Source
r/editors•
Mattybfm

Having trouble getting acclimating to the AE freelance world. Any advice?

I just graduated from college and have had a few editing / assistant editing credits but nothing major and nothing that could go far enough to support myself with.

I'm skittish to send my resume out to big name companies because I'm not sure if I'm qualified. I only have experience being an AE in AVID MC. I know my way around Final Cut and Premiere but not enough to act as an assistant editor... At least not without some training.

I've got a fair amount of experience and online examples of my work, my resume is actually impressive, I've also got some production and experience on there.

This whole thing is so new to me and I am not always sure where to look for work. There are websites, but I definitely don't know enough of them.

I wish I could just give my name and information to an agency and they could call me when people need an AE or editor with my qualifications. I know that sounds lazy, it just feels so strange having to apply to so many jobs all at once and then have to do it all over again in a few months or even weeks.

Any advice?

Posted Sep 12, 2014, 7:23 PM UTC

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_AndJohnMC 6.5.4•

Hey, another non-union Lead AE for reality series in Hollywood here. We are not hiring at the moment, but PM me and I'll take a look at your resume to give you some advice!

First thing I would mention so everyone else sees this: If you are applying for AE gigs, I would suggest not includling a demo reel or your Editing credits.

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MattybfmOP•

PM sent, thanks for the reply.

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sslj24•

I'm just curious on why not to submit the reel or credits when you apply? Thanks

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_AndJohnMC 6.5.4•

If you are applying for an Assistant Editor gig, then there is no reason to, it's a turn off to most employers. Most employers assume that you eventually want to be an Editor, but including that stuff on your resume sends more of a "I'm settling until I get an editing gig" message, or in most cases "I'm going to be an AE for 6 months and hound you to try and be an Editor here". If the job is looking for that, then by all means, put that info in there, but if they are looking for an AE, I would recommend leaving it out. You can always tell your Post Sup. or Post VP later that you have some experience editing.

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notes_on_napkins•

This is 100% circumstantial. Every AE job I've ever had I edited as well as did AE work. All of my employers appreciated seeing a reel of my work before I started (not that it was always entirely necessary).

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MattybfmOP•

You know what though in all honesty I really do want to be an editor. It's what i've really always wanted. I like the technical skills that i've acquired from doing some AE work but in all honesty I can't wait to make the jump to editor. I know it's going to take a while, probably years but it's what I really want down the line.

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MattybfmOP•

I see where you're coming from and I agree to a certain extent. Like notes_on_napkins said I think it's circumstantial. For instance, one of the gigs that I worked a few months ago, my boss asked me to cut down a few scenes for him after I had grouped them because he was bogged down. I cut hour and a half scenes down to about 20 minutes or so and he was thrilled, then he went and did the rest of the cutting.

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projektmayhem08•

Non-union Lead Assistant Editor on an NBC reality show here. First off, finding your first AE job depends heavily on your location. Where did you graduate from and what area are you located in?

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MattybfmOP•

Thanks for the reply. I graduated with Honors from Suny New Paltz and still live in that area. It's about an hour and change from the city.

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projektmayhem08•

As I posted in your other posting, staffmeup.com is probably the best resource at the moment for finding AE jobs. You can also try entertainmentcareers.net and mandy.com. Ditch your demo reel, most post supervisors (in film/television) don't care about it for Assist positions (and most don't even look at it for editing positions either). If you edited worked on projects where you fulfilled multiple roles, only list Assistant Editor on your resume. As someone else pointed out, many post supervisors could see your editor credits and wonder why you have suddenly stepped down a level to AE. There are a few books that are massively helpful for a new AE and great references for a seasoned AE. They are: Making the Cut, The Assistant Editor's Handbook (a little dated but great for the basics), and Avid Agility. I would strongly suggest purchasing these if you don't already own them. Hope that helps.

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yohomateyMC 6.5.4 / FCP7 (if forced)•

I'd add Avid Editing: A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users. It helped me in the very beginning.

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MattybfmOP•

I actually have this one =)

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MattybfmOP•

Wow I never really thought of it like that. I guess I always figured since my eventual goal is to become an editor then I should list any editor credits that I have but it makes a lot of sense. I'll definitely check out these books. I'm really surprised that a reel is not something that most Sups care about but I guess for an AE as long as you've got the tech skills it doesn't really matter.

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DonnyDumbDumb•

Fellow New Paltz and Hudson Valley native here. Do what i did and move to the city. Take the shitty night gigs to build your skill set and your resume. Once your resume has a few notches in it, you'll have the confidence (and references) to start pursuing day AE gigs.

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streatbeat•

I think you need to change the way you look at things. It's a long road uphill and you have to be hungry and ready to learn. Apply for everything and anything you can and gain experience. It's later in your career when you actually do have experience and a solid history that people call you and it becomes much easier.

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MattybfmOP•

So you're saying that I should apply for Final Cut and Premiere AE gigs even if i have only rudimentary skills with those programs?

There are also ads that look great but then at the end say "After affects training required" or something like that. I've struggled to learn after effects for a while, that's another program I don't really feel 100% comfortable with. Should I just swallow my apprehension and go for it?

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streatbeat•

You just need to better your skills than. College alone teaches very few things that actually help in the real post world, it's good to get into the habit of learning things on your own. I'd spend the month on Lynda.com and reading everything you can about these programs so you can fake it until you make it when the opportunity arrives, which is what we all pretty much did at the beginning.

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MattybfmOP•

That's good advice. I actually do sometimes engage in self educating anyway, I guess i've just been so focused on looking for something that going back to the drawing board on certain things hadn't really occured to me.

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streatbeat•

You don't have to know everything, but just enough that you can get around. When I got my first AE job, there were no iPhones to look things up! Each job is going to require different things, I'd also spend some time figuring out what aspect of post you want to get into and go from there.

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propsandmayhem•

I've seen AEs come to my work with little/no experience. Like couldn't put timecode on a sequence. Some of them figured it out and stayed, others fell by the waist side. As someone that waited until they felt they were ready to apply for AE jobs, I say apply now. The only thing that really changed for me between not being ready and when I started applying was my perception of my qualifications. Things you don't know you can usually learn either through a google search or different forums like creative cow.

And I agree staffmeup is your best bet if you don't have any connections or favors to cash in. I've personally never heard someone getting a paying gig through Mandy but I'm sure it happens.

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MattybfmOP•

Thanks so much for the reply. You're right I just need to jump in.

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propsandmayhem•

No problem. I'd hate for you to waste time waiting for the time to be right like I did. Get in there and do your thing.

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ummyaaaa•

I got a 6 month AE gig on Mandy. It's legit.

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yohomateyMC 6.5.4 / FCP7 (if forced)•

I don't know where you are, but I can speak for LA. I graduated school and looked for Post PA gigs. I had plenty of Avid skills, and some premier and FCP skills, but very few places will hire an AE with no professional credits. Student films and indie projects don't help if you're trying to get broadcast gigs. It took me a bit over a year of PA and digitizing work before I got my first non-union AE gig. You sometimes just have to start at the bottom, even if you already know the programs.

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MattybfmOP•

Actually I have 2 AE credits under my belt already from an internship. I guess this whole freelance thing just has me a little on edge. I read descriptions for jobs and become anxious. It might be because even thought it was a positive experience overall my internship where i learned the majority of my AE skills was VERRRRYY stressful.

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yohomateyMC 6.5.4 / FCP7 (if forced)•

Yep, that's something you'll either come to be at peace with or you won't haha. Freelance is very much part of the industry. After a couple years it gets better, you build up contacts and a network of people you can go to if you're looking for work. It took me a solid 2 years of AE work before I was confident enough to leave my permalance job for greener pastures. I was really nervous at first I wouldn't find work. I haven't stopped working in the 2 years since. Well I took around a month and a half off last year, but that was on purpose. One show ended and I didn't look for anything. Before that, it had been almost 4 years straight. I'm reasonably sure I could find a job within two weeks if I needed one. And that will come for you with time. Network with everyone in post, become FB friends, save phone numbers and email addresses and don't be afraid to ask if someone knows of work. That's how I've gotten every single job as an AE is knowing people who are hiring, never though a website.

Also it looks like you're in NY, but not NYC. In all honestly, my story only applies for maybe a handful cities in the English speaking world. There aren't a lot of places with thriving broadcast and film post facilities. I'd suggest seriously considering moving to LA or NYC as that's where the work is.

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ummyaaaa•

My advice is quit looking for employment, start a youtube channel, and crowd fund when you need funds.

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