Crew: Editing
5 Editor Training Programs to Consider From granular skills to industry history, these schools prepare students for professional careers
New York University, Tisch School of the Arts
By Isabelle Lichtenstein
American Film Institute Conservatory MFA in Editing
knowledge they’ll need to be a top-notch editor.
New York University, Tisch School of the Arts Post-Production Specialization
NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts has a reputation for turning out industry icons, and its editing alums are no exception. Tisch’s editing program is housed within the film and television
department’s post-production specialization, which offers classes focused on editing structure (both narrative- and documentary-based) and technical software training. Students learn the core principles and techniques of production, as well as writing, criticism, and the history of the industry. This holistic look at video creation allows students to understand editing not just as a methodology, but as a storytelling tool. As they progress, students get hands-on experience working on other students’ projects and learning more advanced techniques. Tisch also offers a wide range of equipment and resources: In post-production suites, students have access to everything from Final Cut Pro X and Avid Media Composer to Adobe Premiere Pro CC and Intuos5 Touch tablets.
University of Southern California Post-Production Degree
Thanks to sizable donations from alumni (like George
American Film Institute Conservatory
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COURTESY AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE CONSERVATORY; COURTESY NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
The American Film Institute Conservatory may be one of the most highly selective schools in the country, but with good reason. It prides itself on producing the best, so it only accepts students the institute believes will be the future of film. The AFI Conservatory’s editing specialization trains fellows in the technical side of the editing process, while emphasizing how storytelling
plays a part in edits. Fellows are guaranteed work editing at least eight films, plus the chance to cut films and work as assistant editors. AFI also prides itself on bringing “master storytellers” to campus for talks, panels, and seminars. Past speakers include “Lawrence of Arabia” editor Anne V. Coates and “Spotlight” editors Tom McArdle and Michael Rezendes. At the end of the program, each fellow is armed with a full demo reel suited for their entrance into the industry, as well as all the
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; COURTESY CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY; COURTESY EMERSON COLLEGE
WHETHER IT’S FOR FILMS, WEB SERIES, OR DIGITAL ADS, ONE OF the most crucial parts of the post-production process across genres and mediums is editing. For anyone who wants to have a career as an editor, finding a great training program is key. Designed to instruct students in every aspect of the video editing process, from learning specific software functions to examining the role of an editor in the scope of a larger production, the following programs offer unique opportunities for budding editors.
