Video Production Editing

Many households now own at least one type of video camera, and many small businesses have invested in one as well. However, many are put off from using them more often, because of limited results from their first attempts. People often think that the technology in the cameras will get them a finished film straight from the camera – and are so often disappointed when they look at what they have filmed.

Unless you are a very accomplished camera operator, or you are extremely lucky, then the film that you shoot with a camcorder will not be at it’s best. Even when in a studio, with experienced actors, things go wrong. Lines are stumbled, noises interfere with the sound, or you just want to try a shot again. It is possible to wind the videotape back, and record over. However, this will require the precise starting of the re-recording which can be difficult with a small camera monitor screen. Even then, it will be more luck than anything else, to get a smooth cut between shots.

A much easier way of achieving a professional looking film, whether for home or business, is to use a video production editing package. You can then spend as much time as you want getting it right, and trying different edits. Such packages are now available for both PCs and Apple Macs at a reasonable price. Many offer much more than just editing, with features such as titles, effects and CD / DVD production as well.

Video production editing (also called off-line editing) is the stage of filmmaking where the video shots are gathered together, and cut and placed in the right order. Mistakes and errors can be identified and removed, correct shots inserted instead.

Often, filming will not be done in the final time-line order. A studio may be booked for an afternoon, and all ‘in door’ filming has to be done within those few hours. Location outdoor shots may be done days before or even weeks after, which then has to be placed between the studio scenes. It is also likely that actors / presenters may not be available at the same time, or you don’t want to pay for an actor to sit around for half a day, whilst you film another.

The video as it comes out of the camera, will be a mixture of scenes that may or may not be usable. Each of which, needs to be identified and logged, compared to the original script, and then editing can start.

The video production editing process actually takes these individual scenes, and places them in the correct order. There will also need to be titles inserted, special effects, and visible mistakes removed. All this whilst maintaining a flow and beat – if short cuts are placed in the middle of a sequence of long cuts, it will stand out to the viewer. To do this requires great skill, both artistically and technically. A badly edited film can be jumpy, and difficult to watch, even if everything is in the right order. The editor will also be the first to see the production come together, and as we all know, a well thought out plan sometimes doesn’t quite work – the editor needs to make it work.

If you are still not convinced of the importance of editing, remember that along with leading actors and directors, there is also an Oscar awarded for editing!

It is important to plan for editing when filming. Remember, if it’s not in the camera, you can’t edit it! Make sure the camera is properly white balanced. Use the built in functions, or better still a white card and set the camera manually.

When filming a shot, you may need to role the video for a few seconds before the action starts. Some consumer camcorders take a second or two before they actually start recording. This can result in a ‘clipped’ start, and there will be little that can be done afterwards. Always give a few seconds from rolling the cameras to starting the action.

Likewise, give a few seconds after the action has finished before stopping the camera. This will allow the editor to ‘pace’ the film much more easily. ‘Trailing’ the film is especially important for when a fadeout is planned – it can take much longer than you think. If you have a professional actor / presenter, they will not mind standing there in front of the camera. If you are presenting yourself, you may well feel self conscious about it. Well, presenting / acting is not easy – just be prepared for it.

Video is cheap. Even if you get it right, think about doing it again. A choice of good shots when editing, is better than being forced to use one shot.

Finally, have a shooting plan and log each shot. If you can, make notes about problems with a shot, and which felt right.

Adobe are well known for their image manipulation software – Photoshop. It is perhaps the most widely used image manipulation package, both at home and in business. However, they also produce a video-editing package called Premier. As with Photoshop, it is available in 2 releases, Pro and Elements, the latter aimed at the home user.

Premier is an easy to use system, with a wide range of features. It has a very non-intimidating user interface that most users will feel comfortable with. Not only does it allow easy editing of the video, but it also has a library of special effects that can be applied to a video with a simple drag-and-drop. Titles, transitions and full integration of Photoshop make this a powerful editor for all but professional studios.

Actual editing could not be easier. Keyboard shortcuts or mouse clicks can be used to cut a video to individual frames. Fade-in / fade-out is an easy operation, and multiple videos can be placed over each other – each with individual animated transparency.

When editing is complete, a DVD function allows a DVD with animated menus to be mastered. This means Premier can be used from start to end of the post production phase.

However, you will need to check the computer hardware you use. There have been reports of problems with the Elements edition, with certain graphics cards, and problems with editing HD video. However, Adobe is a major software company, so fixes should already be available. Well worth considering and easy to use editor.

Another video production editing software package is Sony’s Vegas Movie Studio. It is perhaps less well known that Adobe Premier, but don’t let that put you off. This is an excellent package that offers a lot for the money.

When you first start it up, the interface is not as slick or friendly as Premier. Controls and functions are not so to hand, and the screen is a bit cluttered. However, after using it for a short while, you will see that this editor holds a lot of ability, and things quickly come to hand.

As you would expect, it has a wide range of video effects and transitions that have parameters that can be edited. This means that the effect (within reason) that you want will be there – but takes more time to achieve than with the easier interface of Premier. There are also vendors who sell add on effects, so what can be done is almost limitless.

Vegas will integrate with most graphics packages, including Photoshop. Backgrounds for green screen effects are easily imported. In fact, if you are green screening, the Sony Vegas has a very flexible composite function that will allow excellent results from consumer camcorders. There are also additional packages for sound editing, and music compilation – Cinescore. This can produce royalty free music of any length and style – ideal for holiday videos.

Vegas is excellent for HD video, offering seamless editing and previewing. Finally, it also has DVD mastering as well. Sony Vegas is an excellent editing package for most users – and if you have just spent a good few hundred dollars on a HD camcorder, another hundred on or so on Vegas will help you get the best results.

The cost of producing a video on dvd or on the web has fallen dramatically in recent years. A consumer camcorder can now film in height definition and is good enough to do green screen effects that used to take full studios to achieve. They are handy enough to use on family holidays and events, and cheap enough that businesses can invest in one for staff training / sales production. However, the true benefits of these camcorders can only be found when the video is edited. Only then you will the final production you were hoping for. If you are thinking of investing in a camera, you should also put some aside for the editing software as well. You won’t regret it.

See you at the Oscars.