You’ll end up thanking yourself that you took the time.Īlso, check out this great video on footage organization from Edit Cellar: Move the files into their appropriate organized folder and then go back and relink them in your video editing app. If you work this way, which is of course inadvisable, ALWAYS clean off your Desktop and Downloads folder at the end of the session day. It’s easy to get lazy with file organization when you’re in a video editing session and under pressure – saving files to your Desktop with obscure file names. Check out this article from Premiumbeat that really goes through the finite details of file organization: Good video editing is organized video editing. However long you think the project will take to edit, add 20-30% more as contingency. It’s better to pass on a project that simply isn’t feasible in the alloted time, than to miss the mark on delivery date. Set a realistic timeline, even if it’s longer than what your client desires.
Luckily, I learned to plan ahead for these moments. No matter what I do, no project has ever gone perfectly and I’m usually hit with some issue at the worst possible time. When you begin a project you’re constantly facing a completion date or deadline. Doing your finish edits up front will have you distracted and could wind up being a complete waste of time.īe sure to check out DIY Filmmaking Sucks and the blog for the Raindance Film Festival which give you great insight on the different types of edits. When creating your rough cut focus on the most important aspect of your project: having a solid and concise structure. Don’t do a final mix of your audio in your fine cut. Meaning, don’t start color correcting during the rough cut. It’s important that the process of editing your rough cut, fine cut, and final cut don’t begin to merge into one another. There is a Reason We Call it a Rough, Fine and Final Cut Let’s learn to be quicker with 10 ways to increase your editing speed, but in a way that doesn’t sacrifice quality for time. Let’s be honest, for most editors who work on television, commercial and industrial projects, the faster you are the better (there’s a direct correlation between speed and earning potential). I’m constantly looking for ways to speed up my video editing process. Many times I’ve had to edit my own work, work with freelance editors, or even edit for other filmmakers. The editing room is where the film is made. Does this mean that I never enter the editing room? Absolutely not. I’m primarily a director so I’m built that way. To be completely honest with you, I’m a person who prefers the challenges of the set versus the challenges of the editing room.
We’ve got 10 ways to optimize your time in the editing suite.