Essential Skills Every Assistant Editor Should Know
No editor could possibly meet the high expectations of a TV show or film without a reliable assistant editor (AE). Nevertheless, your success depends on hiring the right kind of assistant editor for you and your project.
Luckily for us, Joaquin Elizondo shares his hiring process and reveals how it works for newbies. This lesson provides some much-needed insight for editors searching for the best candidate and assistant editors who hope to land the job.
You’re going to learn:
|
WHAT DO EDITORS LOOK FOR IN ASSISTANT EDITORS?
-
LIST YOUR SKILLSET & INTERESTS:
The first thing you should consider when looking for an assistant editor is their skillset.
- Are they experienced with Avid?
- Do they have experience in scripted TV or film?
- Do they share similar interests?
At first glance, that last question may seem a bit unnecessary, but you will be spending many hours with this person. So, you want to hire someone you will get along with while collaborating.
Before the interview, Joaquin tries to learn more about the potential candidates by having them list anything from the kind of movies and music they’re into to their favorite hobbies. That way, he gains an understanding of the candidate by the time he gets to the interview.
-
DESCRIBE YOUR CAREER GOALS:
When possible, Joaquin will bring on less experienced assistant editors. Although, the experience of the AEs you hire ultimately depends on the demands of the project.
For example, if Joaquin is hiring for a project that will require a lot of VFX, he will need to go with AEs who have more experience.
But if Joaquin is really vibing with a candidate with less experience, he will give them an opportunity to help them in their career if he notices their passion and hunger for learning. Assistant editors can show this passion by sharing goals and outlining where they want to be in five years.
-
COMMUNICATION:
To keep getting hired as an assistant editor, learn how to effectively collaborate and provide compelling feedback. So, if Joaquin asks, “What do you think of this scene?” he expects honest feedback.
If you’re shy or a bit of an introvert, Joaquin recommends breaking out of your comfort zone. Communication is part of the job, after all, and it undergirds the success of an editor.
Say an editor brings you in and asks what you think about a particular scene. They rely on you to serve as a second set of eyes and to give objective feedback. Joaquin notes how there have been plenty of times when his assistant editor noticed something he overlooked because he was too close to the material. What you might do instead is pitch an idea or ask if he tried a technique he hadn’t considered.
-
ORGANIZATION:
One of the most important functions of an assistant editor is organizing footage to set the project up for success. In fact, one of Joaquin’s most important questions during the interview process is, “How organized are you and can you keep the project tidy?”
-
TIME MANAGEMENT:
Time management is also very important to keeping up with dailies and not getting stuck on one task. By effectively managing your time, you will ensure that you get through your day and stay on schedule.
According to Joaquin, it’s all about keeping up with the camera and managing your time well. And sometimes you just have to move on from a particular task to stay on schedule.
A CASE STUDY:While editing Narcos: Mexico, the editors had to create working subtitles as they worked on their edit. Of course, a company would eventually handle the final subtitles but for the sake of the director, producers, and other creatives, they were necessary while cutting the show together. While Joaquin may be fluent in Spanish, his AE would be the one to incorporate working subtitles into the edit. The only problem was that his AE, Chris Cavanaugh, didn’t speak Spanish. But Chris was so eager and hungry to learn that he discovered a workaround with special headphones that translate the words in real time. Chris helped a lot with the subtitles allowing them to keep up with the camera and not fall behind. |
About Hollywood Editing Mentor Joaquin Elizondo
Joaquin Elizondo has over 20 years of experience as an editor and currently works in the world of scripted television shows in Hollywood. His most recent editing credits include Narcos: Mexico (Netflix), The Hot Zone: Anthrax (NatGeo), Dark Winds (AMC) and is currently working on Griselda, a new Netflix limited series starring Sofia Vergara. Before arriving in Los Angeles, Joaquin worked in unscripted television for several years in New York City where he edited content for HBO Sports, NBC, Telemundo, and was the lead editor on Bravo’s late-night talk show Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.
Joaquin majored in Film & Video Studies at the University of Michigan and grew up in the San Diego-Tijuana border region, where he began his career cutting a wide range of projects that included news, promos, commercials, and documentaries. As someone who has sought out and benefited from mentoring, Joaquin is now taking on the role of mentor by helping aspiring editors and assistants in navigating the path to achieving their career goals. He created the Hollywood Editing Mentor Program and Podcast to provide guidance and support for those trying to break into or advance their careers in post-production.
