College Experiences That Helped an Assistant Editor at Warner Bros Discovery Succeed
An entertainment industry careers class, which included "informational interviews with at least three people," proved invaluable for Morgan's career, leading to their first job. Taking a dedicated editing class and learning AVID software also provided crucial experience, making the transition into scripted television easier, as "everything in TV is generally cut on Avid."
Networking, Informational Interviews, Professional Development, Hands-on Experience, Specific Skill Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Morgan Hinshaw
Assistant Editor
Warner Bros. Discovery
Loyola Marymount University
N/A
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Creative
Scholarship Recipient, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Taking an entertainment industry careers class that included guest speakers and informational interviews.
2. Networking with professionals in the field, even for short informational interviews.
3. Learning AVID editing software in a dedicated class, even if not mastering it before graduation.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
The most important thing was taking an entertainment industry careers class. At the time, it was taught by Steve Meyer, and he was excellent. He brought in people from the field to talk to students.
This gave you a direct person to talk to, similar to this, where you get an actual taste of what a certain job is like. In school, we weren't really learning a lot about specific jobs, so that was really nice.
He told us to take informational interviews with at least three people over the course of the semester. That's actually how I ended up getting my first job. I met with an editor through an informational interview, and he had a friend looking for a post-production PA.
That's how I got my first job, but it would have never happened if we hadn't connected. That's how I really learned the importance of networking, especially for freelance work. Knowing as many people as possible raises your chances.
Even if you just meet for a 20-minute Zoom with someone once a month, it's a good way to let people know you're interested in post-production. It shows you're a great potential candidate for an entry-level job, so that was probably the best advice.
I also took Sharon Mooney's editing class. Taking an editing-specific class and really learning AVID is essential. Even if you're not perfect by graduation, having that experience levels you up.
This prepares you to use AVID when you get the opportunity to go into scripted TV. It won't be the most difficult thing in the world, because everything in TV is generally cut on AVID, not Premiere.