Do Film Editors Work on Set?
When you think of the role of “film editor” you probably see someone sitting at a desk in a dark, quiet office somewhere. That their only focus is on the illumination of their computer monitors. Which hold their various works and the footage that they’re actively editing. This was once the standard for film editors. There’s always a lot of cast and crew working the set during production. But as a general standard, editors were not part of the production crew. So, do film editors work on set, or not?
While the editor’s role has always been considered a part of the POST-production process. We’re seeing increasingly more film sets that have an editor on board. Working alongside the Director and other members of the production crew.
Editors Increasingly Working on the Set
With the increase in various special effects and a rise in the level of intricacy that goes into film production and post-production processes. Editors are increasingly being seen on the sets of the films that they’re contracted to work on in post-production.
Much of the rise in the frequency of editors working on set is likely relative to technology advances.
Although editors have used technology like computers and essential audio equipment for quite some time. Advances in technology make today’s editing setups more portable.
Many editors can achieve much of the necessary work from a strong laptop computer which is about as portable as it gets in today’s busy film world.
Why are Editors on Set?
In addition to looking at an answer to the question, “Do film editors work on set?” It also makes sense to look into a reason. Why? Why are editors on the set rather than in their quiet office space where they can comfortably edit footage to their hearts’ content?
A lot of it boils down to advances in technology that allow editors to now participate alongside directors on the set to ensure cinematographers are capturing the right shots and that nothing is being missed during production.
Editors have a unique and uncanny ability to quickly spot gaps in production and call out the need for additional footage or changes to the capturing of particular footage.
There are actually several advantages to having an editor on set including:
- Fast turnaround and fewer reshoots. Having an editor on set means that, theoretically, the editor can watch the footage from the manning’s shoots at lunchtime and request any reshoots or retakes immediately after lunch if there are any.
- Allowing editors to begin the lengthy process of editing during production can cut post-production times significantly. Instead of editing beginning at the end of production, it begins days, or weeks, earlier.
- Having an editor on the set allows for constructive criticism. Regarding things like lighting accuracy or inconsistencies. Continuity issues and various other issues that come up during the shoot.
In Summary
So, do film editors work on the set? Yes they do, increasingly more often than ever before, but much of what they do is still centered around the post-production editing process which simply gets started a little bit earlier on the set.