Assembling the material.
WHAT THE PROCESS IS
Import and organise Select the usable takes Assemble a rough structure Refine the timing Add sound, music and graphics Colour correct Export
WHY ORGANISATION FIRST
Searching for clips consumes more time than editing does.
WHAT TO DO ON IMPORT
Name clips meaningfully Mark the good takes Group by scene or subject
WHAT A ROUGH CUT IS
The structure, without refinement.
WHY IT COMES FIRST
Polishing material that will be cut is wasted work.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH EARLY
Whether the piece works at all.
WHAT PACING REQUIRES
Removing anything that does not advance the message.
WHAT MOST EDITS NEED
To be shorter.
WHY
Attention falls sharply, and every unnecessary second costs viewers.
WHAT TO CUT FIRST
Openings that delay the point Repetition Pauses and hesitation Anything you kept because it was hard to film
WHAT J AND L CUTS ARE
Sound leading or trailing the picture across a cut.
WHY THEY HELP
They make transitions feel smooth rather than abrupt.
WHAT TRANSITIONS TO USE
Straight cuts, almost always.
WHY
Elaborate transitions date immediately and distract.
WHAT TO REVIEW
The whole piece, with fresh eyes, before exporting.
