A motion picture editor works in the film industry and provides professional editing to the final material that’s going to make the movie in the end. The duties of a motion picture editor typically include altering scenes to improve visibility, applying special effects, cutting unneeded parts of the footage, as well as rearranging footage in ways that make more sense whenever this is applicable. Additionally, the motion picture editor may work alongside other editors to provide a more complete service, or to faster process large amounts of footage.
Getting hired as a motion picture editor usually requires a degree in filmmaking from a good university, as well as a good-looking portfolio (which can be very difficult to build up). A good motion picture editor must be able to adapt to a wide variety of styles easily and without hassle, and have experience working in different genres and styles. Furthermore, motion picture editors can easily find employment outside the movie industry if they’re skilled enough.
Working as a motion picture editor can secure a salary of between $31,000 – $60,000, depending on the films the editor works on, and their workload in general. This is one thing that’s specific to the job of an editor in the film industry – their performance directly affects their salary, so those who’re tasked with editing longer footage that requires more complex operations naturally earn higher wages. On the other hand, some studios tend to pay their editors high salaries regardless of the workload when they value their efforts.