Video Editor

A video editor turns recorded footage into the finished video. They watch what has been filmed, select the best material and assemble the clips into the correct order so the finished piece tells the story clearly.

Selecting the best footage

Filming usually produces far more material than the final video needs. The video editor reviews it and keeps the strongest takes, leaving out weaker performances, mistakes and anything that slows the piece down. For example, if a camera operator recorded five takes of a runner crossing the finish line, the editor picks the one with the clearest reaction from the crowd.

The chosen clips are then placed in order. Order matters because it controls how the audience follows the story: a clip shown early can set up a question that a later clip answers.

Working with the director

The editor builds an edit and shows it to the director, who has the overall creative vision. The director might ask for two scenes to be swapped or for a shot to stay on screen longer. The editor makes these changes and the pair keep working together until they agree on the final edited version.

A post-production role

The video editor works in post-production, the phase after filming. They do not film anything themselves — the camera operator captures the footage during production. The editor's work starts once that footage exists, which is why the role belongs to post-production alone.