What Jobs Require Video Editing?

Curious what jobs require video editing? The rising popularity of online video content has created a market perfect for digital arts professionals. Video editors are enjoying an unprecedented amount of job opportunities. If you are interested in a career as a video editor or motion graphics designer, then there are numerous positions and roles to experiment with.

Video Editing & Motion Graphics Jobs

Here is a rundown of the most common jobs, with a brief description of each.

Job #1: Editor

The chief editor is in charge of reviewing all the footage captured by the film crew or content creator. In addition to arranging the footage into a cohesive sequence, the editor also places audio cues and music to bolster each scene. Editors rely on the content creators and the film crew to provide enough usable clips. However, the amount of footage provided is rarely ideal. The true challenge of video editing is turning whatever hand you’ve been dealt into a presentable piece of content. In some extreme cases, editors will demand extra footage if something truly crucial is absent.

Job #2: Assistant Editor

As the name implies, the assistant editor works directly with the main curator assigned to the project. In feature-length films and other large productions, there are often too many clips for one person to organize efficiently. This entry-level position gives you great experience with video editing while simultaneously taking a huge burden off the editor’s shoulders. With a skilled enough editing team, you should never have to ask for additional footage or reshoots.

Job #3: Visual Effects Editor

Visual effects have become so complex in modern films and television that they often require a specialist to meet the rising standards of audiences. A visual effects editor creates the special effects and overlays them on top of the base footage to produce as much impact as possible. In this role, you work closely with the chief editor to ensure that the sound and visual effects match up flawlessly. Hearing an explosion before seeing it, or vice versa, will instantly break the viewer’s immersion. Visual effects editing is all about making sure that never happens.

Job #4: Motion Graphics Designer

A motion graphics designer creates images that augment the video they are working on. While this role can apply to films, motion graphics designers typically work with news organizations, social media content creators, or ad agencies. Whenever you see a graph on a YouTube video or view a transition during a news segment, you are witnessing a graphic designer’s finished product. Since motion is in the name, you can also expect to animate most of the images you create. Motion provides extra visual flair that grabs a viewer’s attention and makes them more likely to remember the info being presented.

Job #5: Entry-Level Animation

An entry-level animator usually works with simple or less-important elements to provide support to the senior animators who work on the most pivotal parts of the project. In animation, the term key frame is used to describe the most important frames of animation. Key frames are the main ideas that convey what a character or object is doing. If only the key frames were present, a viewer could still tell what is happening. However, it would look like a slideshow. Entry-level animators are often tasked with filling in the frames of animation between each keyframe, working with individual elements, and other supporting processes that play a role in the finished animation.

Job #6: Digital Imaging Technician 

A Digital Imaging Technician (DIT) is the person on the camera department crew who works with the cinematographer (also known as the director of photography, or DP) on workflow, systemization, camera settings, signal integrity, on-set color correction and other image manipulation to ensure that the production meets the DP’s creative goals and maximizes digital image quality. A DIT is also the liaison between production and postproduction teams on feature films, handling data management from set to editorial suite. They are sometimes responsible for curating “dailies” or editorial previews of footage from a day of shooting for the filmmakers to review and discuss.

Job #7: Production / Post-Production Facility Management

The job of production managers is to handle all the paperwork and other administrative duties that come along with filming big budget projects. There are often many rights holders to contact and negotiate with. Every licensed music track and copyrighted image must be used legally to avoid lawsuits. A strong background in video editing is crucial to these roles, as you need to intimately know the production pipeline to thrive.

Job #8: Production / Post-Production Facility Intern/Runner

Runners and interns oversee the basic upkeep of the production facility. Making sure the offices are clean, getting coffee, and even running the reception desk are all things you may be asked to do in these roles. An intern is often an unpaid college student who is getting valuable experience instead of money as compensation. Runners essentially have the same duties, but they get paid like a traditional job. This entry-level spot may lead to huge opportunities should you network effectively on the job site. Many aspiring editors will start as runner until an assistant editor spot opens up.

How Can I Best Prepare for the Above Video Editing Jobs?

Considering the vast array of jobs to choose from, you may be wondering how to best prepare for the video editing industry. While you can always dabble in just about anything online, it may take you a great deal longer than it should to find your niche as an editor. If you want to be more efficient about pursuing your dreams, then attending a formal education program at a digital arts school is the way to go. A motion graphics and video editing degree provides a collection of benefits that will help you land your first job in the industry that much faster.

The Benefits of a Video Editing and Motion Graphics Degree

The curriculum for obtaining this degree is the ideal place to determine where your passions lie. You get an understanding of animation, storyboarding, post-production, editing, and graphic design. Trying out each of these disciplines will make it easier to narrow down the list of jobs in the above section that you want to pursue. It turns out you may love animation and want to pursue working at studios that specialize in those productions, even if you originally envisioned working on live action properties. The most important thing you can obtain from a degree program is the understanding of what you really want to create.

Networking Opportunity Benefits

The great thing about digital art schools is they gather many like-minded creatives together. This environment gives you the perfect opportunity to collaborate with and befriend a network of artists that can help you in myriad ways during your career. For instance, if you have no idea how to produce music or sound effects for a project, you can meet audio engineers who have all the knowledge you are missing. This benefit extends well past the point of graduation, as well. Anyone you network with in school may know of a job or two you would be interested in later in your professional career.

The Benefit of Experienced Instructors and Reliable Information

Although it is possible to understand the basics of video editing or graphics design via online study, you have no way of verifying the credentials of any materials you learn from. A huge advantage to attending a digital arts program is knowing that the instructors all have real-world experience and credit on published projects under their belt. This will give you greater insight into what professional studios will expect from you. You want to make the transition into the workforce as smooth as possible. A video editing and motion graphics program will provide the tools and knowledge that helps you succeed.

Final Thoughts

Aspiring video editors have an extremely bright future ahead of them. If you learn the fundamentals from a reliable source, you can expect to enjoy many job opportunities across many industries. With video content now dominating the Internet, you can rest assured that new employers will always be available. Developing this skill set as soon as possible will allow you to take full advantage of the burgeoning job landscape enjoyed by thousands of video editors and motion graphic designers in the industry.

Video Editing & Motion Graphics Program

Ready to learn more about a career in video editing and motion graphics? IPR’s Online Video Editing & Motion Graphics Degree program is entirely online, and allows students to earn a multi-skill, multi-functional Associate of Applied Science Degree in less than two years*.  Students learn entry-level skills in every aspect of post-production. IPR’s Video Editing and Motion Graphics program prepares you for a real-world role in post-production processes in the editorial, color, and motion graphics/animations departments.

If you are interested in a career in video editing and motion graphics you should tour our Minneapolis creative arts college, see the labs, and meet our staff. Call 1-612-351-0631 or contact admissions to make arrangements.

*2-year program completion based on full time enrollment