Camera Operators and Film and Video Editors

Whether capturing a political protest for the local news, putting together a weekly cable TV program, or creating a scene for a new action movie, the decisions you make as a camera operator or film and video editor will require a combination of creative and technical skills. You'll need a good eye and a steady hand to choose interesting material, decide how to present it, and pick the right equipment or software to use.

Camera operators film TV programs and commercials, videos, and movies. Film and video editors choose images from those that camera operators capture to create a final product.

Are You Ready To...?

• Operate and care for cameras and other equipment
• Work closely with directors and other crew members
• Work with lenses, film, and filters
• Edit raw footage, deciding which images to include and in which order to present them
• Add special effects

It Helps To Be...

Creative, visual, and a fan of gadgets. You’ll need to be a technical expert -- camera operators must know about various types of camera equipment, and film and video editors have to master editing software.

Make High School Count

• Take photography classes, where you'll practice composing a shot, working with light, choosing camera settings, and using filters.
• Join your school’s audio-visual club.
• Take computer classes.
• Work summers or part-time in local TV studios, film studios, or camera and video stores.