Guide To Become a Freelance Video Editor

Video editing is an exciting field of work. Think about it, you get to be part of the television/film

industry, you get to make good money, and you get to work alongside talented artists. What more could

you ask from a career like this one, a freelance opportunity perhaps, an opportunity to get away from

office life and be able to choose your work.

There are many reasons why you should consider taking up freelancing. For some of you, it is the extra

income, for others it is the promise of working from home. Whichever way you lean, freelance video

editing has emerged as a viable and comfortable career option, one that can fetch you money and

credibility and ultimately lead to, what most you desire, a financially secure life.

Job Duties:

Video/film editors are required to undertake many duties. Based on the plot, narrative and other factors

of the film, you might receive a license to be creative or you might be simply asked to operate the

equipment.

Some of the work a video editor involves:

Getting a rough imprint of footage or script, screenplay

Compiling raw footage and entering it onto computers

Cropping files to sequence the film and taking a decision on what is retainable

Creating a ‘rough cut’ of the programme and deciding exact cuts for latter stages

Tweaking the video to ensure a logical sequencing and smooth running of the film/video

Familiarising yourself with the style of specific directors

Experimenting with styles and techniques including the design of graphic elements

Skills :

Editors are often the ones who face sticky situations over a clumsily cut video/film, containing some

glaringly simple errors. There are certain skills that you must develop and hone to a razor’s edge to be

successful in the world of video/film editing. Some of the skills that you must develop include:

Adaptability

Commitment to high quality work

Willingness to stretch yourself at the time of deadlines

Video School Online, Larry Jordan, Udemy, Lynda and NYVS offer many paid-for and free forums,

videos and info-graphics to help you develop the skills needed to learn video/film editing online.

Being Successful as a Freelance Video Editor:

Film/Video editing is an important job, if not a very glamorous one. The director usually ropes in the

credit, but a major chunk of the work is in your hands. If you do not edit particularly carefully and

capture every detail, chances are that the entire film/video will not turn out good.

Freelancing is a good career option; a chance to turn hobby into profession, and a chance to enjoy a

serene working environment like your house. However, there are certain steps that you should take to

be successful in the field:

Building on speed: Be able to edit work quickly and effectively, saving time on edits and having

more time for retrospect

Interact with directors, storywriters and producers to be able to understand the need

Keep in touch with the best practices in the industry, be willing to take a slightly newer path

Keep learning, there is always something new to learn, a software, a digital technique, so keep

on your toes

Average Remunerations

Your ability to network and the credibility of your work with previous employers can affect your

revenue, as a video writer.

Usually freelance portals offer two generic kinds of payment models to freelancers. Fixed-price, where

the price is usually pre-determined and a budget is sanctioned which you can bid for, and the hourly

payment model where the employer decides on an hourly pay. A fixed-price model may range from $30-

150 upwards, while you have to pitch for hourly projects, which usually range from $5-40 an hour, with

average payments at $25 per hour.

Finding Work:

Peopleperhour, Odesk, Elance, Guru and Freelancer list many job opportunities for freelance video

editors like you who are looking for work.

Freelancing has opened up the way we view work: and the trend only continues to rise. The need for

skilled video editors rises, as videos are more or less becoming commonplace, with many services

featuring YouTube advertisements.

Resources:

There are many resources available for you to begin freelance video editing as a career. Some websites

that offer study material online and host instructional videos include Video School Online, Larry Jordan,

Udemy, Lynda and NYVS. These resources offer many paid-for and free forums, videos and info-graphics

to help you develop the skills needed.

For more information on Freelance Resource please visit www.careerlancer.net