About Me

I hate this bit. Yeah, I know people like to know a bit about the people they’re working with, but it still smacks of “hey look at MEEEE”.
God, I’ll be starting a blog next. Er, no, not really.

I'm a creative, hard working, speedy, accurate and good-humoured editor based in North West England but happy and willing to work anywhere. I have accommodation always available for when I have jobs in London.

You can find my CV here, but the credits only show my recent projects, not the full breadth of my experience.

I am told that big strengths are my attention to detail, in content and technical issues. I have a sharp storytelling ability, an editorial / journalistic mind with quick, sound judgement, stemming from a long career in the industry with many hours of controversial and entertaining programming behind me. I understand compliance issues and potential legal pitfalls, but also have a breadth of experience across many technical situations to know how to get the best out of content, people and resources.

I have also been told that I have a rare ability to turn my talents to any genre. I'm as equally at home stitching You've Been Framed! as I am constructing hard-hitting docos on Tonight or Crimefighters, crafting polemics and reasoned arguments on Don't Get Me Started and Investigative Reports, having fun with children's programmes like Hider In The House, bringing human interest stories to life in factual entertainment shows like How To Look Good Naked, or splicing fast-cut promos and montages in the X Factor style.

So you want whooshes? Yes, I do those. Whip Pans? Yes. Speed Ramps? Yes.

Don't want any of these, but just want a good solid watchable programme? Of course!

Tight deadlines? Up against transmission? Love it!

Need your editor to understand effects and graphics, as well as the traditional editor's domain? I'm your man!

Corporates? Yes, those too!

I bring my expertise to the edit, but also a wealth of technical gubbins and tons of extras - I've invested in literally thousands of royalty-free graphics, wipes, flashes, moving backgrounds, fonts, royalty-free music, and five full HD royalty-free stock footage libraries. Yes - beautifully shot in slo-mo for great speed ramps, GVs of skies, seas etc etc - all for no extra charge.

Anything else? Oh yes, a 90,000+ strong sound effects library, many in Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

And full, legal versions of all my software - Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Studio 3, Avid Media Composer 5.5, Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac...

17 years experience on Avid, and Apple Certified Pro on Final Cut Pro 6, Motion 3 and Soundtrack Pro 2, so I officially do know what I'm doing!

I'm also internet and new media savvy - if you need versions of your show for online, mobile or DVD distribution, I have the skills, know-how and equipment to provide those, from a clip onto YouTube to a fully-authored sell-through DVD.

I have my own SDI-capable gear for hire at very reasonable rates if required - Avid Adrenaline and AJA IO, for FCP.

Vital Statistics

Name: Neil Stewart
Gender: Male
Age: 47
Birthday: 1st May
Status: Married
Based in: Warrington, UK
Education: B.A. (Hons), Leeds University
From: Bretton Hall College, Wakefield
Subject: Theatre Arts
Other Qualifications: 10 ‘O’ Levels, 2 ‘A’ Levels
Occupation: Freelance Video Editor

Early Days

After leaving Bretton Hall College of Higher Education (the visual arts college of Leeds University) in 1985 (B.A. Hons. Class II (ii) ), I became an instore radio presenter (don't laugh!) with Radio Top Shop.  Over the years I progressed to become Studio Manager for the company which ran the northern version of Radio Top Shop and eventually moved into video production for the newly formed FTV (Fashion Television), Topshop/Topman's instore TV station at Oxford Circus in London.

Avid Training

Trained by Avid's (then) Chief Editor Barry Stephens to use what was then the only Media Composer 8000 outside London (AVR 26 pictures - yummy!) I've since made thousands of programmes, including network programmes for ITV1, ITV2, BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4, A&E Network (USA) and MTV, regional programmes for Granada Television, Shop! and Live TV, and numerous pop promos, commercials, sell-through videos and high-end corporate material.

Final Cut Pro Training

Trained at NTI Birmingham and Cryptic Peach, Manchester, I currently hold Apple Pro Certifications for Final Cut Pro 6, with a pass rate of 88%, Motion 3 (94%) and Soundtrack Pro 2 (100%)