National Editors Association

[Rollercoaster]

I would like to know if there is any interest in starting a group dedicated to the further development of editors and the craft of editing. So, I have a request for all who read here. Talk to the editors in your shop. Ask them if they would be interested in helping develop this new group. Better yet please ask them to read this post. What would you want from this association; A contest? A critique service? A monthly newsletter? A national seminar? How much would you pay? I would love to hear from all..photographers too. Whether this new association would be an off-shoot of the NPPA remains to be seen. This is an idea and editor I'm working with here at KCNC and I have had for a while and now we're looking to move forward.
I look forward to hearing from you. You can e-mail me at Shawnmontano@aol.com

Shawn Montano
KCNC-TV

[cinehead]

I think it's a great idea. Are you thinking about an association for just news editors or something that will incorporate promo, commercial, corporate and film editors?

[Lenslinger]

No offense, Shawn...

But for the love of God do we really need another club - one with contests, critiques and cliques? I'm all for furthering the craft but some of these groups remind me of my seven year old daugter's ever-shifting list of bestest friends and worstest enemies. What's next? Hopscotch?

Don't get me wrong, I love to edit, and I'm all for watching exemplary work. But the way some of these organizations operate, with under-explained dues and heavily-campaigned award systems strike this admitted non-joiner as more than a little silly.

You wanna get in touch with peers flung far and wide? Contribute something to b-roll.net and the television broadcasting world will respond. I got the fan mail (and hate letters) to prove it. No other TV trade offshoot that I know of has a bigger voice in the photog community, and more than a few of us count ourselves as master editors of one sort or another. We'd all entertain thoughts on how to share and improve our work, and who knows - a new organization may be in order. But let's go easy on the secret handshakes, standing O's and empty mantras. In today's world, it's the road to irrevelancy.

My sermon's over. Somebody else's turn...

[Baltimore Shooter]

Well, a group like that already exists - The Association of Independent Creative Editors -
www.aice.org (http://www.aice.org)

Warren

[<Rollercoaster>]

"Membership in the National AICE is only available through one of the local AICE chapters. Each chapter has its own specific criteria for eligibility. Generally speaking, eligibility is restricted to full service independent editorial companies whose majority work is the creative editing of television commercials." -------- I'm glad to know of this organization. But, there are a lot more editors out there that wouldn't fit into this segment of editing. An earlier post asked if this would be open to Non-News editors? Yes. I think anyone involved in the craft of editing would be welcome. I've personally been in the freelance world and seen the talent. Getting a bunch of News editors together with a bunch of production editors would benefit both. I've learned from both a great deal.

Shawn Montano
KCNC-TV

[addixicon]

An News Editors' forum here might be a start, I would certainly participate through B-Roll. Downside: Hard to discuss the visual medium withoput real examples of the video.
Just my 2 Bucks.

[<Effects>]

My Biggest weakness is using effects with stories. I'm not sure what's good and what's not and everybody has their own ideas about this. So, If an editors group formed. That's would I would love to learn more about. How to use effects without overpowering the story.


D

"A little less conversation, a little more action"
E Presley.

[Xchroma]

Originally posted by &lt;Effects&gt;:
My Biggest weakness is using effects with stories. I'm not sure what's good and what's not and everybody has their own ideas about this. So, If an editors group formed. That's would I would love to learn more about. How to use effects without overpowering the story.


D

"A little less conversation, a little more action"
E Presley. With the exception of dissolves and the VERY occasional push wipe, I would steer clear of almost all other effects. Just ask youself, "what is my motivation for wanting to put an effect here? Does it help further the story?"
We're doing news here, not low end weddings.

[Baltimore Shooter]

What is A.C.E? I saw a movie the other night and I noticed those initals after the Editor's credit. Maybe that's an avenue to explore.

Warren

[queen of blue]

Originally posted by Baltimore Shooter:
What is A.C.E? I saw a movie the other night and I noticed those initals after the Editor's credit. Maybe that's an avenue to explore.

Warren From the American Cinema Editors website ....
"ACE, the AMERICAN CINEMA EDITORS, is an honorary society of motion picture editors founded in 1950. Film editors are voted into membership on the basis of their professional achievements, their dedication to the education of others and their commitment to the craft of editing."

As I understand it, A.C.E. is kind of like "The Academy" you have to be voted in ... and only after God and 16 other people nominate you for membership.

[TriggerHappy]

As I understand it, A.C.E. is kind of like "The Academy" you have to be voted in ... and only after God and 16 other people nominate you for membership Something like that - if you meet the qualification criteria, you need to be sponsored by a few (two, I think, but don't quote me on that) other members, approved by the directors, etc..

[<Rollercoaster>]

Originally posted by Xchroma:
quote: Originally posted by &lt;Effects&gt;:
My Biggest weakness is using effects with stories. I'm not sure what's good and what's not and everybody has their own ideas about this. So, If an editors group formed. That's would I would love to learn more about. How to use effects without overpowering the story.


D

"A little less conversation, a little more action"
E Presley. With the exception of dissolves and the VERY occasional push wipe, I would steer clear of almost all other effects. Just ask youself, "what is my motivation for wanting to put an effect here? Does it help further the story?"
We're doing news here, not low end weddings. I work in the 18th market in the country. I'm not putting together low end weddings. I'm putting on a product for the viewer and yes I use effects. Sometimes a little, sometimes alot! Do I have motivation, yes. How did I learn, trial and error. An Editors group could help with these questions and others questions. I did take offense to you low end weddings comment.

Rollercoaster
AKA Shawn Montano
KCNC-TV


"It's Cool Dawg."

[Xchroma]

Originally posted by &lt;Rollercoaster&gt;:
quote: Originally posted by Xchroma:
quote: Originally posted by &lt;Effects&gt;:
My Biggest weakness is using effects with stories. I'm not sure what's good and what's not and everybody has their own ideas about this. So, If an editors group formed. That's would I would love to learn more about. How to use effects without overpowering the story.


D

Give examples..wht kind of stories were they, what effects did you use?

"A little less conversation, a little more action"
E Presley. With the exception of dissolves and the VERY occasional push wipe, I would steer clear of almost all other effects. Just ask youself, "what is my motivation for wanting to put an effect here? Does it help further the story?"
We're doing news here, not low end weddings. I work in the 18th market in the country. I'm not putting together low end weddings. I'm putting on a product for the viewer and yes I use effects. Sometimes a little, sometimes alot! Do I have motivation, yes. How did I learn, trial and error. An Editors group could help with these questions and others questions. I did take offense to you low end weddings comment.

Rollercoaster
AKA Shawn Montano
KCNC-TV


"It's Cool Dawg."

[Xchroma]

Originally posted by &lt;Rollercoaster&gt;:
quote: Originally posted by Xchroma:
quote: Originally posted by &lt;Effects&gt;:
My Biggest weakness is using effects with stories. I'm not sure what's good and what's not and everybody has their own ideas about this. So, If an editors group formed. That's would I would love to learn more about. How to use effects without overpowering the story.


D

"A little less conversation, a little more action"
E Presley. With the exception of dissolves and the VERY occasional push wipe, I would steer clear of almost all other effects. Just ask youself, "what is my motivation for wanting to put an effect here? Does it help further the story?"
We're doing news here, not low end weddings. I work in the 18th market in the country. I'm not putting together low end weddings. I'm putting on a product for the viewer and yes I use effects. Sometimes a little, sometimes alot! Do I have motivation, yes. How did I learn, trial and error. An Editors group could help with these questions and others questions. I did take offense to you low end weddings comment.

Rollercoaster
AKA Shawn Montano
KCNC-TV


Give examples..wht kind of stories were they, what effects did you use? What was the purpose of the transition? When I think of effects, I'm not considering stuff like color correction, tiling faces, movement on stills etc.... I'm thinking of page peels, flying boxes and stuff like that. Also, sports would be different...
And just because you are in the 18th market in the country doesn't automatically make you good. I'm in a top 30 and there are some editors/photogs here who would make rookies in market 175 look like Walter Murch.

[Rollercoaster]

Ok let's try this. Copy and paste the following link please. On that page go to the story called Beetlecross (yes, it's a sports story). This will give you an idea of some effects I like to use including transitions I've built.
http://news4colorado.com/siteSearch/local_story_180154355.html

I'll be happy to answer any question after that.

[DWR]

&lt;grin&gt;
What’s the matter Shawn? Run out of contests to win? ;)

Would a new organization be able to offer something more/different/newer than organizations already in place?

If you want contests and critiques then NPPA already has that covered. Not to mention many local contests sponsored through SPJ, State Broadcasters associations and of course, Emmys. If you want discussion forums then B-Roll.net seems to meet that need. “Tips, Tricks & Techniques” well, there are tons of those associated with specific equipment manufacturers (Avid, FCP, etc).

Gathering all this and putting it under one roof might be handy. “One-stop-shopping” could be accomplished with a website full of links, you wouldn’t need a whole organization.

As a full time editor I feel a little left out because most existing organizations are dominated by photographers. It would be nice to see something that focuses on my particular area. I just have my doubts about how sustainable that is. Those “Cutting Edge” seminars that Todd Hougaardt started are probably the best example of what can be accomplished. I feel like the main need that’s hard to fill for editors is networking. Since we are usually locked in our buildings and we don’t get the chance to mingle at the back of press conferences or while waiting for live shots the way photographers and reporters do. Sure we can all hang out at the watering hole after work, but for a family man like me that’s a little tough.

A discussion forum based exclusively on editing seems like a good place to start. Perhaps a special forum under the B-Roll.net banner. You could have a page to post a few articles on and a discussion forum. Pattern it after the many Users Groups that are out there for specific equipment or genres (Like at “CreativeCow.net” or the DMN Forums). Maybe one of these other websites might be a good place to start so you don’t get over-run by photographers from the get-go. You might be able to do the same thing under the NPPA banner, but it seems like NPPA ruffles more than a few people’s feathers. You would especially scare off people who think they have to pay the dues to participate. Make sure you drag a few articles out of people as well as having people post in forum, so you get a little extra content

Once you gather people together with some good content and talk then you can worry about a more formal organization. If you start with an organization, a board, a president, memberships roles and dues you will always have an organization that’s run from the top down, and the people at the top will always have to struggle to get and keep members. It would be like having a “product” that you need to “sell”. Its murder in my shop just trying to get the photographers to join NPPA!

I think it would be better to find a way to gather news editors (and others) together as a first step. Once you get them together and talking then you have a group of people which can be organized. Plant the seed and see what grows. The trick might just be planting the editing seed in a place where it won’t always be over-shadowed photography.

Good luck
DWR

[TriggerHappy]

Well said, DWR - amen!

[<East Coast Editor>]

Hey Anyone know what's going on with this? I would love to see something just for the editors.


Vidman