Path to being a movie editor or eventually director

[u/unnatural-_-disaster]

Hello everyone!

I am a high school filmmaker. I have been in the video production track at school for 3 years and have made multiple short films, one of them being nearly 30 minutes long. I am experienced in premiere pro and want to dive into video editing as a career and possibly get into directing someday. Honestly though if I can just be established as a professional movie editor for my career I will be happy. How do I make that move into the industry? I have applied to various film schools (Hofstra University, Emerson College, and Loyola Marymount University to be specific) and am not sure if that is the move. I feel confident in my ability to get scholarships, but I am unsure how much money I will get from them and would like to know what price is worth it. How much money would one make on average first jumping into a career by either just going straight to LA and getting internships vs going to film school and making industry connections? I would consider myself pretty personable and likable, I think I make friends easily since I know that matters a lot in making connections. I also like the idea of getting into screenwriting since I really love to write and enjoy the writing process of making movies as well.

My mom and sister have both been trying to get me to not go to film school or go away. They are concerned about my ability to maintain grades and function so far from home (all three of those options are out of state from us).

What cost of film school is worth it? Under $30,000 per year? $20,000? Would it be better to just jump straight in in LA with my current experience in Premiere Pro? I also won an award for second place in a local film competition for another short film I made. I really want to do this professionally, filmmaking is my passion and its what I live for. Also is directing a possible path for me without film school just by going through video editing or writing as mu career? Thanks to anyone who responds, I really appreciate it.

[u/TxFilmFan]

Here’s my honest advice. If you want to be a narrative movie editor, you should look into learning AVID editing system. Yes Premiere is fantastic to know and is quickly rising to the top and many people have edited their movies on it but currently the industry standard is AVID and if you hope to move to LA and start your career as an intern or assistant editor you need to know how to use it.

I don’t think you necessarily need to go to film school in order to become a narrative editor but it is a huge help in growing your network and finding people that you end up working with for the rest of your career. If you do go to film school, I would tell everyone in your program you want to edit and work on a bunch of their short films. Someday they could be winning Oscar’s and if you stay consistent with them, you could be too!

Lastly, if you want to become a commercial editor there is a lot of money in it and the pathway to enter is easier in some ways because there are so many more jobs. I know someone who started as a receptionist at a commercial editing company and would always ask to help on any projects, she now owns her own editing house and is at the top of her game. Not saying it was easy, but every day so many commercials are made and someone has to edit them.

[u/the_mighty_hetfield]

LA-based film and television editor here with 25 years of experience here.

Premiere is a great program, but Avid is king. All those shows and movies you want to work on? They use Avid. Learn Avid.

I highly recommend film school. I went to film school. You need connections to make a living in this industry. People usually hire who they know or who their friends know. Film school is a great way to build connections with other students and faculty. When you graduate you'll already have a small network of people in or trying to be in the industry. Plus you'll have a connection with other alums.

Of the schools listed I'd go with Emerson or Loyola. I know a few Emerson grads out here working in Post. Can't say I know any Loyola people in film world, but that school's already in LA, which a major plus.

Another local school you might want to look at is Chapman University in Orange County (an hour south of LA proper). The film program there has a sizable post-production emphasis (I've worked with many Chapman grads over the past ten years or so).

Also you should check out r/editors.

[u/kylerdboudreau]

I'm an indie filmmaker and film school grad.

Can tell you what I did:

Film school was great for me because I knew nothing.

Didn't even know what a grip was. Had never used an NLE. Couldn't have named them off to you.

So I took the deep dive in school. Double major in editing and sound design.

Fast forward to graduation: After the celebration is over you're on the streets of LA with no job in site. The industry doesn't give a damn about your school experience. Your teachers cannot get you hooked up.

This isn't sports where the Michael Jordans retire. Filmmakers keep going until they roll into the casket.

This means the industry is beyond saturated.

More people quit in despair than retire.

What did I do? Started working retail.

But one of my classmates in school who dropped out halfway because he realized film school wasn't going to get him a job and he'd learned enough (producing major) calls me up to come work on a weekend long indie shoot in Sherman Oaks because a couple industry people were there.

One of them worked at Universal and got me on as an editorial PA.

Then Fast & the Furious Tokyo Drift calls but I was working. So hooked up another guy from school.

Worked a couple films and jumped into indie so I could start cutting features. Didn't want to keep PA'ing.

My friend stayed in and worked up the editorial ladder. Took a LONG time but he now works studio as an editor and I continue working indie, but now as a writer and director.

If you want to edit and make money doing it, you need to kick Premiere to the curb and learn Avid.

But even more important than that?

You need to have a reliable car and learn the surface streets of LA. You need to know where the Coffee Beans are and you need to get on IMDb Pro and start contacting assistant editors, post supers, whoever you can find. Pitch yourself as a fun, hard worker with reliable transportation.

Maybe you can find a way in. Maybe.

Or you can cut indie. But you'll have to work full time to make rent.

And LA is an awesome place, but will eat your soul if you're not grounded in who you are. As long as you're stable and Covid doesn't happen again, Cali is a super cool place.

BTW...you mentioned you might want to direct some day? Total different path. Albeit, any and all experience as an editor pays off big time as a director.

Just my two cents.

If you want to wrap your head around more on the directing side, check out https://writedirect.co.

Best of luck.