When the average viewer looks at video – they don’t think about the cuts, music selection, or graphics (or the lack there of). Unless there’s something wrong with the video – then everyone will notice it.
Editing (in terms of media production) is the juxtaposition of time and events (the rearranging of events in time to tell a different or more compelling story).
What does that mean?
Have you ever seen or heard the old adage, “Commas save lives!” We here it is…
Let’s eat Grandpa!
Let’s eat, Grandpa!
Both have the same exact text – but without a pause in the right place you say something all together different! The same is true with media production (audio and video) you place, or remove a pause at the right place, remove the audio with a bleep sound and you can have a totally different video.
The other day I found this post on TheNextWeb.com – this shows a video posted my microsoft to show the public how easy it is to host a house party for the upcoming Windows 7 Launch. First off, why is it that it is way too much fun, and way to easy to make fun of microsoft!? Not that I’m a PC guy, have been for year – I don’t own a Mac (but would love to).
Here’s the orginal video:
Here’s the edited version
Note that nothing is said, but may not be safe for work – as a lot can be implied!
This is how editing can portray a negative image of the original message (that’s easy) as any one can take things out of context and make them say anything! People have been doing that for years – what can you do as a producer, video blogger or business owner to make better media with the the help of editing? When you realize that you don’t just have to shoot a video and post it in it entirety you will see video in a completely different way! Some vloggers will hate me because of that last statement – but I’m okay with that. ^~~^
My challenge to you – find a video that due to editing has a deeper impact, or more compelling message. Use the feature in the commenting tool to embed a Youtube video, and tells us all why it is this video has merit, or re-cut it and show us the before and after!
This is so true. I do a lot of narrative work (movies) and being a skillful editor is extremely important. There is a certain emotion that people get when they watch something, and if your edit is provoking an emotion that is unintentional, say, making people laugh when they're not supposed to, then you've done something wrong.
If your video/movie does not have good timing, then this can make or break a scene. Think about it. Ever see in a comedy when they hold out a still shot for a certain amount of time and it makes you laugh? (think of the elevator shot in "Lost in Translation") – If it were a quicker shot, it wouldn't be as funny. Timing is important and if you do not have a great editor on board, then you run the risk of people feeling a certain emotion that was not intended.
I couldn't agree with you more! I was trying to find the scene from that film to show as a example – if you've not seen the film…
Timing is what makes comedy so very tough!
[youtube FNn-2CTXzAw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNn-2CTXzAw youtube]
Here's the trailer from the film…