Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Designation of occupation

Film and video editor (m/f)

Duration of traineeship

3 years

Field of activity

Film and video editors are engaged in the following fields: current affairs and journalistic reporting, magazine programmes, shows, sports programmes, documentaries, commercial films, dubbing, TV drama and cinema films.

Occupational skills

Film and video editors

• analyse synopses, treatments, screenplays and storyboards for dramaturgical and design features with a view to editing;
• classify, check and process incoming sound, image, animation and manuscript material and analyse it for audiovisual editing;
• edit sound and image material and create special image effects;
• prepare film for cutting and carry out the cutting;
• select, from various image sources, the best image material on the basis of creative design potential and bearing in mind electronic trick possibilities;
• prepare audio and video material for dubbing, and cut speech, sound effects and music to ensure synchronicity.

5. Particular requirements
Film and video editors assess incoming audio and video material with a view to its creative design potential and technical quality and transform it, on the basis of predetermined dramaturgical principles, into a coherent and cohesive audiovisual product. They carry out their duties independently and in close cooperation with directors and producers. Their work is carried out at film cutting tables, electronic and digital editing stations, and video mixing desks. They are capable of working under time pressure and, in particular in the current affairs reporting field, of meeting tight deadlines. 

Last modified on: December 12, 2006