SKEWING THE SCENE

Video editing is the most essential component of post-production and we discover how one can leverage its techniques

- ANISHA GAKHAR

Video editing refers to the sequential manipulation of video shots, to structure and present video for films and television shows, video advertisements. Video editing has been dramatically democratised in recent years by technology advancements in this domain, which have eased the procedure and techniques used to get the perfect video shot.

Post-production is the final stage of the video production process. Post-production can also be referred to as the ‘putting together’ stage—a final finishing of the video just filmed. It’s when all the content that has been envisioned and captured, is ready to be pieced together. All the elements of postproduction need to work in tandem in order to make the video work as intended.

While directing and filming are the most essential parts of filmmaking, editing brings it all together in a visually-appealing and entertaining format. Picture the quick-cut transitions and comic editing style of any Edgar Wright movie, for example, The World’s End. The 2013 comedy sci-fi movie is one of the wittiest movies made with the shots edited exceptionally well, and thus, exuding a signature flair of a comedy movie. The frantic and overwhelming opening scene in City of God, also used editing and cutting techniques that one can make use of when putting together a quintessential impactful scene.

EASE OF EDITING

Once the province of expensive machines called video editors, video editing software is now available for personal computers and workstations, making it easier to cut or trim video segments, re-sequence clips, and add transitions and other special effects. Although augmentations in technology have helped catalyse effective and quicker editing, there are a few factors to key in, to make the procedure equally effective and worth the time and effort.

There are different types of video editing meant to cater to different applications.