What does it take to become a professional film or television editor in 2026?
Knowing how to operate editing software is only the beginning. Today’s editors must understand storytelling, performance, collaboration, post-production workflows, and an industry increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
For aspiring editors looking to break into film and television, learning directly from accomplished industry professionals can provide valuable insight into what happens beyond the classroom.
That opportunity is at the heart of Manhattan Edit Workshop’s (MEWShop) November Six Week Intensive, beginning November 9, 2026, featuring Emmy-nominated film and television editor Lauren Connelly, ACE, as its Artist in Residence.
Known for her work on Netflix’s BEEF Season 2 and numerous acclaimed film and television productions, Connelly will share her experience, creative approach, and professional insights with students preparing to enter the post-production industry.
Early Bird enrollment pricing is available through October 15, 2026.
Explore the Six Week Intensive and Register Today →
Meet Lauren Connelly, ACE: The Editor Behind BEEF Season 2
Great editing often goes unnoticed by audiences, but its impact can define how a story is experienced.
From the timing of a reaction to the emotional rhythm of a scene, an editor helps shape the performances, pacing, and storytelling choices that ultimately bring a film or television series to life.
Lauren Connelly, ACE, has built her career around these creative decisions.
Originally from Chantilly, Virginia, Connelly graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema-Television Production before establishing herself as an accomplished film and television editor.
Her recent work on Netflix’s BEEF Season 2, produced by A24, earned her an Emmy nomination, adding to a diverse career spanning television dramas, comedies, and feature films.
Her television editing credits include:
BEEF Season 2 — Netflix / A24
Mo — Netflix
Gaslit — Starz
Masters of Sex — Showtime
The Strain — FX
The Son — AMC
Connelly’s feature film credits include Sitting in Bars with Cake for Amazon Studios, A Tourist’s Guide to Love for Netflix, and Rodrigo García’s Four Good Days, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and later received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
Working across different genres and formats requires an editor to adapt to distinct storytelling styles, creative collaborators, and production demands.
For students beginning their careers, Connelly’s experience offers a perspective on the creative and professional realities of working in film and television.
Giving Back to the Next Generation of Filmmakers
Beyond her accomplishments in the editing room, Connelly has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentoring emerging talent.
She participates in several professional mentorship initiatives, including the ACE Diversity Mentorship Program, ACE Internship Program, USC School of Cinematic Arts Industry Mentors, and Motion Picture Editors Guild’s Lift Up Women.
She also volunteers with Film2Future, a nonprofit organization that provides professional-level filmmaking education to underserved teenagers in Los Angeles.
Her dedication to education and mentorship makes her a natural fit for Manhattan Edit Workshop’s Artist in Residence program.
As Artist in Residence, Connelly will connect with students, share insights from her career, and provide a firsthand perspective on the artistic and practical decisions that shape professional editing.
For someone just entering the industry, hearing how an established editor approaches storytelling, works with directors, and navigates the challenges of professional post-production can be as valuable as learning the technical tools themselves.
Why Learning Editing Software Is No Longer Enough
The film and television industry has changed dramatically over the past decade.
Editing technology has become more accessible, online tutorials are everywhere, and artificial intelligence is transforming how media professionals approach their work.
But accessibility does not automatically translate into professional readiness.
Knowing how to cut clips together is different from understanding how to construct a compelling scene, manage a complex project, collaborate with a director, or deliver work within a professional post-production environment.
That distinction is central to Manhattan Edit Workshop’s Six Week Intensive in the Art and Technique of Editing.
Designed for aspiring film editors, recent graduates, career changers, independent filmmakers, and creative professionals, the six-week program combines technical instruction with storytelling fundamentals, practical editing experience, and career development.
Rather than simply teaching students where to find tools in an application, MEWShop focuses on helping them understand how professional editors think, work, and make creative decisions.
Six Weeks to Build Your Skills, Your Reel, and Your Career
The Six Week Intensive is an immersive, career-focused editing program designed to help students develop a strong foundation in professional post-production.
Students receive hands-on instruction in three of the industry’s leading nonlinear editing applications:
Avid Media Composer
Widely used in professional film and television post-production, Avid Media Composer remains an important skill for editors and assistant editors pursuing work in scripted television, feature films, and other professional environments.
Students develop an understanding of Avid editing techniques, media management, project organization, and professional workflows.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Students learn professional editing techniques in Adobe Premiere Pro, exploring workflows used across documentary production, branded content, digital media, independent filmmaking, and other creative environments.
Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve
Students gain experience with DaVinci Resolve, developing skills in editing, color correction, and finishing while learning how these processes fit into a modern post-production workflow.
But software is only one component of the program.
Throughout the six weeks, students also explore:
Visual storytelling and film theory: Understanding pacing, performance, scene construction, continuity, and the emotional impact of editing.
Hands-on projects and professional critique: Developing practical editing skills through assignments, instructor feedback, and collaborative discussion.
Professional post-production workflows: Learning media organization, project management, editorial collaboration, and finishing fundamentals.
AI-assisted editing technology: Exploring emerging tools and their practical applications in modern editorial workflows.
Professional portfolio development: Building an editing reel that demonstrates technical ability and storytelling skills.
Career preparation: Developing a resume, cover letter, professional website, and interviewing skills.
Industry expectations: Understanding freelance rates, workplace etiquette, collaboration, and the responsibilities of professional editors and assistant editors.
Avid certification: The opportunity to pursue Avid Certified Specialist certification.
The goal is to help students leave with more than knowledge of editing applications.
They develop hands-on experience, a professional editing reel, stronger creative instincts, and a clearer understanding of how to pursue opportunities in the post-production industry.
The Future of Film Editing: AI, Technology, and Human Creativity
Few developments are generating more conversation in post-production than artificial intelligence.
AI-assisted tools are increasingly being incorporated into professional editing applications, offering new ways to organize footage, transcribe interviews, search media, generate rough assemblies, and automate time-consuming tasks.
Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, and DaVinci Resolve continue to evolve with new features and workflows designed to make editing more efficient.
For aspiring editors, understanding these technologies is becoming an important part of professional preparation.
But learning AI tools is not the same as learning the art of editing.
An algorithm may help identify dialogue or organize footage, but editorial decisions depend on context, emotion, performance, rhythm, and storytelling intention.
Why hold on a character’s reaction?
When should a scene end?
How can an editor reshape a performance through the selection and timing of shots?
What should the audience know at a particular moment, and what should remain unspoken?
These are creative questions that require judgment, collaboration, and an understanding of storytelling.
MEWShop’s Six Week Intensive introduces students to the latest AI and AI-assisted editing capabilities while reinforcing the creative foundations that remain essential to the profession.
The objective is not simply to keep pace with technology. It is to help students understand how to use technology effectively without losing sight of the craft.
The tools will continue to change. The importance of great storytelling will not.
Bridging the Gap Between Learning to Edit and Working as an Editor
One of the biggest challenges facing aspiring editors is making the transition from learning technical skills to finding professional opportunities.
A student might understand how to operate editing software but still have questions about what happens inside a professional cutting room.
How are projects organized and shared?
What does an assistant editor actually do?
How do editors communicate with directors, producers, and other post-production professionals?
What should a professional editing reel include?
How do you approach your first job interview or freelance opportunity?
These questions are essential for anyone hoping to establish a career in film, television, documentary, or digital media editing.
Manhattan Edit Workshop addresses them through a combination of hands-on training, career development, professional instruction, and exposure to experienced industry professionals.
Students receive regular feedback, develop portfolio material, learn professional workflows, and explore the practical expectations of working in post-production.
The Artist in Residence program adds another dimension by connecting students with established editors who can share the experiences, challenges, and lessons that helped shape their careers.
With Lauren Connelly, ACE, joining the November session, students will have the opportunity to learn from an editor whose work spans major streaming platforms, television networks, and feature films.
Why Choose Manhattan Edit Workshop?
Based in New York City, Manhattan Edit Workshop has spent more than two decades providing professional training for filmmakers, editors, and post-production professionals.
As an Avid Learning Partner, Adobe Certified training provider, Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Training Center, and licensed private career school, MEWShop offers industry-focused education for students at different stages of their careers.
Its Six Week Intensive combines structured instruction with practical experience and professional mentorship.
The program is available both in person in New York City and live online, allowing students to participate in real-time instruction and feedback.
Whether you’re a recent college graduate exploring film editing, a creative professional considering a career change, or an independent filmmaker looking to develop stronger post-production skills, the Six Week Intensive offers a structured path toward building your abilities and preparing for the industry.
Start Your Editing Career This November
The November 2026 Six Week Intensive brings together professional editing education, hands-on projects, career development, emerging technology, and mentorship from an accomplished film and television editor.
With Emmy-nominated Lauren Connelly, ACE, serving as Artist in Residence, the upcoming session offers students a chance to connect classroom learning with the realities of professional film and television editing.
November 2026 Program Details
Program: Six Week Intensive in the Art and Technique of Editing
Start Date: November 9, 2026
Artist in Residence: Lauren Connelly, ACE
— BEEF Season 2
Early Bird Pricing Deadline: October 15, 2026
Format: In-person in New York City or live online
Training: Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, storytelling, AI-assisted editing, and professional career development.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re serious about developing your editing skills and preparing for a career in film, television, or digital media, now is the time to invest in your future.
Early Bird pricing ends October 15, 2026.
Register for Manhattan Edit Workshop’s November Six Week Intensive →
Build your skills. Build your reel. Build your career.
Give us Six Weeks. We’ll Give You a Career.
About Manhattan Edit Workshop
Manhattan Edit Workshop (MEWShop) is a New York City-based professional post-production training center offering hands-on education in film editing, video editing, color grading, motion graphics, sound, and digital media production.
With more than 20 years of experience in post-production education, MEWShop provides manufacturer-authorized training, career-focused intensive programs, corporate training, and professional development workshops.
Classes are available in person in New York City and live online, helping aspiring editors, filmmakers, content creators, and working professionals develop the technical and creative skills required in today’s media industry.
Learn more at www.mewshop.com.