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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for VFX Editor

💰 $ - $

VFXPost-ProductionEditorialFilm & TV

🎯 Role Definition

The VFX Editor (Visual Effects Editor) is a post-production specialist responsible for the editorial management, technical prep, conforming, and delivery of visual effects sequences. Acting as a bridge between editorial, VFX vendors, VFX supervision, and finishing teams, the VFX Editor organizes shots and plates, creates temp composites, prepares and tracks deliverables, manages media and metadata, facilitates dailies and review sessions, and ensures that VFX work integrates cleanly into the picture and final deliverables. This role demands deep knowledge of editorial systems, VFX pipeline tools, file formats, conform workflows, and strong communication skills to coordinate across production, post, and vendor teams.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Assistant Editor (Editorial Assistant specializing in VFX)
  • Junior/Assistant VFX Editor
  • Offline Editor or Post Production Coordinator with VFX exposure

Advancement To:

  • Senior VFX Editor / Lead VFX Editor
  • VFX Supervisor (Editorial track) or VFX Producer
  • Online Editor / Post-Production Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

  • Conform/Online Editor
  • Compositing Artist (with technical transition)
  • Post Production Coordinator / Producer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Manage the VFX editorial workflow for episodic, feature, or short-form projects by preparing, organizing, and tracking all VFX plates, elements, and versions from dailies through final delivery to VFX vendors and finishing.
  • Create, maintain, and deliver accurate editorial cut lists, EDLs, XMLs, AAFs, OMFs, and Apple/Resolve/Media Composer timelines that support compositing and conform workflows.
  • Conform editorial timelines for online/finish by reconciling offline cuts with high-resolution camera originals, VFX-replaced shots, and updated shot versions; generate and QC conforms for color grading and mastering.
  • Prepare VFX-specific deliveries: create quicktime review comps, EXR/DPX/ARRIRAW stacks, baked-in mattes, and element passes per vendor specifications; ensure correct frame rates, color spaces (ACES/REC.709), and file naming conventions.
  • Manage and administer version control for shots and sequences, including version tracking spreadsheets or ShotGrid/Shotgun entries, and enforce naming/versioning protocols across editorial and vendor submissions.
  • Coordinate and lead VFX review sessions (dailies, vendor reviews, director/prod reviews) using Frame.io, ShotGrid, Zoom, or in-person review tools, document notes, and distribute action items and updated assets to teams.
  • Serve as on-set post-production liaison or remote editorial representative during production to monitor plate capture, slate metadata, lens data, and continuity information required by VFX and editorial.
  • Work closely with the VFX Supervisor and VFX Producer to prioritize shot delivery schedules, manage vendor turnovers, and track dependencies and milestones against the post schedule.
  • Create and deliver temp comps, paint/stabilize/roto proxies, and editorial VFX passes in After Effects, Nuke, or Resolve to visualize VFX intent for editorial, production, and vendors.
  • Maintain media management and archival systems: ingest dailies, transcode to deliverable codecs, create proxies, verify checksums, and ensure redundant back-ups of camera original media, plates, and VFX assets.
  • Draft and package all VFX vendor turn-over materials, including reference timelines, plates with burnt-in timecode, trackable metadata, script/shot notes, 2D/3D camera solve data, and lens/rigging reports.
  • QC and troubleshoot incoming VFX vendor deliveries—inspect comps and EXR sequences for alpha integrity, embedded metadata, color space compatibility, cropped frames, and intended retime—flag and manage re-submissions.
  • Assemble and maintain an accurate shot list and status tracker for editorial and production teams that includes shot ownership, approval status, version history, and delivery due dates.
  • Liaise with colorists and conform artists to ensure VFX elements integrate correctly during grading and final conform; prepare pre-grade deliverables and handle any matching or relighting notes.
  • Implement and document pipeline procedures and best practices around codecs, LUTs, color management, filename conventions, and storage structure to improve efficiency and reduce rework.
  • Integrate audio references, temp sound effects, and guide music into VFX review comps and ensure sync integrity between picture and production audio when handing shots to vendors or finishing.
  • Support editorial by cutting temporary VFX-friendly transitions, plate extensions, and guarding against editorial moves that break VFX work—provide guidance for editorial changes that affect shot geometry or timing.
  • Communicate clearly and promptly between editorial, director, producers, and external vendors to escalate and resolve shot disputes, technical problems, or delivery issues; manage expectations and timelines.
  • Run QA/QC on final deliverables for broadcast, streaming, and theatrical specifications: check aspect ratios, safe titles, timecode continuity, color spaces, closed captioning placement, and final deliverable packaging.
  • Mentor and supervise assistant VFX editors or editorial assistants on ingest, versioning, conforming, and VFX handoff processes and ensure consistent adherence to pipeline standards.
  • Maintain and update reference materials, process documentation, and training guides for the VFX editorial pipeline to keep the team aligned and onboard new hires quickly.
  • Maintain proficiency with new tools, plugins, and automation scripts to streamline repetitive tasks such as transcoding, file renaming, and ShotGrid updates.
  • Support legal, clearance, and archival requests by providing accurate logs, metadata, and visual evidence of creative decisions and VFX iterations.
  • Troubleshoot technical workflows with IT and storage teams when media, networking, or playback failures impact editorial or vendor review sessions.
  • Coordinate with supervising editors and showrunners to prioritize editorial/VFX deliveries for promo, festival, and marketing needs outside the core post schedule.
  • Archive completed projects and maintain searchable references for future use, ensuring that EXR/DPX, editorial cuts, and intermediate files are accessible to post-production and VFX teams.

Secondary Functions

  • Maintain and update ShotGrid/Shotgun or other production tracking systems with shot status, review notes, and vendor assignments.
  • Prepare and distribute daily/weekly status reports and editorial timelines for producers and post supervisors.
  • Assist with budgeting estimates for VFX editorial time and resource allocation in collaboration with the VFX Producer.
  • Participate in sprint planning and prioritization for episodic or serialized post workflows.
  • Support ad-hoc editorial research, archive pulls, and reference gathering for VFX look-development and vendor briefings.
  • Help standardize metadata capture during ingest to improve searchability and vendor handoff reliability.
  • Contribute to post-production pipeline improvements by testing and recommending new plugins, automation, and review tools.
  • Facilitate remote workflows and secure transfer protocols for distributed teams and off-site vendors.
  • Provide backup support for conform, color, and final mastering tasks when needed.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient with editorial systems and timeline tools: Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Resolve (DaVinci) for conformance and editorial workflows.
  • Strong experience with compositing and VFX tools: Nuke, Adobe After Effects, and understanding of basic node/composite workflows.
  • File formats and codecs expertise: EXR, DPX, ProRes, DNxHR, ARRIRAW, MXF, QuickTime—able to prepare vendor-ready deliverables with correct color space and bit depth.
  • Conform and finishing proficiency: creating EDLs, XMLs, AAFs, and doing frame-accurate conforms between offline/online timelines.
  • Media management and transcoding: proficiency with tools like Adobe Media Encoder, Resolve, ffmpeg, or proprietary transcode tools; checksum, LTO, and archive workflows.
  • Shot management and tracking: ShotGrid/Shotgun, ftrack, or similar production tracking tools for shot lists, version control, and review notes.
  • Review and collaboration platforms: Frame.io, Vimeo, Google Drive, Aspera/Signiant, and in-house review tools for distributed approval workflows.
  • Understanding of color management and deliverables: ACES pipeline, LUT application, REC.709/REC.2020, HDR basics, and handoff for color grading.
  • Basic 2D roto/paint and tracking skills for quick fixes and temp comps (Mocha, Silhouette, Nuke or After Effects).
  • Audio sync and editorial support: basic Pro Tools or editorial audio skills to ensure picture-to-sound synchronization for vendor deliveries.
  • Knowledge of camera workflows and plate capture metadata: lens reports, camera logs, B-cam/A-cam management, timecode, and slate metadata requirements.
  • Scripting and automation familiarity (Python, Shell, or Nuke scripts) is a plus for pipeline efficiency and custom tooling.
  • Strong QA/QC processes and troubleshooting: ability to identify dropped frames, color shifts, incorrect handles, black frames, and mismatched frame rates.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management: clearly relay technical notes between editorial, VFX, directors, and vendors.
  • Impeccable attention to detail and organizational skills; manage complex shot lists and version histories without error.
  • Time management and prioritization in fast-turnaround environments; ability to triage work under tight deadlines.
  • Collaborative problem-solver who works cross-functionally with editorial, VFX, color, and production teams.
  • Adaptability and calm under pressure; handle last-minute editorial changes that affect VFX deliverables.
  • Mentorship and leadership; able to train and guide junior staff and external vendors on editorial expectations.
  • Creative judgment to make temporary VFX choices that support storytelling while production-level VFX are being created.
  • Diplomacy and negotiating skills for managing vendor expectations and creative differences.
  • Proactive documentation habits and process orientation to maintain a consistent, searchable pipeline.
  • Confidentiality and professionalism when working with sensitive materials and embargoed content.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in Film, Media Production, Post Production, Digital Media, or related fields. Associate degree with strong portfolio and experience accepted.

Preferred Education:

  • BA/BS in Film Production, Post-Production, Digital Media, Computer Graphics, or equivalent industry training (trade schools, certification programs).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Film, Television & Digital Production
  • Visual Effects, Animation, or Computer Graphics
  • Post-Production Technology or Media Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–7 years of progressively responsible experience in editorial or VFX editorial roles for film, episodic TV, commercials, or streaming content.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of hands-on experience specifically as a VFX Editor or Visual Effects Editor on feature films, episodic series, or large-scale advertising campaigns. Proven record of delivering VFX packages to vendors and supporting final conform/online finishing.
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