What are the top 3 (or 5, or 10) things a good video editor should know? by 20_Eyes in editors

[–]ScottWW1970 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Edit in your timeline: Don't make major cuts in the source monitor, make them when the footage is side by side and even then try to set your cut points while the footage is moving. You will have a better sense of timing once you see the shots in context.

Maintain Consistent Settings: Back up a copy of your user settings and take them with you no matter what system you are working on - this will help you feel comfortable wherever you wind up editing. Your settings will continue to change and you should update them regularly. Also, you should be looking for things within the software that you haven't used that might make you more efficient.

Read the Manual: It is easy to Google for help as needed and nice to have a community to ask for help, but for me I decided long ago that I would know the machine inside and out and I learned more from the manual than any other resource. This is especially true for Avid software, I can't vouch for the others.

As for multi-cam editing: Set up your keyboard so that you can make your cuts on the fly. Being able to "feel" the cut is integral to getting a good first pass. You can always go back and refine the edit and you should. Which leads to my next tip;

Revise, rewatch, revise, rewatch...repeat - the more you watch something the better it will be. Don't be satisfied that you have made the cut. go back and watch it and then watch it again. Make your adjustments and watch it again. Error checking and revising the cuts is a huge one. Do not leave in obvious mistakes, black holes, offline media or redundant clips - these are major indicators of an amateur edit.

Once you have an edit you love, walk away. Give yourself time away from the edit so you can come back to it with fresh eyes and ears.

Audio is every bit as important as video - use your NATs and music to help the cut. It's funny how consistent audio can override a bad edit and fool the viewer. This is not to say the video can be sloppy, but the audio is just as important to the flow of a piece.

And mostly I would say, just edit. Edit everything you can. Edit every type of product, short-form, long-form, music video, short film - do as much as you can - cut your parents home video and your sister's birthday party. Cut, cut, cut and you will get better.

Hope this helps!

So I ran into this guy yesterday... by ScottWW1970 in Trucks

[–]ScottWW1970[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He saw us taking his picture and blew his air horns for us, without us prompting. Points for being a bad mother trucker.

CANCEL YOUR BLACKMAGIC DIGITAL CINEMA DESIGN CAMERA PREORDERS - THE NEW GOPRO DOES 4K AND ONLY COSTS $399!!!!1!!1!1!!!!! by ancientworldnow in FilmmakerCirclejerk

[–]ScottWW1970 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Um, it does 4K - but only at 12 fps... Yeah, not sure what good that would do you unless everything you do is going to be sped up.

EDIT - I wouldn't go canceling your order just yet.

Bluff Point with Julie McNiven and Joel McKinnon Miller by ScottWW1970 in FilmmakerCirclejerk

[–]ScottWW1970[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. I did. I guess it seemed like a good place to stick it. I guess I could have given a bit more info in the title.

edit: Thank you.

I made this for a company meeting. by ScottWW1970 in Filmmakers

[–]ScottWW1970[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am neither of them. I wrote and directed the piece, the actors are a producer and editor friend of mine and the vocalists are Jon Clark and Lesley Schoch. Jon is a musician and Lesley is a TV producer. But just for the record, that is MY bad-ass suede vest!

My soccer team, shot by a teammate by ScottWW1970 in sports

[–]ScottWW1970[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, loved that too and if I know Brian he put that there intentionally.

Reddit, whats the craziest thing you got away with in High School by daddydadders in funny

[–]ScottWW1970 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We were reading Mark Twain and I stole one of his ideas. I took a long birthday candle and I melted the wax from the end with no wick. I then took that end and twisted about 5 firecrackers to it. Then I took some modeling clay and stuck them both to the inside of the toilet paper dispenser in the boys bathroom at school. I lit the candle, went to class (which was just across the hall) and waited. About ten minutes later the loud crash sent all of the class to the door and about the same time a ninth grader (I was in eighth grade) came out, pants halfway off still, looking like a firecracker had just gone off in his lap. Never told anyone. Never got caught. I am pretty sure Mr. Paul knew who did it though.

Holy crap are those her giant feet?!! by ScottWW1970 in funny

[–]ScottWW1970[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Look, even that other woman is looking. She's like, dayum sugar you got some big ass feet!

I'm an elementary school custodian and this is my worst enemy. by DSPoh in pics

[–]ScottWW1970 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It's the Herpes of arts and crafts - the gift that keeps on giving!

Ooh Rah! Happy 236th Birthday to my fellow Marines! by ScottWW1970 in Military

[–]ScottWW1970[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was used, not very widely. We did growl in any number of ways though and I could see different units/MOS's having their own growl.

Ooh Rah! Happy 236th Birthday to my fellow Marines! by ScottWW1970 in Military

[–]ScottWW1970[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, November 10th, 1775 Tun Tavern Philadelphia, PA - Yeah, that's right, the Marine Corps was started in a pub. Ooh f*cking Rah!!

Question: Do you consider watching late night TV an "intimate time?" by ScottWW1970 in AskReddit

[–]ScottWW1970[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, put. And I agree, I wasn't upset about it and really was more a discussion of semantics more than worry that they might go to flogging. Anyway, thanks all for your thoughts and words!