Every Frame Counts

Great question. I wrote what I wish I had when I was starting out: nuanced advice and insight into the mind of a 1st Assistant Editor. Many resources are scattered among blogs or interviews, in various books written by editors (not assistants), and the vast majority of lessons can only be learned in-person. I wrote this in the same way I speak when people shadow me on the job, so it’s as close as you can get to the real deal. It’s comprehensive, holistic, approachable, modern, and perhaps at times a bit funny. Oh! It’s also cross-referenced to high heaven, so you can navigate it real real quick and get the info you need exactly when you need it.

Mostly on the job, working in cutting rooms run by some of the smartest and most talented individuals anyone could ask for. I read excellent books like Avid Agility, Avid Uncut, Make the Cut, and frankly the Media Composer manual (and forums). I researched technologies I didn’t understand, took a ton of notes, and did a lot of listening.

Relax, it’s 300 pages. No, but this evolved from detailed notes I took while working in the industry, so it organically came together over time. I would categorize my notes and bookmark them for my own reference, adding to them with each job I worked on. I’d revise sections as I noticed patterns and commonalities. When the idea of “publishing my notes“ came up, I then had to spend a lot of time making sure my tenses were consistent and my commas were placed correctly (shout out to my copy editor, Bigboy).

Yeah, of course! Even if the specifics are a bit advanced, it’s good to have them in your periphery. Total immersion is the name of the game. Knowing how the pros work (omg I’m a pro?) can inform the questions you ask in class and help better prepare you for the job you’re most likely to be hired into after graduation.