Simon Cade at DSLRGuide has once again managed to briefly and simply describe a process that many new filmmakers may find extremely complicated: Editing. Have a look and start developing some good habits.

For me personally, editing is not a science. It’s not something you can just do by the numbers. Rather, it’s something deeply personal; a process of trial and error, eventually ending up with an edit that just feels right. Sure, there are certain rules – or suggestions – to follow that will make your final cut a pleasant viewing experience, but think of these rules as the framework within which you experiment. My point is this: Don’t get caught up in how other people edit, and instead focus your energy on developing good editing habits that will allow you to effortlessly try out all the many crazy things you can think of. And that’s really my take-away from Simon’s video. Develop good habits in terms of organizing your footage and your projects. Get creative from there.

Take a look and give it a try.

 

If you’re just getting started on your first edit or if you’re trying to figure out whether or not you’ll be able to edit your own film, also check out this article on 6 Things I Learned From Editing My Own Film.