Video editing is a form of creative expression
Angelo Lings is a video editor for CBR Productions
Tell me about the work you do.
I work in the TV and film industry as a video editor. I take the raw footage (the material that has been filmed) and create a video for the client.
I source music and colour-grade the raw footage, which means I alter and enhance the colour of the material.
What appeals to you about editing?
The creative freedom. Editing is the way I express myself visually. I learnt a while ago that I struggle to express myself in words, which is why I stopped pursuing directing. Once I developed a skill in editing, I began to express myself more.
What types of projects do you enjoy
working on the most?
Mostly fashion-related content and documentaries. Pop culture inspires me, so anything that involves urban and creative content.
I love documentaries — that’s all I watch. I love telling stories — real, unfiltered stories.
What did you want to be when growing up? I always wanted to be a forensic scientist. I’ve always been intrigued by crime investigation TV shows. I would spend a lot of time watching them, which made me want to pursue forensic science.
What do you find most meaningful about the work you do?
The most meaningful thing about editing and filmmaking as a whole is storytelling.
We deliver messages to thousands of people through one video, so the beauty of my job is telling stories.
What part of your job would you like to change or not do at all?
One thing I would change about my job is getting client changes.
Receiving good feedback from a client is all we strive for, so receiving negative feedback after sending your first draft to the client can be challenging.
I love documentaries — that’s all I watch. I love telling stories — real, unfiltered stories
What other work would you like to do?
I would like to produce and also try technical directing.
In the near future, I would like to be a commissioning editor for a network channel. Do you have to balance work you want to do with work you need to do to pay the bills?
Fortunately, the work I love doing pays my bills. I am permanently employed as a video editor.
If I were a freelancer, it would be a different story. — harris.margie@gmail.com