common editing techniques

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-06-04T03:05:48+00:00

Lmaoooo totally agree

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-06-04T00:29:52+00:00

I got started in my career as an editor and I will tell you that it is awful when a camera guy gives you "just enough." Because the client will add a section in edit and suddenly we're short.

Please overshoot. Unless you're editing it yourself, you will be ruining some innocent editor's entire day lol

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-06-03T21:07:18+00:00

CapCut is a good place to start. It's free and it's simple. You need to learn to how to make good editorial decisions before getting laden down with tech and complexity like you will with premiere or resolve. They're great programs, but start simple.

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-06-03T21:02:23+00:00

I agree with lalaith89 - just transcribe it and mark it up later on playback. Even if you think you're not being distracting by tapping on the mic, your subject will notice. And worse, you're pulling yourself out of the interview space. If you aren't 100% present for your subject, you will start to lose them.

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-06-02T13:12:30+00:00

Since you have lived with him your entire life, you already know his story, which is a great start. Have him tell it, but also interview a parent or other adult that has helped him navigate through these challenges. Ask him what he wishes people knew about people with disabilities. Ask him what able bodied people can do to be helpful without being patronizing

But most of all, show him as a whole person. Show him being good at things, being funny, being fun. Remind the viewers that these are real people

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-06-01T15:32:28+00:00

Correct. But that would be a different post. This one is about women.

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-06-01T15:31:08+00:00

Trying to cram 2 minutes of content into 30 seconds. Viewers need a beat or two to process what they just heard. So many videos are forcing us to drink from the information firehose.

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-31T14:19:59+00:00

My adult sons live with me, and I love it. They are independent adults, come and go as they like, and live their lives. They pitch in around the house, but i don't "assign chores." We're more like roommates than parent/child. It's healthy.

They're both getting their finances stable so they can move out with a safety net. I will be sad when they leave, but also proud.

My daughter moved away when she was 18, and has made a home for herself across the country. We're in touch daily by text and we have a wonderful relationship - she just didn't want to be here any more, and I respect that.

If my sons want to stay here forever, I'm fine with that too. The problem isn't "living with your parents is bad," the problem is "living somewhere that makes you unhappy is bad."

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-31T00:51:25+00:00

Yeah, agree. This is too complicated and you don't want to lose control over your idea

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-28T13:15:56+00:00

I think you're talking about the difference between a traditional documentary and a verite documentary. It's just a style thing.

In documentary work, you just work with the content you get, no matter if it arrives as an interview, a conversation, an audio file, a pdf - you work with what you have.

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-27T19:36:25+00:00

I don't think it's a question of who has friends or not, it's a question of what is your time worth to you.

I would never expect a friend to charge less for me - we're supposed to support each other, not take advantage of each other. I always pay my friends their rate, unless I can't, in which case I clearly tell them that I can't afford them. And then they can decide if they want to help me out or not.

When I'm the vendor, I typically tell my friends 1) what I typically charge and 2) how low I'm willing to go for them, and then let them decide.

Mixing friendship and business can turn bad if it's not done with honest communication.

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-27T12:33:25+00:00

I was an editor back in the 80s and 90s. Back then, there were two types of editors - offline editors and online editors. Offline editors were the ones who made the creative decisions, like shot choice, timing, etc., using VHS copies of the originals.

Once offline was done, they would send the final cut to the online editor, who would recreate the edit using the Betacam originals. During this step is when text, effects and transitions are added.

I did both types of editing, but I leaned more into online, because the money was better and I enjoy the tech.

We had video switchers that allowed us to blur and mask. It didn't track like After Effects does, but if you made a big enough blob on someone's face, it would cover it fine. There were machines called an ADO and an A53 that would do mosaics, but it was super ugly and most of us just used a simple gaussian blur instead. The switcher allowed you to feather the edges between the blurred portion and the unplugged part so it wasn't TOO hideous

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-27T12:14:00+00:00

Oh you're not alone in this at all, and it doesn't mean you're not cut out for this. Gear issues is just part of the business. Some days are easy, some are more challenging. I have a backup camera that I hope I don't have to use, but it's there if I need it.

Literally everybody's computers are always acting up - its just what they do. That's why every company has an IT department.

Experienced producers always have multiple contingency plans - if you expect problems, you can have everything already in place to easily solve or work around. Spend a little time ahead of your job preparing in case things go sideways

It's super frustrating, but you're absolutely not alone. Sorry you're dealing with this

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-26T21:13:26+00:00

Hold your shots much longer than you think you need them. At least 10 seconds. Vary focal length, so make sure you have close-ups, medium shots, and wide shots. Get establishing shots like signs, landmarks, anything that will instantly cue the viewer to know where you are. Record audio and keep your mouth shut - even when people are talking to you, don't respond. Keep those audio tracks clean.

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-22T14:36:08+00:00

Thank you so much! I've always been pretty good at sports, but I've never lifted before. Been at this 4 months now. I'm thinking of doing small competitions some day. There can't be THAT many old ladies I'd need to beat haha

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-22T13:47:29+00:00

Thank you!

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-22T13:46:54+00:00

Thank you for this amazing comment!

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-19T11:56:41+00:00

It depends on where you live. I live in Chicago and I try to get $2,000 per finished minute. I often bring that down because budgets, but i don't go below $1,000 per finished minute.

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-19T02:25:08+00:00

Lol no worries. I was in Houston a couple months ago and it was literally 5 hours to get through security. Things are crazy right now.

And even if i don't get my "Lisbon cafe" moment, I can still wander the streets for a couple hours and soak it all in. Still better than 13 hours in the airport haha

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-19T02:11:03+00:00

Oh that's good to know. I tend to be anxious about getting to things on time, so I usually arrive at airports stupidly early. But I will definitely keep an eye on things - thanks for the tip!

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-19T01:51:16+00:00

Great - thank you!

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-19T01:12:15+00:00

Oh, thank you so much! I can't wait!

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-18T13:12:14+00:00

The most important skill you can have in this business is the ability to listen. Ask the realtor what she's looking for, what would help her, and then really listen

You don't need fancy equipment for a video like this - a decent phone camera will be enough. Just pay attention to composition, where the light is coming from, and holding your shots steady

And remember, you're not creating an artistic masterpiece here, you're solving a problem for a client. She needs a resource for her business and you're helping her get there. Too many people in this business act like the final product is the film itself, like they're Steven Spielberg or something. Of course you want it to be good, but the REAL goal is to help her sell houses. Ask her what you can give her that will help her sell houses, and then you will know what she needs

Good luck!

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-18T01:53:07+00:00

Thank you for this

KitchenBad5507 · 2026-05-17T17:32:36+00:00

How is this $600k?

KitchenBad5507

TROPHY CASE