I make videos

At social gatherings and so on, I often get asked the question "What do you do for a living?". To be honest, without wishing to bore the questioner with long explanations, as a reply I usually rely on the term “I make videos”. It seems the easiest response really. Mention the word ‘communication’ and their immediate thought is ‘telephone engineer’. Say ‘corporate communications’ and they think ‘computer networks’. So, in that light, the phrase ‘I make videos’ actually makes a lot of sense. What it doesn’t relay of course is quite what’s involved in “making a video”. My work involves one, all or any of the processes that go into video production - the ‘strapline’ on my stationary and my website breaks it down to: editing - direction - production - motion graphics - scriptwriting. (Though it doesn't say "and anything in between" which is also true!).

Production and post-production budgets have become tighter and tighter in recent years, certainly in the corporate communications end of the business anyway. As a result the editor’s job has changed. It used to be the case, when I started out in the business in the late eighties/early nineties that an editor edited and that’s all he did. Now editors have to be multi-taskers, fluent in several software programs and at home with all of them.  As at home with Photoshop as with Final Cut, as comfortable with After Effects and Motion as with Illustrator; part visual designer, part script editor, part music editor, sound engineer and DVD authorer (is that even a word?). Don’t get me wrong - I’m not complaining: I’ve always worked that way - I guess I was the norm before it became normal. I’ve always done as much of the job as possible, and still do: from writing the script to directing the shoots, to editing, creating the graphics and finally mixing the soundtrack. The only thing I don’t do is the location camerawork and sound recording. This I leave to the cameramen (that sounds sexist, but what’s the alternative? ‘Camera operator’ sounds so technical and I expect more than technical expertise from my crew!) and sound recordists.

Today, look at any list of freelance editors and you'll see that the majority of them do all of the above and often more. It’s just the way it is now. Maybe somewhere, in a darkened room in deepest Soho, you might find a relic of the old school who still just edits. When I think of him, what do I think? Maybe there’s something rather satisfying about being just an editor - a specialist. He doesn’t have to worry about the music, or the graphics. or whether the client will change the script during the edit. He can just get on with doing the cutting and making the story work.

In some ways I envy him, but from where I sit, I think I’d rather do what I do. It keeps me on my toes and focused when I’m on the job. I too see myself as a specialist, but one who specialises in making videos.