What 10 Years of Video Editing Taught Me

Winning an Emmy before 20 can make for an intimidating future. It’s sad to say but; video editing isn’t my thing anymore.

I believe those who edit are the noblest of the bunch; making other’s visions come alive after blood, sweat, and tears are shed in the film production process. It isn’t fun to make a film unless it’s your story or you’re a virtuous person.

To be a true editor, you must see a can of celluloid as clay. I consider editors infinity sculptors. Every. Frame. Counts. My theory is every four frames makes a new musical bar. Two frames can make an eye blink, after all.

Many know the expression, “Cut on action.” Lazy. Cut on frames that make the best notes for your piece. Consider 3 frames as a means to give an actor more or less movement; such as opening a door.

Through my winter break, I edited it with all my heart and learned that emotions really do lie on specific frames.

By the end of this editing process, it brought tears to my mentor’s eyes. This film later was what earned me Best Editing in the Rocky Mountain Regional Emmys.

The next time you binge, I challenge you to notice how critical each cut is for an actor’s performance. It’s not that they’re cutting on action; they’re choosing the best frame out of four.

I hope this helps editors make better work in their films. I’ll be editing for clients in the meantime.

(j)

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