Definition for a TV Editor

TV editors transform raw footage filmed on the set of a television show into a polished final product for broadcast using computer technology. TV editors mix video footage with music, sound effects and audio and special effects. They are responsible for the majority of the post-production process and their editorial decisions determine how the story is told ultimately molding the audience's experience. TV editors may work with footage for scripted TV shows, television documentaries, news programs, music videos, professional training videos, or advertisements.

Required Skills   

The advent of digital technology has rendered the traditional method of cutting film strips manually out dated. Nowadays all film and video editors must have computer-savvy and extensive knowledge of video editing software. Moreover, they must be able to adapt to rapidly changing technology. Successful TV editors also need an intense imagination, artistic eye, and a creative mind set. Oftentimes raw footage is of poor quality but necessary to the final product and TV editors must be resourceful enough to rescue it. A solid understanding of storytelling techniques, good communication skills, and the ability to work well under deadlines are also necessities.

Post-production is the most important phase in creating a movie that flows cohesively with picture, sound and special effects. Although picture editing and visual effects are only used in film, TV and photography, every type of media broadcast program uses sound effects, music composition, sound mixing and color correction to create a consistent project.

Stages of T.V editing

      Picture Editing

In the beginning stages of editing a film, the picture editor and director decide which shots to include in the final version of the movie. The editor then arranges each scene in a specific way to sufficiently convey the film’s message. In this stage of post-production, the film can be completely rearranged to tell a different story than the one that was originally intended. By the time the scenes flow cohesively to create a feature-length film, the editor may have viewed up to 20 hours of footage before condensing it to less than two hours

   Sound Effects Editing

Once the film shots have been spliced together in the correct order, the sounds editor will review the footage to make sure the audio is clear. In addition to making sure dialogue is clear and understandable, this editor also checks for the presence of background noises such as footsteps or clanking dishes.

When background noises are not clear, the sound editor enlists the help of Foley artists to record the required noises. If the scene requires the sound of dishes clinking together but the sound does not translate well in the editing process a Foley artist is recorded moving dishes around to create a better sound. The audio is then inserted into the scene.

·        Musical Score

The third phase of T.V editing is creating an original score and incorporating it into the film. The director and writer determine which tone and style of music best reflect the film and then decides where each song will fit best in the movie. At this stage in the post-production process, other music is chosen and incorporated as well.

·         Visual Effects

Visual effects can either be subtle or dramatic. With the first Visual Effects, specialists can edit two shots together, digitally remove certain items from a scene or alter a street sign to fit the purposes of the film. This type of visual effects is usually not noticeable. The second Visual Effects are more exciting and include inserting digital explosions and fantasy creations.

·         Sound Mixing

Audio directors and sound mixers have very different jobs in post-production. While the audio editor ensures that sounds can be heard clearly, the sound mixer works to harmonize every element of audio from dialogue to background noise to music. The purpose of this stage is to make sure the music does not overpower other audio elements and vice versa.

Color Correction

The final phase of post-production is correcting the color of each scene. Some films use a certain color effect to give the movie a special feel, but ever film utilizes a color corrector to enhance the images in each shot. The corrector blends multiple color tones to reduce contrast and make each shot look as good as possible. The editor makes sure that the color is great for the scene.