{"id":563,"date":"2025-05-21T16:24:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T15:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/studioinsider\/?p=563"},"modified":"2025-06-06T14:48:50","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T13:48:50","slug":"timeline-chaos-the-fast-paced-world-of-tv-editing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/studioinsider\/2025\/05\/21\/timeline-chaos-the-fast-paced-world-of-tv-editing\/","title":{"rendered":"Timeline chaos: The fast-paced world of TV editing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Craig Lomas working in the edit suite for a feature on Blue Peter. (Credit- Craig Lomas) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Deadlines, edits, and 10-hour days, welcome to the life of someone working in TV editing. Take an insight into what it really takes to make your beloved shows so seamless.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The chaos<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Throughout many lessons with teachers, or ploughing through tutorials on YouTube, a basic understanding of video editing has become essential to work in production. However, nothing can prepare you for video editing the cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me of British TV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cYou don\u2019t have time to think about the buttons you press or the software you\u2019re using, it has to be embedded deep in the mind so it\u2019s second nature.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Originally starting as a trainee editor for Christian Channel Europe (a.k.a. God TV), Craig Lomas now works in the world of freelance editing. He works for many different mainstream media companies, most notably, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. He worked on The One Show, Match of the Day, Strictly Come Dancing and other UK staple shows. In his experience, there isn\u2019t a set way he has to edit. No workday is linear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Craig’s view of the Morning Live Comic Relief Fundraiser with Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton. (Credit- Craig Lomas) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


\u201cOur focus has to be the narrative you\u2019re telling, and the way you\u2019re telling. The One Show is a hugely different beast to a documentary for example. The clich\u00e9 of no two days are the same rings true to a point, but depending on the series, sometimes you feel that you\u2019re working in a sausage factory at speed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Odd hours<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Whether its remote or in-house, don’t expect a regular 9-5 as a video editor. You’ll definitely have to work an extra couple hours. That\u2019s something that Craig has had to learn over the years. He\u2019s not alone either, he works with an editing producer from the media company he\u2019s producing for, throughout each day. He has to help him out, because of the constant amount of cuts sent in. The process isn\u2019t individual either, both parties have to work together till its completion.

\u201cOur days are usually ten hours long, though starting times are flexible. I can export audio to a transcription service for the editing producer to pull together the bones of a script whilst I prepare the project we\u2019re working on. We work in tandem, playing a little game of cat and mouse, feeding each other different pieces for the overall package. For example, the editor producer will send over an interview, and while I\u2019m cutting it together, they\u2019re working on the next one, etc.

“I\u2019ll make my own cuts and tweaks to it, feeding that back to the producer too. With our work, and how much we collaborate consistently, there\u2019s a good relationship with each of the producers I work with – trust and mutual respect for all of them and the work you produce with them lead to success for my career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The constant flow of work given as an industry recognised editor doesn\u2019t allow time for a normal day of work. The deadlines are always there, and Craig sees it as a way to keep your work ethic going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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