How to hire a Freelance Visual Effects Editor?

Last updated: 1 year ago
How to hire a Freelance Visual Effects Editor?

For the last 65 years, movies have entertained generations of audiences with their stunning visual effects that capture the imagination and transform the silver screen into something more than could ever be seen on the stage. Ever since movie hallmarks like The Parent Trap, Jason and the Argonauts, and Mary Poppins, visual effects editors have been adding to live action shots with only their creativity as the limit. Hiring a freelance visual effects editor sounds intimidating, but the truth is that there are many creative, hardworking minds out there itching for the chance to make you their next resume talking point. Here are a few tips on how to pick a good one.

What to Look For

Visual Effects Editors make their living by making the details shine. With that in mind, you can view a prospective hire’s work as their entire resume if you wish. Credentials are not as important as the finished product—but of course software proficiency helps with this. Examine every bit of a potential hire’s persona. Look at his LinkedIn account; pour over her resume. Most importantly, view their showreel or website videos paying close attention to the small things. Anything other than the originally shot live action falls under the responsibility of the visual effects editor, so be picky.

Three Things They Need From You

Since you’re hiring freelance editors, you must be able to offer them some form of legitimacy to your project. They want to build their resumes just as you want a lovely finished product. Clarify where your production will be seen and by whom.

In addition, time is extremely valuable to freelancers. Give them legitimate expectations for your project’s deadline. Visual effects editors often have to negotiate in the middle of their projects for more time to meet the deadline, so be realistic about your expectations.

A visual effects editor is more than simply a person who adds laser beam effects to action sequences. Editors are typically in charge of a team of visual effects artists, and as such your potential hires need to know who they will be working with, how many people they will have on their team, and your expectations for what the team should do.

Questions to ask a potential candidate

Here are a few essential questions to ask when hiring a freelance visual effects editor:

What kind of software are you familiar with?

Your potential hires should be proficient in different types of visual effects software like Adobe AfterEffects, Adobe Premier Pro, and Final Cut Pro, to name a few.

How many projects have you worked on before?

Much of visual effects experience comes from hands-on practice.

What is the hardest aspect of managing a team?

Since editors will be compiling work from several different people, get a feel for your hire’s management skills and group problem-solving ability.

Do you work well on a deadline?

The answer must be yes for this question, since your projects will have hard deadlines.

The visual effects of what Hollywood movie are your favorite?

Get a feel for your prospective hire’s aspirations and interests. It will be reflected in their work.

Popular articles

  • What is an Underwater Camera?

    An underwater camera is basically a camera that can be used to capture images and videos under water. It can be used for shoots as one is swimming, snorkeling, or with a remotely operated underwater vehicle. Some of these cameras are even automated and can be easily lowered from ...
    Read more
  • What is a Video Editor?

    A video editor is the person who makes production and/or post-production changes to a film. The video editor works closely with the director to achieve the best final film outcome, with the goal of telling the story in the most effective and compelling way. Work heavily involves ...
    Read more
  • What is a Film Director?

    What is a director? Also called a film director or video director, the director is the person who controls the overall artistic and dramatic feel of a presentation – whether it is a five minute infomercial or a feature film. They instruct and guide both the technical crew and ...
    Read more
  • How to rent a 360 Camera?

    The term “360 camera” seems straightforward, referring to a camera that films and photographs from every angle. In fact, there is a wide variation in what such cameras can do, and you must be aware of this before renting. Some cameras have an effective viewing angle of only ...
    Read more
  • What is a Camera Operator?

    Camera operators work in the television, music and film industry and are usually employed by television and cable companies or by video production houses. They are responsible for capturing different scenes during production and operating a wide variety of technical ...
    Read more
  • What is a 360 Camera?

    A 360 camera, also known as an omnidirectional camera, has a 360-degree field of view so that it captures just about everything around the sphere. 360 cameras are needed when large visual fields need to be covered, such as shooting panoramas. As virtual and augmented reality (A ...
    Read more
  • How to become a Pro TikTok Creator?

    A Pro TikTok Creator produces short-form video content that is to be published on TikTok. They would typically be involved from the pre-production to post-production process, should there be required edits and additional animations to make.  Pro TikTok Creators should id ...
    Read more
  • What is a Visual Effects Editor?

    A visual effects editor, also known as VFX editor, is the person who is overseeing, and responsible for all the visual effects in a production. The VFX editor must have excellent communication skills, as the job requires the VFX editor to communicate effectively between VFX staf ...
    Read more
  • How to become a Camera Operator?

    A camera operator for video is the person who literally shoots the video or the still photographs during the planning stage. A Freelance Camera Operator is someone who a director hires to handle either a single camera or to manage a team of camera operators. This is a supporting ...
    Read more
  • What is a Script Writer?

    If you’ve ever watched a movie or television show and cringed at the clunky dialogue or poor plot development, thinking to yourself “I could do better than that,” script writing or screenwriting may be a viable career path. This primarily freelance role can provide you wit ...
    Read more
  • What is a Drone Camera?

    A drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can be remotely controlled for a variety of purposes. Drones are most commonly associated with military operations and surveillance. However, by outfitting these relatively small unmanned robots with video production equipment, th ...
    Read more
  • What is a Producer?

    Film producers are the people who keep the film’s quality up while ensuring that its production is on time and stays within budget. Producers can manage hundreds of individuals in any one production, in addition to dealing with the film studio and distributors. The producer’ ...
    Read more
  • What is a 3D Graphics Artist?

    A three-dimensional (3D) graphics artist designs digital animation or footage that is used for characters, landscapes, backgrounds and other elements in film, television or video game production. The still or moving creations have the appearance of depth in addition to height an ...
    Read more
  • What is a Director of Photography?

    A Director of Photography (DOP) also known as Cinematographer is a creative leader during a video production. It’s a position full of responsibility, and the Director of Photography must have camera skills, lighting knowledge and the ability to work with the entire camera crew ...
    Read more
  • What is a 3D Animator?

    Animated videos of all lengths, whether they’re feature-length films or commercials barely a minute long, need animation talent to bring them to life. 3D animation has become more prevalent in the 21st century in feature films, cartoons, video games, short films, commercials, ...
    Read more
  • How to rent a Slow Motion Camera

    Renting a slow motion camera is a great tool for when you need to film a slower scene that still has the clarity of a normal image. Slow motion cameras work by increasing the frames per second as well as the shutter speed. In a normal video, the frame rate is 24 frames per secon ...
    Read more
  • What is an On-screen Talent?

    The film industry is filled with hundreds of interesting and rewarding career paths, but none is as sought after or as idolized as that of the on-screen talent. Known as “actors,” these positions can make or break any production, as even the most well written script will be ...
    Read more
  • How to become a Voice Over Talent?

    Becoming a freelance voice over talent is a popular career option for many in the entertainment business — and for good reason. Voice over artists enjoy relative anonymity — a big perk for those with day jobs — and a huge amount of flexibility. It’s also quick work with l ...
    Read more
  • What is a Slow Motion Camera?

    Slow motion refers to an effect that is common in the film-making industry where motion pictures appear to be moving slower than normal. Previously, the effect had only been applied more in films, commercials and television. But with major advancements in phone technology, one c ...
    Read more
  • What is a Stunt Coordinator?

    Just about every dangerous or unbelievable act of skill you see on television or in the theaters has been coordinated and sometimes even performed by a stunt coordinator. Every good production requires a stunt coordinator to pull off the extraordinary scenes seen in television o ...
    Read more