The motion picture and television industries have experienced substantial growth in the United States. As more people have access to cable television, streaming channels, the Internet, tablets, and other technology, these industries have continued to grow. The effect of this growth is a steady demand for the essential skills that are provided by film and television editors. With recent innovations in computer technology, much of the work that editors perform is accomplished using sophisticated software programs (including those that use advanced artificial intelligence). All of these factors have enabled many film and television editors to find steady work as salaried employees of film and television production companies and as independent contractors who provide their services on a per job basis.
In the early days of the industry, editing was sometimes done by directors, studio technicians, or other film staffers. Now every film, television show, and video, including the most brief television advertisement, has an editor who is responsible for the continuity and clarity of the project.
The digital revolution has greatly affected the editing process. Many editors now use computer programs such as AVID, Lightworks, or Final Cut Pro to do their jobs. They also work much more closely with special effects houses in putting together projects. When working on projects that have a large number of special effects, film and television editors edit scenes with an eye towards the special effects that will be added. Digital editing technology may allow some prospective editors more direct routes into the industry, but the majority of editors will have to follow traditional routes, obtaining years of hands-on experience to advance in their career.
In addition, film and television editors are using advanced artificial intelligence to tackle both basic and complex tasks. "AI can assist in editing by analyzing and categorizing hours of footage, suggesting the best takes, and even predicting audience reactions to different scenes," according to "AI In The Director’s Chair And The Digital Transformation Of Filmmaking," an article in Forbes.
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