Sebastian Barker
Video Editor for ChrisMD
Bio
SAE Liverpool Film Production alumnus Sebastian Barker has built a career in digital content production, working as a full-time video editor for popular YouTube creator ChrisMD.
After graduating from SAE Liverpool, Sebastian moved to London to place himself closer to the centre of the media and production industry. Early in his career he joined SAE London as a CST, where he worked alongside talented staff and students, built lasting friendships, while gaining valuable insight into professional production environments.
During this time, an opportunity arose to apply for an editing role with ChrisMD. After a rigorous trial process, Sebastian secured the position and has since been working full-time editing content for the channel. In just eight months, the videos he has contributed to have generated more than 15 million views: bringing comedy-led football content to audiences around the world.
For Sebastian, one of his proudest achievements is the scale of audience connection his work has helped create. While view counts can feel abstract, he often visualises the impact by comparing it to filling Emirates Stadium – which holds around 60,000 people – hundreds of times over. Knowing that the content he has helped craft has reached millions and brought laughter to viewers is something he finds genuinely rewarding. Eight months in, and it still does not feel like he is going to work.
Sebastian credits SAE with giving him the technical foundations needed to enter the industry, from camera operation and lighting to editing workflows and production practices. However, one of the most valuable lessons he took from the course was the importance of professional etiquette on set – something emphasised by his lecturer Carl Copeland. He quotes:
“How you conduct yourself matters more than how much you think you know. Talent gets you through the door. Character keeps you there.”
Sebastian believes that reliability, respect and openness to feedback are what ultimately sustain a career in production.
Reflecting on his time at SAE, Sebastian describes the experience as a turning point. After previously leaving a Computer Science degree at Loughborough University and spending several years unsure of his direction, discovering film production at SAE as a mature student gave him the structure and focus he needed to pursue a creative career.
His advice to future students is simple: get involved in everything. During his studies he worked across multiple roles on student productions – including sound engineer, director and First Assistant Director – experiences that ultimately strengthened his understanding of filmmaking and made him a better editor.
For Sebastian, stepping outside his comfort zone during his studies proved invaluable. It not only broadened his skills but helped him discover new creative interests while building the collaborative mindset essential for a career in film and digital media.
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