At least not in Toronto.

I do keep reading about how Avid is still the rock under most pro-level productions for broadcast and theatrical release. But the jobs I see advertised over and over and over are FCP. I have only seen one that asked for familiary with Avid within the last 3 or 4 months here in Toronto. (I applied and didn't hear a word, despite some solid credits to my name.) Curious if others have found this to be true in their home towns. Avid has some catching up to do, it would seem...at least in Toronto. 

Still seeing lots of work here in the states, especialy in broadcast. However, if you are an editor, you can ply your craft on a flatbed if needed. Keep your skills and your hardware/software knowledge up to date and you will always do fine no matter the platform.

sean90291:

At least not in Toronto.

I do keep reading about how Avid is still the rock under most pro-level productions for broadcast and theatrical release. But the jobs I see advertised over and over and over are FCP. I have only seen one that asked for familiary with Avid within the last 3 or 4 months here in Toronto. (I applied and didn't hear a word, despite some solid credits to my name.) Curious if others have found this to be true in their home towns. Avid has some catching up to do, it would seem...at least in Toronto. 

  Being a "lateral-thinker" I can see another take on this statement:

Avid editors are a little older and more mature and still have the old ideas of loyalty to employers. They are reliable and have been working in their present positions for quite a while now and therefore they continue to be employed and new jobs are few and far between.

The younger generation is learning FCP. They don't have the same feelings of loyalty to their employers.. They are switching jobs and loyalties more often as they chase their fortunes. Therefore there are a lot more jobs coming on the market.

The above may surprise and inflame many of you. Especially the younger generation.
I didn't write it to start a war... I just wanted to present another possibility in the analysis of the situation.

Regards,

Douglas (older generation)

drbgaijin:

The younger generation is learning FCP.

 ...Uhhh, it looks like the slightly older generation too (Me) needs to learn it, as I'm starting to hear more and more how local digi-independent productions are demanding cuts on FCP. What do the producers care what it was edited on as long as the job is done well, on price, and on time ? We used to be able to ignore FCP, but its presence is starting to be felt around Montreal's post production services market. Adobe Premiere, which I used to loathe, is making a big comeback under CS3 & CS4.

drbgaijin:

They don't have the same feelings of loyalty to their employers.

....I would say their employers no longer have any sense of loyalty to them as well.

drbgaijin:

Avid editors are a little older and more mature and still have the old ideas of loyalty to employers.

.... Avid needs to get some younger folks using their product as well. There are other older ideas which need to change too - Like brand loyalty. Who was it on here who wrote about using the right tool for the right job ? Maybe, we have to get FCP and Premiere in here and switch back and forth to suite each client's particular needs ? Maybe certain kinds of jobs work better with Avid, like film match back or digi-film out jobs @ 24 fps ? Perhaps music videos and short form projects which are heavily graphics oriented are better on Premiere in CS4 or FCP ?

I was on a contract from August 2006 until last Friday (9/26).  So, I've been "on the market" for less than a week and have managed to get myself booked solid (sometimes double-booked the same day doing an evening edit as well) through October.

On Monday, I was doing an edit from home.  Tues, I met with a prospective facility for possible freelance work, Wed I was booked for the day at a production facility, today I met with two more prospective facilities about freelance work and Friday I was originally booked to go back to the place I was at on Wed, but got notified late this evening that they don't need me.... so I'll just jump back on the project that I was cutting on Monday at home. 

All of these facilities that I visited are Avid and have either just upgraded to v3.0 with NitrisDX or are planning to in the near future.  I don't see any shortage of Avid-centric opportunities at all.  If anything, the proliferation of FCP and "young people" (I'm 34) has made it easier for me to get work

 I have to agree with Kenton i get more work specificly because i use  avids as for where i work i have been in mexico and texas for most of the month and am going to canada next week for 12 days maybe cause all the editors up there are on fcp

i dont know but im now complaining of to much work freelance take all you can next month may be slow

tompearson:

take all you can next month may be slow

Yep.. I agree with that too.

I rarely turn down work, I try to juggle my schedule as much as I can in order to accomodate jobs.  For two reasons mainly, 1)  if I don't do the job, someone else will and the people doing the hiring may bypass me altogether the next time and 2)  you never know when the well will dry up.

 so true and remember producers look at the last show and hire the same crew

tompearson:

I have to agree with Kenton i get more work specificly because i use  avids as for where i work i have been in mexico and texas for most of the month and am going to canada next week for 12 days maybe cause all the editors up there are on fcp

 

...Yes, it seems Canada (My neck of the post woods -Central & Eastern to be more specific) are getting FCP happy and the number of editors of high profile in network TV and independent post who work on Avid in Quebec number five in total. I'm not claiming these are the only editors in Quebec working on MC, just that the rest are working In House as employees of private firms. I am the only editor working on MC in the digi-underground film to festival-to Internet group. This area is almost exclusively FCP territory.

.....In the United States & Western Europe, it would seem the grand majority of post work is on Avid almost exclusively.

tompearson:

 so true and remember producers look at the last show and hire the same crew

 

 ....Yup. This is absolutely true. What's changed for us is now the producers are asking us what post equipment we work on and I don't ultimately see what difference this makes as long as they get the service they want at the price they're willing to pay in the quality they need. Some producers have specifically asked if I cut on FCP. I never turn down work. However, I suspect one producer this year didn't hire us because we don't edit on FCP.

sean90291:

...the jobs I see advertised over and over and over are FCP.

I would agree that almost anywhere there are more jobs advertised for FCP editors than Avid editors.  However to imply that this means "no work for Avid editors" is a far stretch from the truth.  Many post jobs are never advertised.  Typically a client needs a project edited and they pick up the phone and call one of their trusted freelance editors - no need to post the job if you already know someone capable of getting the job done.  The key to getting the call is to get on their list.  Getting "on the list" involves a lot of networking and of course talent.  It's about making the most of the opportunities to prove yourself.  It doesn't happen overnight, it takes time to build up a client base.  With regards to Kenton's fast pace I suspect he has an existing reputation as a quality editor in his market so he filled his dance card rather quickly.

 

The other factor to consider is the quality of the jobs that are publicly listed.  A lot of the advertised FCP jobs are seeking the low bidder.  That's not a game you want to play.  Getting the jobs that are not advertised means that you are being hired because the client feels confident that you can get the job done.  When they trust that you're the right editor for the job they will pay much more than the low bid.  Something to think about.

 

I'm not saying that all FCP jobs are low bid.  I'm saying that there a jobs out there for both Avid and FCP that pay well but aren't publicly listed.  Again, get on the list.

 

I think you've got it exactly right, Haze.

good luck,
Carl

Kenton.VanNatten:

I was on a contract from August 2006 until last Friday (9/26).  So, I've been "on the market" for less than a week and have managed to get myself booked solid (sometimes double-booked the same day doing an evening edit as well) through October.

On Monday, I was doing an edit from home.  Tues, I met with a prospective facility for possible freelance work, Wed I was booked for the day at a production facility, today I met with two more prospective facilities about freelance work and Friday I was originally booked to go back to the place I was at on Wed, but got notified late this evening that they don't need me.... so I'll just jump back on the project that I was cutting on Monday at home. 

All of these facilities that I visited are Avid and have either just upgraded to v3.0 with NitrisDX or are planning to in the near future.  I don't see any shortage of Avid-centric opportunities at all.  If anything, the proliferation of FCP and "young people" (I'm 34) has made it easier for me to get work

But thats because your half way there using a MAC

 I am one of those Older Editors... though, no one has asked me what system I use. They ask me to edit and the system I choose is Media Composer. FCP has a flashier interface and cutsie icons, but the most rock-solid, best tool set, best work flow and industry standard system for me is the Media Composer. And it just keeps getting better and better!

 

By the way, I just had a carpenter do some work in my home, I never asked what model hammer he used.

.= I'm always busy and I've never even read any ads.