What this life looks like
You shape the story after it is filmed. Video Editors take raw footage and craft it into a compelling, coherent film, series, advertisement, or online video through the art of editing — selecting the best takes, controlling pace and rhythm, building tension, and collaborating with directors to realise the film's final form. In a world drowning in video content, skilled editors are more in demand than ever.
What she actually does
You log and organise raw footage, build an assembly edit from director's selects, develop the edit through multiple cuts in collaboration with the director, cut to music, integrate sound effects and dialogue, work with colour graders and visual effects artists, and deliver the final edited content to the required technical specifications for broadcast, streaming, or digital release.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Post-Production Houses | FilmOne Post (Nigeria), Grid Post (SA), Triggerfish (SA), Livespot Studios (Nigeria) |
| Television Broadcasters | Africa Magic, SABC, NTA, KTN, GTV — all have internal editing departments |
| Advertising Agencies | Noah's Ark, Ogilvy Africa, TBWA Africa — agencies need editors for commercial content |
| Digital & Social Media | Content agencies, YouTube channels, corporate communications departments — growing freelance market |
Why it matters in Africa
Nollywood's enormous output, Africa's booming social media video economy, the growth of corporate video production, and the expansion of streaming platforms have created insatiable demand for skilled video editors across the continent. It is also one of the most accessible entry points into the screen industries — editing software can be learned at home.
Your pathway in
- Learn editing software: Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve (free) are the industry standards — both have excellent free tutorials
- Practise by editing YouTube content, student films, or family videos — volume of practice is key
- Offer to edit for filmmakers and content creators for free or low cost while building your portfolio
- Study the work of editors you admire — watch films and analyse how scenes are cut
- Join a production company as an editing assistant to learn from professional editors
Skills you will need
- Adobe Premiere Pro / DaVinci Resolve
- Storytelling through editing
- Music and sound editing
- Colour grading basics
- Attention to detail
- Collaboration with directors
A woman in this field
Aluta Mlisana
South Africa
Aluta Mlisana is a highly accomplished, multi-award-nominated South African film and television editor. Known for her flawless sense of narrative pacing, continuity, and dramatic tension, she has shaped the visual storytelling of some of the biggest streaming hits and peak-television dramas on the African continent. Her extensive editing credits include major global and regional productions such as Netflix's hit series Savage Beauty, Unseen, and the comedy-drama Miseducation, as well as M-Net's crime thriller White Lies and the acclaimed psychological thriller series Reyka (Season 2). For her outstanding technical mastery in the cutting room, she has earned multiple South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) nominations for Best Achievement in Editing across both TV Comedy and TV Drama categories, solidifying her status as a top-tier post-production professional in the contemporary African screen industry.
Take your first step
- Download DaVinci Resolve for free at blackmagicdesign.com and complete one of the official beginner tutorials — this is professional editing software used in Hollywood
- Edit a short video about your school, neighbourhood, or a topic you care about — post it on YouTube and invite feedback
- Watch the documentary 'The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing' (available on YouTube) — it is the best introduction to the art of editing
- Research the post-production houses in your city and reach out asking about shadowing or assistant editor opportunities
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