One of my favorite parts of the video creation process, and a skill every student in media should learn, is editing. Editing can is the process in which the editor takes video shots and audio elements, and uses other post-production software to combine these elements to create a final video production. Some media students gravitate toward other aspects of the production process but in my opinion, the editing is the most important part of the production.
Some students steer clear of editing because the barrier of entry seems daunting. Editing is a difficult process and a tedious one at that. When editing frustration can build quickly. The shots could have been angled in a way that makes a clean cut seem virtually impossible. When editing you have to be cognizant of the starting and ending positions of the subjects in every shot. It is up to you to make the final product something that the audience can watch and easily understand what’s happening. This stress can be too much for some students who then decide not to focus on the editing process.
The ability to edit has become even more important in digital media. Information is constantly being shared on the internet. Being able to turn around edits quickly is a valuable skill. Learning to edit seems difficult at first, but can be achieved through practice. Like anything, the more you work on editing, the better you’ll be. Taking time to practice and accepting that it won’t be easy at first are good ways to start learning. If there is something you don’t know how to do while editing, look it up. The great thing about the internet is that there are thousands if not millions of users having the same struggles as you. There will be tutorials that will teach you how to do what you’re trying to do.
It will be hard at first, but as you continue to work on editing, you will be surprised by the progress you can make. When you start making edits you feel confident in, show them to people and ask for feedback. Getting other people’s opinions will give you something to think about as you’re creating your next production. If a lot of people have the same negative takeaways, you know what you’re going to have to work on. Don’t be afraid to fail. You can learn from bad projects to make better ones in the future.
There are countless editing programs. I personally use Adobe Premiere but I think a lot of the options are very similar and that what you choose to use will come down to preference. That’s why I didn’t want to touch on specific parts in the editing process as you will do things differently on different programs. If you edit, what’s your favorite part of the editing process? If you’re not an editor yourself, is there any part of editing that interests you?
Comment your answers and share the blog with your friends so we can go on our media journey together.