Video Production Editing
for Documentaries

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What Is Video Editing?

At its simplest, video editing it’s the placement of shots one after the other in a sequence.

Where it gets complicated is finding the narrative and rhythm of the story: the storytelling.

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Tips for Video Production Editing

1. Know your footage intimately.
   Make sure you’ve seen ALL the footage available and are intimately aware of all the elements, including photos, graphics, audio clips and music. Log your tapes and STUDY your footage.


2. Lay-out the key elements of your film.
   Start placing all your favorite elements on the timeline and watch them through in its rough form to start “feeling” what works. Your building blocks are usually the key nuggets of emotion or moments (significant or subtle) that reveal some element of your story.


3. Start building the basic structure.
   Narrow down your story into a beginning, middle and end. A typical storyline starts with a problem, progresses into a crisis and then gets resolved somehow in the end.


4. Create a compelling beginning.
   Great documentaries capture the audience’s attention right away! It can be style or content, but it must be something that feels unusual to the viewer. If you don’t create intrigue and or rouse curiosity, you will lose your audience. One idea is to start with something already deep in the story, then you can back up and slowly begin to reveal answers.

[Helpful hint: Sometimes the beginning of the film is not obvious until you’ve edited the bulk of your film. So just put SOMETHING down at the beginning to get you started, then you can go back.] 


5. Build a “Roller Coaster”
   Once you have the basic story structure in place, this is where you start creating the filmmaking experience. Change up the rhythm of your story. If the story has the same rhythm, no matter if it’s all fast or all slow, it will “feel” slow and boring. There needs to be fast sections and slow sections. Take your audience on a RIDE. Mix up the pacing with high points and low points. Take viewers on a “wild ride” and then let them breath. Create chaos and then let the event “sink in”. Remember, silence can be just as powerful as a fast paced sequence.


6. Refine and Re-edit
   The only rule in video production editing is to do what WORKS. Refine and re-edit until it’s right. You can have the greatest quote in the world, but if it doesn’t move the story forward, cut it out. Do not get emotionally attached to any piece of footage or interview. Either it works or it doesn’t. Also, it is not uncommon during an edit to realize that what you originally planned for the middle or end of the story is actually better at the beginning or vice versa.
   
   

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More Video Production Editing Tips

“Good Cut” vs. “Bad Cut”

How do you know when you’ve edited a great story? 

You know you’ve edited a great story when you aren’t thinking about the video production editing or how the story is put together. You are simply absorbed by the story and what’s going to happen next. If you are taken out of the story for any reason, it means you have a “bad cut” and it needs to be fixed. However, a “good cut” is when the story has been edited in such a way that when the edit happens, it creates an emotional response. For example, a cut between a “before” and “after” shot can create a dramatic effect. Or, cutting video clips to the beats of music can create a “fun” response. 

What is a jump cut?

A jump cut is usually considered a “bad cut”, but not always. A jump cut is when two shots of the same scene are edited together in a way that creates an unnatural flow. It can be jolting to the viewer. However, some filmmakers use it purposefully for artistic effect.

If you’re going to have a jump cut, have a series of at least three (3) so that the audience gets comfortable with this style. They need to understand that it’s not just a random jump cut or mistake, but that there’s reason behind it. 

A word about music...

Don’t overdo it. Use it to “compliment” your existing footage.

If you have a very strong emotional moment, music may take it over the top and make the audience feel the moment was “forced” on them. However, if you don’t have a strong emotional moment, but want to convey emotion, that’s when music can be most helpful. Music is also a great way to help the viewer transition from one scene to the next and can help carry the story. 

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Video Editing Software

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Final Thoughts on Video Production Editing:

Keep it SIMPLE. Don’t try and be coy when you’re editing. If there is something the audience needs to understand, make sure they understand. Ask yourself, how would I explain this story to a 10 year old? It must be THAT simple.

Take breaks. If you’re struggling with a sequence, walk away or work on a different section. It’s easy to lose perspective when staring at the same footage for hours at the time.

And finally.. watch a lot of documentaries. Get a “feel” for what works, study the techniques and be inspired.

I hope these video production editing tips have been helpful.

Happy editing!

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