Job Description

Posted on December 19, 2020

ROLE DESCRIPTION
The Assistant Editor assists the post production department in collecting and organizing all the elements needed to edit the episodes of the Series, promotionals and special assignments.
The Assistant Editor will have set tasks communicated through the Post Production Coordinator, usually helping when necessary to complete the many time sensitive tasks at hand.
The organizational aspects of the Assistant Editor’s job could best be compared to database management. When a scene is shot, every piece of picture or sound is logged, coded with numbers and time codes. It is the Assistant Editor’s job to keep track of these numbers or naming conventions in a database.
In general, the Assistant Editor will help to make sure that post production process runs smoothly by adhering to the post production workflow, planning meticulously, following the instructions of his/her immediate supervisors, and problem solving with regards to all technical, creative and administrative aspects of the post production process for the Series, and as assigned, within stipulated time frames.
Duties and Responsibilities
Read, study and analyse the series bible, series arcs, scripts, character profiles/bios, and other content creative documents for the Series, to get a clear understanding of the material, providing feedback, creative input, identifying continuity issues, raising concerns over challenges, contributing to creative solutions and improve the quality of work.
Understand the significance of scenes and how they fit into the overall programme structure.
Liaise and consult with the Executive Producer, Producer [s] and Director [s] to ensure understanding of the series’ creative vision and with members of the post production team to understand their needs.
Supporting the Series’ creative vision, goals and objectives
Check scripts and script breakdowns, liaising with the Post Production Coordinator to ensure that the needs and requirements of the department have been adequately provided.
Looking forward in the shooting schedules and daily call sheets to ensure clear understanding of what, when and where activities have been scheduled for a respective day.
Generating documents for post-production as required.
Filing all respective post production documents in their respective folders (soft and hard copy)
Adhering to the post production work flow
Preparing and maintaining project filing management systems
Preparing the Post Production facilities and equipment, ensuring equipment is in good condition, well maintained and has the necessary hardware and software for the task undertaking.
Assembling all raw footage, with camera shots either recorded or transferred onto video tape or card in preparation for inputting into the computer/hard drive.
Ingesting uncut rushes and sound, and synchronising and storing them into files on the computer/hard drive (including backups)
Digitally cutting files to put together the sequence of an episode and deciding what’s usable.
Creating a ‘rough cut’ (or assembly edit) of an episode, promo or special assignment.
Backstopping Editors in picture editing as well, assisting in the edit and preparation of title sequences, closing credits, subtitles, graphical elements, promotionals and special assignments
When the cut is finished, it is the Assistant’s job to help with bringing the episode “online” by creating lists and instructions that tell the picture and sound finishers how to put the edit back together with the high-quality original elements.
Maintain the Edit Log Sheet ensuring that data is video and sound files are accurately captured and the information on the log sheet tallies and that all footage, stills and audio captured on location are stored on the project drives at the Post Production facility.
Maintain the music, archive and stock libraries in project, including when tasked identifying and locating music, archives and stock materials.
Checking the technical standards, as well as picture and emotional continuity, the emerging sense of story, and characters’ performances.
When editing is finished, oversees the various lists and instructions necessary to put an episode into its final form.
Maintaining a good atmosphere and spirit amongst the team and in the workplace.
Taking the position seriously as it is an important, respected and crucial role.
Maintain a balance between efficiency, creativity and quality
Participate in all meetings required.
Adhering to deadlines
Immediately bring any issue that arises to the attention of the his/her supervisors
Accommodate last minute amendments to the work. The Assistant Editor must be able to absorb all this information while following agreed formats at the same time as monitoring programme content, performances, and technical quality.
Fulfill any other obligations related to production deemed necessary
Maintains EIM and client confidence and protects operations by keeping all administrative, content, financial and legal information confidential.
Accomplishes the result by performing the duty.
Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
Ensures that he/she adheres to health and safety protocols including COVID 19 preventative measures.
Any other duties as assigned.
EIM reserves the right to review and adjust the terms of reference from time to time depending on the requirements of the production.
Key Deliverables
Backups of all video and audio files received from each day of shoot as per post production workflow protocols
Logged and synchronized video and audio files from each day of shoot
Rough assembly of each episode of the Series
Promotionals for each episode of the Series, or as specifically requested, in final broadcast form in HD as assigned, on the dates set out in production schedules and workplans and/or as otherwise communicated orally or in writing.
Clean versions of all Promotionals for each episode of the Series in final broadcast format in HD, without channel imaging and/or end board, as assigned, on the dates set out in the Delivery Schedule or as otherwise communicated
Dual purpose (Texted master with Textless elements at tail) of each episode of the Series, as assigned on the dates set out in the Delivery Schedule or as otherwise communicated
Project managed files for each episode of the Series as assigned and after final approval of episode
Backups of all media for each Episode in accordance with approved file structure together with all original footage including unused footage for each episode of the Series as assigned and after final approval of an episode
All Video and Audio delivery of each episode of the Series must comply with the video and audio delivery specifications outlined in delivery specifications provided by the Producer
Equipment checklists verifying the state of the particular equipment he has used at the beginning and end of each day of edit.
Other deliverables as required and/or requested from time to time orally or in writing.
Skills and Competencies
Minimum Grade 12 Certificate. Post qualification in video editing and/or TV production an added advantage.
In depth knowledge of video editing and minimum of two (2) years of experience in similar position.
Time-management and organizational skills.
Exceptional verbal, written and presentation skills.
Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
Experience using computers for a variety of tasks.
Competency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook as well, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Affects, Photo Shop and Audition; competency in Davinci Resolve an added advantage.
Knowledge of file management, transcription, and other administrative procedures.
Ability to work on tight deadlines.
Professionalism
Confidentiality.
Reliability
Honesty and Integrity