Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/600849
22 CINEMONTAGE / FALL 2015 who assists the editor in all facets of the film or television program — from dailies to special effects to turnover, including sound and music. The editor is a department head; the editor's assistant is a job title worthy of embracing. Offers Cahn: "An AE sounds like someone who can be replaced; an assistant editor does not." "In my mind, the value of our jobs isn't determined by an abbreviated title," counters Cenkner. "It's determined by the quality of our work and the equal respect we're given by other members of our team in any given situation. And as long as that integrity and respect is maintained, by all means, call me an AE for brevity's sake." It's apparent that many assistant editors — particularly those who've entered the business in the last decade — do not mind the AE title because they think "assistants" get coffee, and that the term doesn't matter because it's their work that defines them, not their title. "I'm not promoting the title AE; in fact, I couldn't care less — which is actually my point," opines the unidentified assistant editor. "My self-worth is not determined by whether someone decides to use my full title or its initials. People respect me and my position not because of my title, but because of my experience, my knowledge and the quality of my work…and I wouldn't have it any other way." The American Cinema Editors, together with the Editors Guild, is fighting to gain picture editors recognition in awards categories at film festivals worldwide (all the other comparable disciplines are already represented), through the Petition for Editors Recognition (see www.editorspetition.com). We need all the help we can get. Respect is a cumulative effect, just like every edit and every frame is a cumulative effect; that's why one or two frames do make a difference. And yes, a title does matter. Why do you think people make Deal Memos prioritizing and guaranteeing their titles? What do you think would happen if everyone started calling directors "DTs?" Except that would never happen; everyone has too much respect for the craft to dare call a director by such an abbreviation. Let's have too much respect for our craft to call an assistant editor an AE and perhaps — just perhaps — cumulatively, assistant editors can get more respect and that may lead to better pay. Let's not refer to them in the same manner as we do unskilled production assistants. I have jeopardized several jobs fighting for my assistant editor (in more ways than one) and, when addressing studio heads or producers, I always refer to my assistant with a title that represents him or her in the most favorable light. And trust me; it's not, "my AE." "Editorial is a very old profession that has its own traditions," says Miller. "When we join the brotherhood/sisterhood, we adopt those traditions. There are lots of old-fashioned terms that are the traditional lingua franca of our trade; 'assistant editor' is one of them." Upon considering this, the anonymous dissenter concedes, "AE is just lazy speech. But if that's your cause, more power to you. I'm tired of the inevitable corrective responses if I utter those two heinous letters. So yes, I acquiesce; let's all stop using AE so I can stop hearing people incessantly complain about it. Agreed?" Agreed. Now…can we start to discuss how to utilize our journeyman structure to help assistant editors and new editors climb the creative ladder to attain the highest level of their art? Editor's Note: Guild members, what are your thoughts on the use of the term AE for assistant editor? E-mail your opinions to AEdebate@editorsguild.com. Please include your name and classification, and we will publish a selection of responses in the next edition of CineMontage. You may request to be credited as "Anonymous," but you must include your real name and classification regardless. f "The value of our jobs is determined by the quality of our work and the equal respect we're given by other members of our team. As long as that integrity and respect is maintained, by all means, call me an AE for brevity's sake." "To refer to assistant editors by initials rather than their Guild-conferred artistic title is to allow management to define them. And I cannot possibly convey how eager management is to disempower us all."