ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

8 years, 11 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

Hi Ellen,

A sad state of affairs to be sure :( Striving for one's dream is hard enough without both hands behind tied behind ones back.

Short of finding a good Samaritan who can donate you the hardware you require I can only suggest setting up a GoFundMe page. I've never done it but I know a few people who have. And successfully mind you. If you were to do this I'd certainly chip on a bob or two to support the course.

Also, I have access to the camera rushes from a top BBC drama I worked on from about 10 years ago that I could let you have access to - I'm currently awaiting permission from the BBC to use them purely for training purposes - that you could practice cutting on - but you'd need a decent computer first.

Be interesting to see if anyone else has any other suggestions to help.

Good luck :)

Wozy

8 years, 11 months ago - Marlom Tander

You don't want a new Mac. You want access to a Mac (or other decent computer for editing), which is available when you need it.

Local TV or Radio, community media - these might be worth approaching because while they can often find people willing to do the fun filming part, editing is a bottleneck - your volunteer effort for access might be of interest. Also, if they are semi serious, you'll be approximating real life workflow and deadlines. Remember, the day you say "news footage, sure" is the day you get it with "clips in two hours please" :-)

Even if it's small scale local community media, it's easier for them to get a box than you.

8 years, 11 months ago - Dan Selakovich

I don't know if you have the time or financial means to work for free, but if I were 18 again, I'd try working as an intern at a post house doing anything: sweeping up, getting coffee, etc. in exchange for learning and gaining access to their equipment. Back in the 80s, there was this kid at this post house I used to take all of my projects to, that did just that. After the owner saw he was serious and dedicated, he started paying him after about a month. Every spare moment he had, he'd hang out with the colorist. Long story short: he's now one of the top colorists in Hollywood.

I think if you'd be willing to work yourself half to death for about a year between a real job and an internship, you'd be in an excellent position.

8 years, 11 months ago - Brian Barnes

You don't need a new Mac, you just need to wipe it and rebuild it from scratch. I edit on a much older Mac than yours and have no problems at all. I can playback ProRes 4444 without a hitch. Check your drive throughputs, that's usually where the bottlenecks are.

8 years, 11 months ago - Jane Sanger

Hi Dan is right, try to get "runner" work at a post house, most of them are in Soho, London but of course others dotted all over the country. I have daughters your age and I know how hard it is. I will do a deal with you, if you can do any vfx work, I see you put your skills as title work and perhaps edit my next short film for me on FCP X at my house in Kent, I will give you my old Mac laptop 2010/2011 I think but perfectly functional and pay your travel expenses (that is if you don't live too far away) I am in zone 6 of London, but first I would please like to see a sample of your work. You are quite young so did you do media at A level or are you self taught? Beyond this due to your circumstances you could apply to the Princes Trust for funding and probably a course in editing or graphics at college. You can get the full Adobe set of software as a student for the hire price of around £6.99 a month. This should be in your reach, perhaps from wages from a saturday job for now. I also have connections with a few posthouses and if we get on and your work is good I will try my best to help you. Email me at info@luminofilms.co.uk

8 years, 11 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc

Hi. I've just had to upgrade my iMac from the 24" to 27" as some of my software will only run on el Capitain and I also filled it up with Final Draft and Movie Magic but although my 24" came with only 1GB I increased it to 4GB to run Avid MC so now has to go. It's being refurbished before being passed on and will have a new keyboard too because I'm not keeping track one which came with the 27". I'm only looking for £200 but I'm in Brighton. Email franz@imperialfilmproductions.com for pic and full spec.

8 years, 11 months ago - Ellen Alberti

Hi everyone, thank you for your answers and advice on how to go about this.

Wozy - I have thought about doing a gofundme page but I'm not that confident in doing so but I might give it a try. As for your BBC rushes, sure I'd love to have a go at them providing you're allowed to share them! That sounds like a brilliant idea to help other young people practice as well.

Marlom - I'd love to have access to one but sadly I can't, I've tried contacting local production places and no response. I offer myself as an editor, runner and to be someone who can help out with almost any task on a project. It's a pain trying to find somewhere.

Dan - Trust me, I've tried offering my help as often as possible. Emailing all these companies hasn't worked so far, I guess it's because they get so many people asking. I was considering printing off my CV (creative one) and heading to the companies handing it to them and offering help on anything even if it's right there and then, someone from the BFI suggested that to me as they did that a few years ago. I'm definitely willing to work myself half to death, it's just trying to find the people that would let me. I've applied for a few more internships and trainee positions but no luck yet, closest I got was being in the final 16 for one at Viacom (MTV, Nick, Comedy Central).

Jane - That sounds like a good deal, I'll definitely send you over an email! I studied media in college, but I'm self taught. I have actually left that college purely because I was bored, not learning and in the end I was actually showing my tutors and a uni tutor how to do certain things with film and editing.

Franz - Hi Franz, that's great as I'm from Worthing so next door to you pretty much. I'll email you regarding the iMac, I also see that you are from Imperial Film Productions, I am going to send you over my CV and Work incase you are ever in need of some extra help on any projects you do.

8 years, 11 months ago - Ellen Alberti

Also an update, I spoke to Prince's trust who said I would definitely qualify for a grant but they have ran out of money for the South of the UK so they were unable to help me. They suggested other places and people to contact so I'm trying to do so but it's hard to find people that do, for example the BFI do more filmmakers rather than editors, I'm waiting for them to call me back.

8 years, 11 months ago - Marlom Tander

Hi,

Local Production places - that's not where to look (well it is, but if they say no...). Community media, local websites, local papers - these are all people for whom video, esp edited video, is a "nice to have, but no budget for one". STAFF is expensive, boxes, less so.

How to approach people. Emails are rubbish. Everyone emails. Everyone who gets them, ignore them. An email is just too easy to write, it's not a strong signal of commitment. For local places, just door knock. Literally, turn up in person, unannounced, and explain that you are a keen young editor who would like to help to get experience (production places) or you are the person they have been waiting for (community media).

Can you get to networking things? You're in London

Prince's Trust - run out of money until when? They probably mean this years budget, so you need to know when they get next years money. Probably Jan (calendar year) or April (fiscal year), but could be September (academic year), or indeed any time.

College - you need to get back. Bits of paper matter, sadly, and surely they have kit you can use. (OK, so you can do it without, I have, but it's a difficult road that I DO NOT recommend).

8 years, 11 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Ellen, I was a camera operator on commercials before I went to film school and the only reason I wanted to go to film school was to get access to equipment. Little did I know that I would actually learn a shit ton there. And I found that I had a natural talent for editing. So film school isn't nothing, even if your instructors are idiots. But, I'd say, it has to be a proper 4 year university and not a six month diploma mill (do they have those in the U.K.? Diploma mills are a nightmare here in the U.S.). Keep in mind that good editors are also good writers. It can take awhile to really drill screen structure into your brain; something a 4 year school could give you.

As for emailing: don't.

DO walk into each post house and try to talk to the person that runs it. DO send your CV and an excellent cover letter to THAT person via snail mail. When I graduated from Calarts, every Monday I sent the same cover letter and resume to the same places. There was an indie studio at the time called Canon Films. I got hired there simply because someone cleaned out all of the resumes, and the next Tuesday, they got mine. I was an assistant editor there, and 6 months later was offered a feature editing job by someone I went to film school with (connections are made at film school!).

Keep in mind, you have to try harder than I did. When I started in post, even a low budget feature would have, at minimum, 2 assistant editors and an apprentice. Now that everything is digital, there is only one assistant, if that. In television, editors now are unofficially required to bring in their own sound library and edit in effects, even on union shows. So sound editors are having an even tougher time than picture editors. I don't know if it's the same in the U.K., but I'm sure it is. And as an assistant editor, you have to be really technically savvy. We older editors depend on that, so make sure you know at least Avid inside and out. The more you know "work-arounds" of the software when there is trouble, the more valuable you are.

I would also try writing editors you admire. Offer to work for free, if need be. Having a credit on a big feature carries a lot of weight, even for an apprentice. Every editor I know allows their assistant to cut a scene in a film or TV show. I know I did/do. I would also show my assistants my cut, and let them rip it apart. I'd have to defend my editing decisions to them. They said they always learned a lot that way.

Everybody has a different path. I'm a big fan of film school for its hidden treasures that most don't consider or know about until they've gotten out into the world. But I also know extremely successful people that worked their way up from an apprenticeship. But, like I said, that's harder now than it used to be. Keep at it. Keep pushing. That's what it takes. One email ain't gonna do it.

8 years, 9 months ago - Sam Seal

Where do you live?

8 years, 9 months ago - Gary Braun

If you want to buy a Mac and you are decent editor,would suggest you to teach people editing on private basis.
I am interested in learning editing privately.I live NW4.

8 years, 8 months ago - Reality Check

Some excellent advice and help already, in the meantime these guys are hiring editors. http://whatculture.com/site-updates/whatculture-are-hiring They're based in Gateshead but you can work from home. I think they might hire on a freelance basis but I'm not sure. They do short Youtube videos so it could be a good way to practice and make money for now if you want to work your way up to feature editing. Wishing you well and hope things improve for you :)

8 years, 8 months ago - Garry Clarkson

Been there in the same situation (except was in my 30s) moving up from cutting film to tape then FCP digital has meant years of frustration. I echo the advice above. Talk to independent or corporate video companies a bit of free work for access to their equipment. When I left film school in 1993 we could not afford to use the then Beta and Avid (just coming in) editing suites. I didn't stop me from volunteering (even though I had a family to feed) for a corporate video company so I could use their Avid to make a showreel. You sound like your already getting work in so you are doing the right thing. Understand the family situation believe me. It just gives you more drive than the average trust fund student. You will get the work whilst they are on holiday! You didn't say where you were based I presume Northbrook is in Shoreham? If you were in West Yorkshire I would give you access to our editing suites and cameras tomorrow. Last point. You can get free macs that have just been upgraded from colleges, universities or post houses. I've just thrown out 2 iMacs that are more than capable of basic editing but have been replaced by newer mac pros. Let us know how you get on. Never give up!

8 years, 8 months ago - Yen Yau

Hi Ellen, not seen where you are based, but it would be worth you trying to get onto a BFI Film Academy - http://www.bfi.org.uk/education-research/5-19-film-education-scheme-2013-2017/bfi-film-academy-scheme/bfi-film-academy-uk-network-programme

There are 48 different providers and there are bursaries available. They run at different times so you may have missed this year's deadline depending on where you are. Also, there is an age limit - it targets 16-19 year olds. Gives you a chance to meet other like minded young people, networks and also longer term opportunities in their support to get you work experience and possibly a mentor. Like the other say, it is going to be difficult but stick with it! Happy to chat if you need some advice as I do career talks for new entrants.

8 years, 8 months ago - sati sohal

Where are you based? We at talkingpicturesltd.com have an edit suite requiring some love and attention, that you could cut your teeth on. Experience is king in this industry however you get it, work or internship or volunteering. Hope this helps.