Amber Saunders - Editor
Job title - Editor
Experience - 10+ years
“....remember that there is space for you - there’s space for everyone in the industry, even though there is a lot of competition, there will always be space for you, so keep working! ”
Tell us about your job role and the kinds of projects you work on;
Hello! I’m back again. My name is Amber and I’m an Offline Editor, working on short-form projects. These consist of commercials, music videos, fashion films, short films, and online promos. The type of clients I work with vary with the nature of the job, so all can be very different.
What does an average day look like in your post-production working world?
When starting a new job, I tend to approach them in a similar way but tailor my approach to what I’m specifically working on. An average day starting on a new job would ideally begin with some exercise (weirdly gives me more energy for the day ahead). I would have a little catch-up with my producer(s) about the job and then try and get a call in with the Director. I like to catch up with them, just to see how the shoot went and if there’s any more info I need to know before diving in. I would also be going through the treatment/script to get more familiar and start selecting the footage. I like the selecting process but love the assembly process even more. There’s something about making those first edits. it’s usually just me having fun with the footage before we really get into it.
How did your career in post-production begin?
Before my career in post begun, I was a footballer and really into sports - played for Junior Gunners and tried to pursue a footie career. In the end, it didn’t work out but I really wanted to have a career where I could work on sports-related stuff somehow. I ended up studying Media Production at college & Uni. Directed for a while but I had a lot of love for editing. Editing movement especially. So, I got a job as a runner at a TV post-production company and started assisting. I learned a lot of tech there. Then moved into advertising, assisting at Whitehouse Post. A few years later, I began freelancing. Freelanced for about 3 years (loved it!). And this year, I’ve been represented by Zed.Video which has been a great experience.
Tell us about a career highlight;
I’m lucky to have a few career highlights. One is having the opportunity to mentor. I think it’s an amazing privilege to be able to share my knowledge with other aspiring editors and creators. It’s an unmatched feeling of being able to give back. I’ve been able to share advice/guidance with other people who are working their way through the industry. Another highlight is collaborating with director @ibraake. He is a visionary with great ideas which he’s always willing to push. Really enjoyed working with him on Azède powered by Gucci & we have another little treat coming out soon which has been my fave to work on!
What has been a pivotal moment in your career?
A pivotal moment in my career was definitely joining @zed.video this year for sure. They’re a very special bunch. I’m grateful and honoured to be a part of the family and amongst some seriously talented people. It’s great being able to learn from the best.
Which women in post do you admire?
SO MANY women I admire in post. I wish I could name them all. Working in post as a woman in such a male-dominated industry in itself is a task. So, I admire all of them. It’s nice to have so many strong women around who inspire me and I can speak with and share things with them. It makes it a lot less lonely and makes all the difference.
In addition to that, I’m a number one fan of @laura.ck and a big fan of @mahferraz ‘s work as it’s been inspiring me a lot.
What advice do you have for other women wanting to start a career in post?
The advice I would give to other women wanting to start a career in post is to start editing. No matter what it is, it’s good to just start cutting. Learn different NLE software - it’s great to know as many as you can and you can learn different editing skills from each one. It’s good to be an assistant editor - learning your tech will put you in a good place. Network as much as you can. And not just networking upwards but networking across with other people who could be in a similar position as you. When I was a freelancer, networking with other freelancers probably helped me the most as we would always share knowledge and also share jobs. Lastly, remember that there is space for you - there’s space for everyone in the industry, even though there is a lot of competition, there will always be space for you, so keep working!