Editing Techniques and their Importance

Editing is incredibly important in making a successful music video. Even if the rushes are superb, if the editing is not done well - it can ruin the video.

Orson Welles stressed the importance of editing when he said: "For my vision of the cinema, editing is not simply one aspect; it's the aspect".

Before I started to edit, I wanted to research the different editing techniques that are used so I could use these techniques as I edit my footage:

1) Continuity editing is used to allow the audience be drawn into the music video and not be distracted by 'obvious editing'.

2) Parallel editing is used to allow the the audience to see that two story lines/narratives are progressing at the same time throughout the music video.

3) Cross cutting is used to allow the audience to allow the audience to see that two groups/events or characters are converging/coming together, to show a link between the two.

4) An editor would use match cuts to allow the audience to see the events on screen from a variety of positions; this helps hold their interest.

5) A shot reverse shot is used to allow the audience to see a conversation or conflict from both sides, alternating between viewpoints.

6) An eye line match is used to see what the main character was looking at (the object was out of the frame at the the time).

7) An editor would use a cross fade transition to show that time is passing; it can create atmosphere and smoothly take the audience from one shot to the next.

8) Slow motion is used to understand that the action onscreen is significant, dramatic or powerful.