What to expect during the editing process

26 Aug 2020

What to expect during the editing process

By: Rand

Video Blog Here –  What to expect during the editing process

Ever heard the expression, “We’ll fix it in post.”? It means something will be fixed in the post production process. Like if you have a microphone in your shot.

Unless you’re the heir to a candy fortune or are the grandson of an oil baron, don’t rely on fixing anything in post. It’s the quickest way to have the cost of your budget balloon and your delivery date extended. And with that said, here are a few tips on what to expect during the editing process.

Editing is like working on a giant jigsaw puzzle and it involves a healthy working relationship with your editor. That is if you’re doing a jigsaw puzzle with someone else. Maybe a tandem bike would be a better example. Either way, this process involves patience, good communication, and setting up the editor for success. The best way to do this is to have as good road map for him or her. This road map is the shooting script or outline during the production. Without this essential document your editor is grasping at straws trying to figure out what exactly is going on and how in the world to piece it all together. Let’s go back to the jigsaw puzzle example, that’s looking better now.

It’s like putting together a puzzle without knowing what the final piece looks like.

The first stage of editing is assembling the footage or interviews that are filmed into “String outs” or “selects”. This is essentially selecting the best footage and stringing it together.

Now, you may notice your footage looks very flat, with no color and the audio may not sound great, but that will be added, as it’s more efficient to correct color and sound once all the final footage has been agreed upon, approved and locked. Do it once at the end rather than doing it 20 times along the way. Make sense?

From here it’s simply about cutting, cutting, cutting.

The first versions of a video will almost always be too long and at this point, decisions need to be made about using only the best, most relevant footage. This is where you add b-roll, supplemental footage that supports what is being said on screen by the interviewees. It’s cool because you see your hard work come to life as it starts to take shape. Your own personal Frankenstein, animating to life.

For us, the client offers the final approval and then the video is color corrected, sound mixed, rendered, titles added, music applied, it’s washed, shampoo’d, and a nice bow is added. And there you have it! Your final video. Congrats, it’s done!.

Questions? Contact me.

Rand

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