About me

Covering Letter

Dear Sir/Madam,

Hello, my name is Daniel Longstaff and I'm currently working as an Avid editor for a video production company called eDv Productions based in Notting Hill. Since graduating in 2005 with a BA in Media Production I have worked as a VT Operator for Ascent Media before moving into the role I have a real passion for, editing video. I'm a very artistic person and I'm also very technically minded, and I love using industry standard software to be creative and tell a story.

I first learnt how to edit video whilst at University where I specialised in video production. There I used Avid Xpress DV to cut together a number of short film productions. I now use Avid Xpress Pro to work on a number of projects for eDv Productions. eDv describes itself as "the personal moving picture company" and specialises in privately commissioned films. These involve documentaries and Biographies on people and families, as well as creating film montages from family videos to tell a story. I have undertaken a number of projects for eDv where I have created a number of films for the company's clients. I enjoy this immensely as I get almost complete creative control with my work. I discuss with the client what they want from the film, and then with the guidance of a senior editor, I create a film they will be happy with. My editing style can vary depending on what is required of the film. For storytelling pieces I can pick out interesting clips from a wealth of footage and use them to creatively tell a story. For montage work I can edit clips to music, often to a beat, to crate aesthetic visuals. For any corporate work I am given I can sit in an edit suite with a client and use my technical knowledge and good communication skills to create the film the client envisaged. On the projects I have worked on since I have been at eDv I have received a lot of good feedback for my work.

Before I got my first job as an editor I worked as VT Operator for Ascent Media, which was based in Stephen Street studios, located just off Tottenham Court Road. This was post production broadcast work which involved a lot of work for the Discovery channel. My main duties were to make copies of programmes using various formats. This involved Digibeta dubbs, Beta SP dubbs as well as DVD recordings. Whilst I was at Ascent Media the company sent me on a proffesional industry standard training course that taught me how to use Digibeta machines, Beta Sp machines, waveform monitors, PPM meters and vectorscopes. I was taught how to wire up machines and produce QAR reports on a programme that was ready for transmission.

I am now looking to use the knowledge I have and my creative skills to try my hand at editing different kinds of footage. I would also love the opportunity to work on different kinds of Avid editing software. I have sat in and observed as well as occasionally assisted in Avid Symphony and Avid Adrenaline suites and I would love to create a project with these systems.

I'm hard working, enthusiastic and a team player. Attached is my CV with all the relevant information you will need, I hope to be hearing from you soon.

Daniel Longstaff