Film Editing, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

Description

The Major in Film Editing, part of the Master’s Programme in Film and Television, is a continuation of the bachelor’s studies in film editing. Bachelor’s studies in this major provide an outstanding foundation for master’s studies.

The technical, expressive and vocational foundation for film editing has been laid in the BA studies. The aim of the MA degree is to develop the student into an expert of viewing and seeing, a storyteller and an artist. Mastering the structure and expression of a feature-length documentary and a feature fiction film are at the core of the teaching. The goal of the education is to impart a capacity for pursuing further studies.

The aim of master’s studies is that the student discovers their own way of working and is able to plan time use appropriately during the editing process in a large production. In film editing studies, the student learns to master the artistic, production-related and technical entity of their professional field through course teaching and exercises that gradually become more demanding. The goal of teaching is to strengthen the student’s skills and development and critical thinking in accordance with artistic vision. In addition to the teamwork skills essential to the job description, studies emphasize the importance of personal time management and stress tolerance.

Graduates with a major in Film Editing can process the structure of a full-length film and manage large amounts of material, schedule their own work in relation to the demands of production. They understand the requirements for making visual effects and can proportion digital post-production to their work. Film Editing studies provide the student with a good foundation for becoming an independent artist who has the skills to renew film expression and specialise in film expression research or use their visual dramaturgy skills in other areas of narration and communications.

Please see the intended learning outcomes of the study option at the Programme page.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction in the Master’s Programme in Film and Television, major in Film and Editing is English.

Tuition fees and scholarships

The tuition fee for this programme is 20 000 euros per academic year. Citizens of European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland do not pay tuition fees. Citizens of other countries must pay tuition fees.

Aalto University offers a small number of scholarships in the form of tuition fee waivers to fee-paying students. Scholarships can be awarded to the highest-achieving applicants based on the programme's evaluation criteria. Applicants are ranked according to the criteria outlined on the programme's webpage.

More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.

Structure of studies

A student studying the Major in Film Editing at the master’s level deepens their skills and vision in dramaturgy and film editing. The teaching consists of workshops and lecture modules built around various changing themes, and advanced studies in the theory of this work.

The major provides deeper knowledge of film structures and film editing theories. The student has the possibility to expand their cinematic knowledge in the direction of filming and sound design and select studies to support their own area of specialisation from the cooperation platform of Aalto University and the University of the Arts. Practice productions focus on the editor’s vocational practices in the areas of fiction, documentary and animation film.

The education is mainly based on practical learning by doing, individual work and direction and dialogue-based interaction. The student deepens their knowledge of traditions and modern trends in the field.

The task of a film editor is to assess the functioning of the screenplay, find the final form of the film in the recorded material and produce the intended emotional impact in the viewer. A film editor needs the ability to be empathic as well as to understand interpersonal interactive relations and the wider and deeper meanings of the narration. A film editor needs to have a good idea of film history and the expressive devices of various genres. A good image reading ability, a sense of rhythm and the ability to perceive structures provide the boldness needed to produce new solutions during the editing process. Communication skills and the ability to cooperate are the basic requirements for progressing in the profession. The main focus of master’ studies is on managing large entities and the long format.

A personal study plan (HOPS) is drawn up separately for each student according to their interests. Tailored minor modules support the student’s development. For example, he/she can specialise in actual film editing, digital effects or move in the research direction.

Studies in the master's programme include departments joint courses (30 ECTS) which are obligatory. These courses deal with entrepreneurial and working life skills, analytical skills, and provide research skills.

More information on the programme content and curriculum can be found in the Student guide.

Specialisations

Film Editing is one of the majors in the Master’s Programme of Film and Television.

Each student creates their Personal Study Plan (PSP), which is a practical tool to define a student’s own study path, compiling an optimal selection of courses that are aligned with the student's interests and programme requirements. PSP is also a useful tool for students to keep track of their studies. At best, it shows where students are with their studies and sets concrete milestones for them to follow.

Internationalisation

Internationalisation is seen and realised in the education by encouraging the student to complete part of his/her studies in international exchange programmes or internships. International visiting teachers and students enrich the teaching and help students network. The students attend international film festivals and represent the films they have edited. Various international film events, seminars and workshops are an essential part of teaching the major.

Further study opportunities

Graduation as Master of Arts offers a solid base for doctoral studies either at Aalto University or any other university in Finland or abroad.

Career opportunities

The Major in Film Editing, part of the MA in Film and Television, equips the student with the ability to master the creative editing process of a long film in the areas of both fictional and documentary film. A precondition for original and independent thinking is understanding how the viewer’s experiences are produced. Self-knowledge and awareness of one’s own artistic quality and working process are a precondition for working together with various directors.

Graduates can work as head editors in fictional, documentary and animation films. Graduates have been employed is those very positions in different production or TV companies or work as independent professionals or entrepreneurs. They are able to edit demanding material anywhere in the world, depending on their language skills and connections. Graduates can also apply for further studies and become researchers or teachers. The majority of Finnish full-length cinema film editors have graduated from the Department of Film / Film Editing. Film editors with an MA can also be employed in digital post-production positions.

The School of Business at Aalto can recommend entrepreneurship studies. Recommended minor studies include dramaturgy courses at the Theatre Academy in the University of the Arts and courses in the Space and Time programme at the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts. Recommended studies for those with a special interest in the topic are programming courses at Aalto University School of Science, which can provide qualification for working in the game industry. The personal study plan provides the student with support in reaching his/her goals.

Film editor with main artistic responsibility for short or feature-length fictional, documentary and animation films; film dramaturg; editing consultant; visual effects designer and technician; film industry entrepreneur.

Research focus

Research at the Department of Film and Television creates understanding about the means of expression and the production process. The research orientation (practice based research) is based on the fruitful dialogue of theory and practice. You can find more information about the Department’s research and research groups from: https://www.aalto.fi/fi/elokuvataiteen-laitos-elo

Co-operation with other parties

ELO has co-operation with University of the Arts, especially Theatre Academy. Furthermore, there is co-operation with companies and other operators, like the Finnish Film Foundation and other organizations in the industry.

Contact information

Learning services of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

For enquiries regarding programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Aalto ARTS Learning Services.

arts-admissions@aalto.fi

Admissions Services

For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admissions Services.

admissions@aalto.fi