Grierson DocLab In Focus: Unscripted Editing is now open for applications. In continued partnership with Netflix, this year’s iteration of the editing training programme seeks candidates with strong Avid experience who have a passion for unscripted shows.

The programme will provide up to eight successful applicants with:

• An intensive training programme to familarise them with this wide-ranging genre
• Mentoring from an industry professional
• The opportunity to network at the Grierson Awards (also known as the British Documentary Awards)
• The potential to be matched on a Netflix production on a paid placement

Together with ongoing support from The Grierson Trust, trainees will also have access to networking events, professional development opportunities through a programme of webinars, and join the ever-growing Grierson DocLab Alumni network which provides continuing peer to peer support.

What does the programme cover?

The programme will involve a unique schedule with leading industry professionals, covering topics such as:

• Understanding large scale shows and their different workflows
• An overview of who is involved on productions and in post-production
• Case-studies to illustrate the variety of shows that unscripted covers as well as the challenges involved in making them
• Hearing from leading industry creatives involved in the edit
• A discussion on ethics and a workshop on resilience, self-care plus dealing with complex and difficult subject matters
• The art and craft of finding a characters’ narrative in the edit.

Trainees will be loaned a laptop for three weeks preceding the training week and loaned rushes from a Netflix show to watch, in preparation for an editing exercise undertaken over the week to embed their learning.

Each successful trainee will also be provided with a one-year, Media Composer Ultimate license, by Avid, one of our programme supporters.

Who Should Apply?

We are looking for people passionate about unscripted content who have the drive to work on large-scale, multi-camera, multi-location projects.

We’re looking for editors:

• With a nose for a good story and the knack for spotting an engaging character arc
• Who are looking to get stuck into complex workflows for different programme needs
• Who want to step up their editing skills on some big, landmark unscripted series.

From being on location editing stories on the fly to being based in the post-house taking ownership over story strands, unscripted editing work is as varied as the content it produces and needs highly skilled editors to bring stories to life.

This year’s editing programme pivots from the previous iterations as it is essential that applications are from those who are already experienced in Avid. Your technical skills may have been honed at a post-production house in the machine room, via working on branded content or digital media. You could be self-taught, working on independent projects, or you may have gained the skills through a less formal pathway. You may already be a Junior Editor or Editor seeking a new career challenge to step up, or across from another genre.

Candidates for the editing training programme are expected to have strong Avid editing skills at the time of applying. This is a change from the previous two years of the editing initiative. To reflect the level of experience that the programme is seeking to attract, successful candidates who are placed on a Netflix show will be paid at industry rates, based on experience (plus holiday).

The Trust particularly encourages applications from people currently under-represented in the industry, including disabled people; those from ethnic minority backgrounds; people from the LGBTQ+ community; those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and more. We also encourage candidates from geographical areas across the UK that do not have many opportunities in the screen industries to apply. This is in line with the positive action provision of the Equality Act 2010.

Applications will close on Thursday, 16 November 2023 at 5pm.

Webinar

A Discovery Webinar with members of the Grierson DocLab and Netflix teams is being held on Tuesday, 10 October at 6pm for prospective candidates to find out more about what it takes to be an editor for unscripted.

Closed captions will be available and the webinar will be recorded for those who cannot attend.