Video Editing or Journalism? How to create your own path…
I was 16 years old when I had my first article published in a publication. It was only in the Croydon Advertiser but that rush it brought me was amazing. Someone was going to read my writing! That thrill would continue throughout my life whenever I got an article published or an edit on air - the first experiences of this always stick with you.
Hello, my name is Holly and I am a Video Editor and Motion Graphics Designer and I wanted to start these blog posts by telling you a bit about myself and how I got into the world I love.
I wanted to be a journalist from a very young age. Music was my first love but I found out very early on that it was an industry that was impossible to become a part of and I was never going to be a pop star, those dance routines will have to stay at home and be performed at talent shows.
Then at seven years old something amazing happened - Top Of The Pops Magazine took my question and asked Billie Piper what was on everyone’s lips - was she still dating Richie from Five. Seeing my words posed to a pop star that was huge at the time was really exciting, especially for a child. Another mindblowing moment for me as a child was when Tess Daily took me by surprise by saying my name out on air on SM:TV Live and asked Darius my question! It was experiences like this that made me realise that journalism was the path for me!
However, at 16 another world was introduced to me by my media teacher and my world would not be the same again.
Video editing.
We had to do a video project in groups for our GCSE grade that was a short film. My teacher introduced me to Final Cut Pro before the project really started as he thought I would enjoy it - from that first time he taught me the basics my life changed forever. It was mesmerising. I would spend hours editing, I would miss lunch breaks, I would stay after school so that I could finesse our opening title sequence to our version of Big Brother.
Editing was my calling and even at 16, I hate to say it, I knew I was good at it. I loved the way you could be creative and also cut footage to tell narrative in precise and innovative ways.
The issue was - back then I didn’t know that was a career option - or could be.
So, I still pursued the journalism route and anytime I could edit I would give it my all - scoring nearly full marks in every editing task I was given at A Level Media and Film Studies.
It took me a long time to realise that you could video edit as a career - I never really believed it as it was too fun to do, it didn’t feel like work.
Getting in the door once I realised this - I discovered that was an issue.
When I first realised I wanted to work in television, it was really hard if you didn’t have a contact, a family member in the industry or I hate to say it the fact that I was female going into a male dominated role.
I spent my twenties mostly battling to prove my worth with both good and bad experiences along the way (which I will talk about at another time) . I was determined and I didn’t give up - I pushed as I was so focussed on getting someone to notice what I could do.
As I have got older and I have worked in many different fields, I have realised that if I didn’t have that attitude I wouldn’t have got into television. It helped build a strong work ethic as a freelancer and has pushed me to always learn the latest trends and programmes along the way.
I don’t have to worry about whether I want to be a journalist or an editor anymore because I make my dreams happen in my own way. In 2015 I wanted a place that I would be able to write - so I created a website called The Phoenix Remix. In the ten years it has existed as a hobby, it has grown to over 60,000 readers, I get to work with a lot of PR companies, everyone from Avalon to PR Companies in Boston. I have also had the chance to interview some music and comedy heroes.
When you are a kid, you are made to believe that you have to have one dream and one job in mind. However, that is not the case. I have made my dream roles become a reality but it wasn't through the easy path - it has been a huge fight. Through all the stress, the tears I have cried and the rejections time after time, I have never given up and I never will!