple undos.

Cutting news, i developed the ability to analyse a betacam tape whilst it was in quick reverse shuttle. By the time the tape had rewound, i had a damned good idea of what the cameraman had shot, and also how to structure the edit. I also knew whereabouts the shots were on the tape.
Nowadays, I work in advertising, on non-linear kit, so that particular skill is hardly used, but the ability to quickly plan out an edit mentally, to have logged the shots in the mind, to scan quickly through rushes picking out relevant details that many would miss... all these skills still plays a big part in my edit decision process.

There are good and bad editors from all eras.
The real trick is to find the right editor for the job, with the right skill set, right outlook, and yes...i'll say it - the right experience.

Sadly enthusiasm will only get you so far before a lack of experience will become obvious.

Experience is what it all boils down to. Experience to provide a solution, whatever its origin, is really the only thing that matters.
Who cares if you cut on linear or not? nobody !
Can you deliver the right solution to the current edit? Now thats the real question....can you?


adam



Adam Taylor
Video Editor/Audio Mixer/ Compositor/Motion GFX/Barista
Character Options Ltd
Oldham, UK

www.sculptedbliss.co.uk