CHOICES IN EDITING

We could spend days on this subject but I will try to keep to the basics. When you get your video to the editing stage you have to have choices to make things work.

I don’t care what your subject is. Make sure you a have master or wide shot of things. Then go in for a more detailed look at things (medium shots) and follow this with close-up shots of more fine detail.

Always include reactions to the subject matter (people observing things etc.) When you get to editing you have to have your coverage (all the shots needed to make editing work)

Make sure there is at least a three times change in image size from the master to the Medium and to the close-ups.

If you’re going to zoom into the subject, zoom in first without the camera running, focus on the subject then pull back. Start the camera; hold on the wide shot for at least 5 seconds, zoom in slowly to the close-up and hold for another 5 seconds. Now if you don’t like the zoom or you screw it up for any reason, you can use the wide shot and then go directly to the close-up. Without using this technique you are stuck having to use the zoom. Like I said it’s all about having choices.

Cutting on action is an old established editing technique. If you have a wide shot of someone sitting, have them do the same action again in a medium or close shot. Now when you get to editing you can cut the shot on the action of sitting, which will carry the edit nicely and make the cut seem smooth.

You don’t want to bore your audience so make sure you have a variety of shots both, wide, medium and close.

Never assume that just because you can read whatever it is on the sign in the background that your audience can too. No no, always get an insert shot of what is on the sign. (An insert, is a close-up of some object so that the audience gets the point)

Ton’s more info in my “Video Bible” book. Click the link below.

 http://www.barrycasson.com/the-video-bible

Contact me about coming to do a video workshop for your group, your high school or college in your area.

Cheers, Barry