A Career As A Film Editor - Essay Example

? A career as a film editor A career as a film editor Introduction A film editor is a person who assembles recorded raw footage into a finished product that is ready for broadcasting. To achieve this, the editor selects shots and then combines them in a systematic order to create a finished film. Some of the raw footage includes sound effects, camera footage, graphics, dialogue, and special effects. The skill of an editor is extremely valuable in the post production process because film editing determines the quality and delivery of the resulting product. A film editor plays a significantly vital role in the overall film production process, in the film industry. This can be both as a television programs editor, or a movie editor. Film editing mostly involves the general assemblage of the footage to be viewed on the screen. It can also be compared to artwork such as the shaping of final exhibit sculptures form the various raw materials as provided by the directors (Dickens, 2008). The process of film editing requires that an editor should be in close relation with the director in the film production. This is because the editor needs to understand the storyline of the film just as the director because the work is a combination of ideas from the two parties in telling the story of the film. The editor mostly ensures of the occurrence of continuity which is the seamless unfolding of the story form part to part. The job of the editor officially starts once the shooting of the film or movie wraps up. This is because the shooting of a film involves random scene shooting mostly due to the convenience and other influential factors. In line with this, shots get disarranged and does not flow with the real story intended for the film such as having a scene of the beginning at the end and/or vice versa. It is, therefore, up to the editor to arrange them and link them to flow continuously (Knight, 2007). This requires long working periods and patience in working under strict deadlines and pressure. The editor formulates the imagery and synchronization of the various sound effects which may include the soundtracks, voice covers and/or sound effects. In the culmination to the final presentation of the film’s production, the editor also incorporates added visual effects. William Hal Ashby is a films editor based in Hollywood films Productions Company. He began his films career in the 1960s in Utah, California. He got his big break by winning the academy awards for films editing in his editor role, in the film, “in the heat of the night” (Hal, 2006: p.9). Looking into his life from when he decided to venture into the career to what he has become in the film industry will be a considerable contribution into the research. Research Rationale The film industry has undergone revolutionary changes with the advent of technology (Dmytryk, 2004). As a result, there has been the development of a better film production and also the categorization of films as a complex world of production. In addition, more people have become interested in film editing mostly because of the recognition that film editors receive. The title of a film editor in the overall production and film making industry is eye catching for most people. Consequently, interested individuals need to understand the role of a film editor well because of the challenges, as well as the opportunities. They should be able to conduct their efficiently and professionally. As a norm mostly witnessed in many industries, the popularization of a role in production more often than not leads to the eroding of the value of the role and the end product. Therefore, in order to ensure that the integrity and efficiency of production of films by film editors is not at risk, it is vital to understand, carry out and uphold the integrity of the editor’s role in this fast evolving technological world (Murch, 2001). This is also in conjunction with the increased uptake of studies for the role of films editors by most students, as well as increased numbers of film productions companies and films produced year by year. A close look at the career progress of William Hal Ashby as a film editor will provide an insight on the career of film editing. Background of the study The current development of the career of a film editor is attracting the attention of many young people. This is due to the increased popularity of films all over the globe and the attractive benefits accrued to being associated with the development of successful films, such as the film editor. In this line, various colleges have developed courses that offer training in film editing so as to develop film editing careers. However, it is necessary to note that film editing mostly requires talent than a learned trait and those with most interest and talent in the film industry are the ones that mostly succeed to becoming terrific film editors (Macon, 2011). The complete course of film editing takes two or four years of college tuition, which comprises of various aspects of cinematography, movies production, directing, and editing. After the course, one gets attached to various industries as an intern and later in various jobs until experienced enough to get involved in the various direct aspects of production such as editing. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, film editing jobs should rise between the year 2008 and 2018 by approximately 12 percent (Eisenstein, 2010). In the past, the editing process of film in production involved the cutting of films apart and then tapping them back together in a flow to be fed into the moviola. This enabled the production of a projection of the film's imagery on a screen. Currently, this process has changed to digital technology that mostly entails the use of computers, software and the internet in the overall film editing process (Harris, 2008). As such, learning how to use the various aspects of the digital technology in film editing and keeping up with their advent is an esteemed trait in this industry. The film editor’s role not only involves the final stages of the film production but also in the other aspects of production. In relation to these functions and duties, there are various dos and don’ts that a film editor should know. They are there to ensure that one does not pre-meditate the nature of a shot before shooting it, to conduct each new edit differently from the others and to try and balance on the occurrence of fisheye shot effects such that the film does not contain most instances of the fisheye effects. On the don’ts side, it is crucial for an editor not to use zoomed shots most often in a single film, not to reuse songs and sound effects already used in other movies, and to ensure that sound effects and background musical effects are not used extremely often (Sedrick, 2004). Research methods In order to ensure the efficient run of this research study and to yield correct desired results, there will be the use of different research methods. These are a combination of the use of both primary and secondary sources in line with quantitative research methods. The use of secondary sources entails conducting reference to materials in libraries and books relevant to the objectives of this research. In this line, a combination of various previously conducted researches and books written about the career of William Hal Ashby will be reviewed and referenced. Most of the research is to be conducted on direct relation basis. This will be through the conduction of observation and questionnaire interviews in line with convenience of a method, and the film editor. Observation entails the physical attribute of watching and leaning various aspects form the professional life of William Hal Ashby. This means observing of the editor in their niche of work in totality of what they do, how they do it, the various aspects that are entailed in their line work, the nature of their relationship with the other parties involved in the production, and the nature of their moods in relation to the whole film editorial process. The observation will involve a direct observation as well as through the use of available documentaries on the life of William Hal Ashby. The use of interview questionnaires entails the development of questions to be asked to William Hal Ashby in order to get information regarding the history and development of his career, his views and future expectations of the editorial role. As such, it will help to develop a view into the real life situation of what it takes to be a film editor. It will also be providing an understanding of the career from development of interest, thorough learning and gaining experience to becoming a good films editor (Ryan, 2011). This also is a remarkably efficient method in ensuring that we obtain broad information about the career of a film editor. We will identify the availability of extrinsic factors of the film production industry that influence the development and role play of the career of a film editor. This method allows for a direct encounter with a film editor, which can be tricky due to his professional and personal commitments that could constrain their time. The short notice of the research study could also pose a challenge to the securing of an appointment with the editor. However, the advent of technology has made the conduct of such research activities easier through the use of telephony and internet telephony services such as Skype to conduct online meetings saving on time and expenses as such more efficient for both parties. Expected results The results of this research study will shed some light on the career of film editing. One will be able to understand what entails the development of interest in film editing to becoming a successful film editor such as William Hal Ashby. The information obtained is expected to be helpful to film editor aspirants. This is because it will be shedding of light into the real life roles and intrinsic and extrinsic factors involved in film editing and the shaping of a film editor. References Dickens, R. (2008). What is film production? New York: Columbia University Press. Dmytryk, E. (2004). On Film Editing: An Introduction to the Art of Film Construction. Boston: Focal Press. Eisenstein, S. (2010). Towards a Theory of Montage: An Introduction. London: Tauris Publishers. Hal, A. (2006). Who was who in America: with world editor notables. New York: New Providence. Harris, M. (2008). Which Editing is a Cut Above? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Knight, A. (2007). The Liveliest Art: Films Editing. London: Mentor Books. Macon, S. (2011). “Film Editor: Career Profile for the Film Editing Professions.” Journal of Visual Arts. Martin, S. (2009). “What should be included in a Projects Plan.” The Projects Management Hut Journal. Murch, W. (2001). In the Blink of an Eye: a Perspective on Film Editing. New York: Silman- James Press. Ryan, L. (2011). Career: Film & Video Editor. New York: Routledge Publishing. Sedrick, L. (2004). Films production: an introduction. New York: Routledge Publishing. Read More