Brainstorming an idea for a video. Check.

Storyboarding the plot. Check.

Shooting the video. Check. 

Editing the final cut. Nope. 

 

Everything has been completed and you just left this final step to take. Arguably, editing is as important as all the other steps in the production of a video. It is where the magic happens, where you put together what you dreamed for the audience to see. No doubt, the pressure is high to make a good edit to express yourself properly through your works. Here, we share with you a few tips that might provide more directions for you. 

1. Finding (and maintaining) the appropriate pacing

Pacing determines the tone of a story. Appropriately pacing ensures that each integral part of the story (the beginning, the build up of tension and the climax) is well understood by the audience as they are given the needed time to register, process and absorb. 

And because time is of the essence, there is a greater need for us to use it properly and allocate the necessary durations to express the message clearly to our audience.  

 

2. Selecting a suitable audio 

Audio greatly affects the audience’s ability to connect with the visuals playing on the screen. Regardless of its functions as an OST (original soundtrack), backdrop or sound effects to highlight certain elements, having the right one would amplify your work. Selecting one that matches what you are trying to convey would enhance the visuals and resonate with your audience.    

 

3. Colour-correcting the emotions 

Similar to audio, colours serve as an additional and strong amplifier to the visuals on screen. Colours do represent certain themes and emotions and these reach the subconsciousness of the audience, aiding them in developing a better understanding of the message conveyed. 

Playing up the correct colours to compliment the main emotion of the scene would be as equally powerful as the shot itself or having the right audio effect. In order to create a wonderful scene, none of these things should be neglected. 

 

4. Removing yourself from the materials

After working on the same materials for a long period of time, one might become desensitised to it. Taking a breather by removing yourself temporarily might help clear your head and refocus on what effect you intended to have on your audience. Also, looking at it when fresh eyes might serve as a new form of inspiration for editorial directions.