AMV Tech 4 Lyfe! (What schools for video editing careers?)

[Kalium]

Also, for those who have used the AVIO, did anyone figure out why it said "Record to VTR" instead of Record to VCR? Is that a typo or does it mean something?

Video Tape Recorder, perhaps?

[Zarxrax]

Most real editors don't know jack about encoding. Their idea of editable codecs are just DV and "quicktime animation codec", and uncompressed, and their only clue about web distro codecs is "quicktime sorenson 3" or WMV.

As far as a resume... your demo reel is far more important. You NEED a demo reel, as that is what will be selling your services. For more information about demo reels and to see what might be expected, you should check out the demo reel forum over at creative cow: http://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/n ... orumid=173

I would recommend against using anime in your demo reel. If you feel the need to put any amv awards on your resume, I would list them as something generic-sounding like "I have won 2 national awards for video editing, including a technical achievement award and a best of show award" something like that.

If you don't have anything good to put on a demo reel, then make some fake stuff, commercials, news openers, random 3d or motion graphics work, dvd menus, ANYTHING.

[TriGGiT]

Well i guess this might be helpful to you, these are some links i have found while looking for editing schools also.

http://www.theartinstitutes.com/web/ai/home.jsp (look in the media folder)

http://www.best-art-schools.com/Digital ... chools.htm (this one is more general)

hope this helps you.

[SnhKnives]

Florida State Uinversity has an excellent film school. However, they only accept about 20 people into the program a year....and FSU has about 30,000 undergrads. So, unless you are an amazing student AND have some good experience/skills.....then goodluck getting it. heh

[SQ]

Awesome. Thanks, guys.

Zarxrax: I've had the demo tape covered since two years a go. Do you think a game music video would be looked down upon? If so, I might as well go out and start taping some cars instead of sticking to GTA3. ;p

I'm just really clueless about the whole Computer to tape thing, although It doesn't seem like much of a problem now thanks to this old thread.

Anything else that would be helpful information for resumes/demo tapes/interviews/education?

[madbunny]

If you're looking to get a job based on the school you're going to then you want something that people in the industry that you're looking at will recognize. UC Berkley comes to mind as a pretty good example. Generally the big name 'art' schools.

The demo reel, as ZarXrax pointed out it critical to getting a job. The demo reel is to the video community as the portfolio is to the graphic artist.

The Demo reel should contain your best work, with the newest stuff near the front since most companies get tons of them and likely won't even finish it if it isn't relevant. Additionally, your demo reel (and you should tailor it to the job you're seeking) should be dynamic and interesting. If you're applying for a job doing architectural animations, or courtroom videos then that's alot different than applying for a job doing commercials for whitewater rafting, or game cutscenes.

While, using anime isn't really a deal breaker, you probably want to avoid doing things that smack of being fan based. For example: you wouldn't want to advertise your star trek uniforms, or mastery of the Klingon language either.

If you want to get an idea of what an acceptable demo reel looks like, check out some of the companies that you're going to be hitting up. ILM, for example has some detailed information on what they want and how they want it. Blizzard is a little less restrictive.

Remember, most of the companies that you're going to be hitting up are getting an assload of submissions; so make sure that you give them everything they need. Include both a video tape, and a DVD of your video. Have your resume, or weblinks easy to access from the DVD, and include a hardcopy of your resume.

Ultimately, unless you're really luck; you want to get some connections. Most of the jobs in any idustry are done by the buddy system. Get some jobs, meet people, and work your connections. If you're dour and an asshole you can expect a short career unless you're mega talented (and even then....) If you are bright, eager and easy to get along with in a high stress environment then you have some better chances.

Hope that helps.

[doughboy]

What you really need to do is just get your foot in somewhere, through an internship somewhere like the local news station.

Unless you're in a tiny, poor-man's market, you have to be a current (junior/senior) college student (visual arts, journalism, communications, etc) to be an intern. You then need a college degree to actually get a job.

I work at the local news station where I moved after college. We're not huge, I'd say the upper echelon of "poor-man's" territory, but we are growing rapidly. I studied animation in college, so you don't have to be pinpoint set on a video/film track in order to get an editing job. To get a really cool job though it certainly wouldn't help to do film/video projects heavily while in school.

BTW, news edtiing sucks. It's rapid and thankless.

[rubyeye]

What Tech schools have the best Video Editing programs for people who want to major in this sort of things?

If you want to concentrate on video/film production then the best schools are located in California and New York. However, they are extremely expensive.

Are there any that focus solely on editing, rather than Video Broadcasting? Or Video Productions as a whole?

There are no Tech Schools specifically for editing that I am aware of, however, virtually any school with a good film program will provide the same "education" in this area. You cannot/should not strictly focus on studying "editing" because it is one part of the entire production process - you should really know and understand every part of the process to know your role as an Editor.

And, what tests would we need to take to apply to said school(s)? ACT? SAT? Other? Resume? All the above?

It varies with each school. For example, The University of North Texas simply requires you to take a set of "beginner" courses which gives you a general overview of film production, at which point you are considered a Pre-Major. Provided you pass your classes, you can continue with the program in what ever field you are interested in (i.e. Documentary, TV Broadcasting, Film, Radio, etc.)

And should we not want education, what's the best way to prepare a resume focused around editing? What should we put in, that would look best? The org's community? Org awards? Con Awards? WMM Expierence?(hehe)

School is a good place to start, however, experience is what really counts for any artistic craft, such as editing. The more you do, the better you understand how and why certain things are done... and the more creative you can get. Learning on your own, reading books, getting your own editing program to work with and just start playing around with editing. AMVs are a great start (it's how I began before going back to school for a more formal education).

With regard to experience, offer to work on student films, or make your own. But also - INTERN - sign up for internships at video production houses where you can learn so much more, from real professionals.

DEMO REEL
Most production houses have demo reels online, study them to know how to make your own. However, a demo reel by design is an edited collection of various clips showcasing animation, visual effects, cinematography, composition, lighting, etc. So how do you make a demo reel showing your editing skills? That's a tough one. You could do it like AMVdeFans Promo video or simply string together a series of short clips from your various projects and just supply a brief info text at the bottom the sceen. There are lots of ways, it really depends on what matieral you have to show. There is nothing wrong with using AMVs in your demo reel - if that's what you've been doing to learn how to edit...show it, but only show your best work(s).

I would recommend, at some point, learning motion graphics such as After Effects. Why? Because that's also part of the editing process nowadays and it is an invaluable skill that will put you ahead of the competition.

[TaranT]

http://schools.awn.com/index.php?ltype=disp&id=17778

[SQ]

Tarant: That only seems to be about animation, though. Not video editing?

And if other people are using this thread as a resource(or it becomes a sticky) never intern with CNN. 10 years and still no job offer for many of my and my parents friends = suckage.

Rubyeye: So what programs would be better? A Video Production class or a Video Broadcasting one? I'd like to do car commercials, by the way.