Today (in the Philippines), it’s relatively easy to get a job in a call center. Good pay… work late nights… hot chicks – are just some of the perks. But the stress might kill you.

Now, think about this – almost all companies are looking at the web to make their marketing campaigns via viral ads, youtube or videos in their sites or blogs. That’s why my fearless forecast for the coming months is that video editors will be in great demand. How can you cash in?

One more click…

Video editing may seem hard but it’s not. I learned my basic video editing skills the old fashioned way: self-taught. It may seem daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a piece-o-cake.

Here are some short tips on how to get started

1. Start small – one of the best tools to get your feet wet is found right on your Windows PC – Windows Movie Maker. Give it a test-drive and easily edit your home videos from there. You can also do some downloading and “remix” them on movie maker. Movie maker will be a great starting tool. Once you master this, you’re ready to do some serious learning.
2. Observe – go to sites such as www.g4tv.com or www.youtube.com to see how the pros do it. Also, great web commercials and trailers are a great way to be inspired and to learn from the best
3. Do some research – buying a book or “googling” your way to information will be a boon. I found some interesting video editing tutorials over at wonderhowto.com. Check ‘em out.
4. Practice! Practice! Practice! – nothing beats this. Be passionate in your work and the rewards will come naturally.
5. Study – If you’re going to college, you might want to take Mass Communications or Film Making as a major. Nothing beats formal education. You’re sure to get a job right away after you graduate.

A lot of companies are now looking for editors. In fact, we already have our own department to manage and do all the video requirements for our games; the multimedia department under the leadership of Joey Allarila. At first, the trailers and editing were done by our Creatives or Prod Dev guys. But the load just grew bigger and bigger. With a lot of titles, we needed to call in the big guys to do it now. Thanks to the multimedia guys! They rock!

Again, my 2009 forecast – video editing will be a big demand. I hope you’ll be prepared if you think this is for you. Remember, if you love your job, success is sure to follow!

Peace out!

GM T

* Special thanks to Bryan Karl dot com for featuring me as one of the 3 succesful bloggers in the Philippines