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Hi Ian! I just wanted to say that your video style is incredibly unique and fun, it’s the reason I’ve decided to present you with this question. I’m currently in a program at my school that gives me access to camera equipment, premier pro, and all the film equipment I could dream of. I think I’m fine with cameras, but when It comes to editing, I feel like I have a harder time creating what I want. Next year, my capstone project will be a 30 minute short film, and I’m trying to get better at editing so that I can produce something I’m proud of. And although I am always trying to improve my skills, I always feel like I’m working really sluggishly and not producing something that could be such a better product. Do you have any general tips on how to edit more efficiently and just better in general? I know my way around the basics but I’m still relatively amateur and am open to any help.
Admin Reply by: ian
Hmmm that's tough! When it comes to editing for film, I was taught that the best edits are the ones that go unnoticed. Unless it's intentional, you want to make every cut "feel" normal, and you want to choose shots that the viewer isn't going to be jarred by. But how do you actually learn how to do that? Toughie. Along with watching tutorials and reading books about editing, I'd recommend watching movies/TV shows that are similar in "feel" to the kind of movie you want to make. But instead of watching the movie for fun, really pay attention to the editing of the movie. What edits do you like, and why do you like them? What about the ones you don't like? You don't want to directly lift ideas from another movie or anything, but studying how other people do things is a great way to get inspiration for yourself.
When it comes time to actually edit your film, try not to like... look at it too long? Which I know sounds hard to do. But you need time to look away and rest your eyeballs. Look at a different scene for a while, or a different movie altogether, that way you can look at your own project with fresh eyes. You want to be sure that you're editing it for people that are seeing it for the first time, which can be hard to do when you're looking at it 24/7.
I hope some of these tips were helpful! Like anything, editing is an area that you'll get better with over time, I feel like it's just something you have to do a bunch to develop that inner gut feeling that helps guides you on edits. Best of luck with your short film!
When it comes time to actually edit your film, try not to like... look at it too long? Which I know sounds hard to do. But you need time to look away and rest your eyeballs. Look at a different scene for a while, or a different movie altogether, that way you can look at your own project with fresh eyes. You want to be sure that you're editing it for people that are seeing it for the first time, which can be hard to do when you're looking at it 24/7.
I hope some of these tips were helpful! Like anything, editing is an area that you'll get better with over time, I feel like it's just something you have to do a bunch to develop that inner gut feeling that helps guides you on edits. Best of luck with your short film!
