Editing is the stitching together of shots to make the vision of a narrative come to life. An arrangement that reveals information to the audience in the way a filmmaker intends to.
It is a critical part of storytelling! How to say something and when to say it – in film, especially – boils down to how a film is edited. When setting foot into the world of editing, one must prepare for the creative and technical challenges that will come their way.
You can hone your skills in editing through nothing but practice. Your editing software is a box full of tools. As an editor, it becomes your job to find these tools, practice with them and eventually master them.
Here’s how you can learn to edit with ease:
1. Find the right editing software
Pay attention to what you choose to edit on. The editing software is your playground. There are a plethora of options available, some of them cost a subscription fee, and some are free. You could look into practicing on software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, iMovie, and DaVinci Resolve to name a few. Some of the editing apps on the app markets can come in handy too.
Download as many as you can and throw in a couple of unedited shots to try the software out. Get a feel of how intuitively you can maneuver around! Don’t jump to any conclusions if that’s not coming easily to you. Good things take time.
2. Time to practice!
Before you take a big leap into mastering the art of editing; you must observe and learn. Once you’ve made your choice of the software you’d like to start on, explore as many video tutorials on how to edit your footage on them.
Adobe’s Premiere Pro is one of the most undemanding video editing software that you could begin with. There are many tutorials that you can find on how to use Premiere Pro. These videos can help you find the tools faster, understand their uses better and help you execute your ideas with ease. Practice on videos of your friends and family to make the process fun and interesting for yourself!
3. Organizing is key
Don’t skip this step! One of many things that come with being an editor is handling chunks of footage that can drown you if you’re not careful. Before you start to arrange your selected footage on the timeline, be sure to check every video from start to end. Spending quality time while reviewing your footage can save you from a cluttered timeline. It will also help you build your vision for the film as you review it.
Keep your folders and files organized and tidy. If you have text boxes, have them arranged sprucely. After you’re done editing for the day, do remember to make a copy of your current work. That way, you can edit the copy and go back to your previous work if you need anything from there.
4. Pay attention to details
Video tutorials can help you find all the tools you might need while editing. Look into fixing details like color and sound too. Your final edit will look good only if attention has been paid to the details. If you’re following a script, have it accessible at all times. The dialogues can help make decisions like what should come before and what should follow with a scene at hand. It can help maintain continuity too.
Have your screen brightness and system volume at maximum throughout your editing. This will give you a sense of what needs to be fixed with the color and sound.
5. Find your style
Research on the types of editing styles and types. Familiarize yourself with editing terms and techniques. Once you understand them better, you will be able to spot them in movies and videos that you watch. Look into the history of how these techniques were invented and the effect they had on the audience. Try them out on your work.
Don’t be afraid to share your work and receive feedback on it. That will help you get a better sense of whether or not your ideas are translating well for the audience!
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