An exciting development toward the end of last year was a number of initiatives launched by ADE (Alliance of Documentary Editors). I was happy to join ADE in 2021, and, while I wasn’t directly involved in these recent efforts, I’ve been thrilled to see them get out into the world.
BIPOC Doc Editors is an amazing resource, with its database of BIPOC doc editors, as well as guidelines, calls to action, and other initiatives, all serving to help create the edit rooms we need and deserve.
The Guide for Documentary Edit Schedules clarifies things like humane work hours and expected timeframes, and more. It covers a lot of things I’ve tried to solidify in my own mind, but seeing it in writing with the backing of research and solidarity has been tremendously helpful.
Hiring Resources includes the BIPOC Doc Editors Database, but also expands to other great resources, some of which I’ve known about, like Brown Girls Doc Mafia and The Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship lists, and some that are new to me. I’m so grateful to these groups for making the craft of doc editing stronger and more inclusive.
Associate Editors – Also throughout these initiatives there is a recurring call to action to elevate the role of associate editors, those emerging editors whose work already falls (or could if given the chance) in between assistant and full editor. The idea is that the professional and mentorship ladder in edit rooms is broken, and a creative junior/apprentice role could help fix that. With coordinated efforts, it could become an industry standard.