Video Editing
BackgroundEditing video is really about activating the eyes, minds, and emotions of the viewer. Hollyn (2013) suggests “controlling how the audience feels is determined by controlling what the audience sees”. Controlling the audiences’ eyes is key to effective video editing.
The key here is to understand that the eye goes to what changes (color, movements, position, etc.). How can you use that to help tell the story? In other words, how can change in shots, transition or scenes help to tell the story? The goal of editing is to direct the viewers eye. Story Line DevelopmentThe arrangement of shots in a scene is dependent upon the story you want to tell. Before editing know the story line. The story or log line is the essence of what or who the story is about. As an editor you want to direct the eye of the viewer with an intent of telling the story. Marshaling the shots into a sequence is the art of story telling through video.
You must understand the story before editing. Before editing determine who's video this is, and that should frame each scene and influence the edits. When editing keep an eye on the story line and maintain that through the entire movie.
ContinuityHollyn (2013) suggests that there is a rule of 3s when editing video. Here is the rule:
"the current shot is completely dependent on the shot or scene that came before it, and will indelibly affect the shot or scene that comes after it". Consider how the continuity of perspectives and the transitions from one shot to the next will help move the story along. It is the relationship of the shots to each other that tell the story in a way the understandable and memorable for the viewer.
During editing pay attention to your audience, they should know where they are and what is the subject. |
PURPOSEEditing video is about creating relationships between the shots to tell a story. As a video editor you want to create "lean forward moments" through how you marshal your video clips together in the video editor.
Editing video is not about software but about telling the story. Lean forward momentsThe editing process will culminate by bringing the viewer to a "lean forward moment". Lean forward moments are times where the audience will be engaged in the video more than at any other time. It is often when the video editor wants to activate an emotional response from the viewer. The way the scenes are edited largely determines how effective those "lean forward moments" are. Lean forward moments are often highlighted by closeup shots and or dramatic music.
Activating an emotional response in the viewer is determined by controlling what the audience sees. Sound & MusicSound and music can shape the knowledge that gets activated in the audience. In the following section there is more information on audio:
Further StudyExplore the following sections to better understand effective video editing:
TechniquesTypes of EditsTRANSITIONSTools |