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10 Tips for Video Post Production

I have spent a lot of time trying to improve my photography and filming skills.

Filming something well is almost identical to taking a good photograph. The same principles apply.

Learn how your camera works. Give some thought to how to take a good photograph or video clip. If you do not do that then even the geekiest post production expert will not be able to create a masterpiece for you.

So I try to film things right first time rather than relying on computer wizardry.

Equally as important is to give thought to the story you are trying to tell before you film anything. Obviously this is difficult when you do not necessarily know what adventures are going to unfold. But try your best to visualise what shots you want to capture. There are few things more frustrating than to begin editing your film and realise in a flash that you forgot to film x, y and z.

Having said that, be careful not to shoot too much either. When I first began filming my adventures I definitely shot too much. This makes editing phenomenally time consuming. In extremes, the quantity of footage you have to edit can even crush your spirit to the point where you never get round to editing your story. On my first microadventure (walking a lap of the M25) I shot 24 hours of footage in just one week! Even though I know it would make a wonderful short film, I have never summoned the resolve to sit down and begin wading through all that footage.

This is an article about post production. But I have deliberately not yet mentioned anything about post production. That is because it is not important! That’s not true. It is vitally important. But it is not the most important aspect of film making. Here, one last time, are the two most important things to remember:

  • 1. Shoot good footage (make sure to get good quality audio too – it’s more important than you imagine)
  • 2. Think carefully to make sure you shoot all that you need to shoot (but not too much)

And so, on to the post production side of your travel video. I must stipulate here that I am not an expert at all. If you need advanced or technical advice, I am afraid I cannot help you.

But if you are bit of a technological idiot then I might give you hope. For I have produced all my videos knowing very little about what I am doing!

I have, for example, never colour graded a video, preferring to get the colour right, first time, in the camera. I appreciate that colour grading and advanced editing would improve the end result, but I have neither the time nor inclination to spend even more time hunched over my laptop. I produced my early videos (such as this) with iMovie which came free with my computer. I now use Final Cut Express, though I do so with my old laptop beside me so that I can ask Google question after question as I try to teach myself how to use it. In other words, I am not an expert, but I am still able to vastly improve my films through careful post production.

Here then are a few editing tips:

  • 1. Tell a story. Stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. They have a point and a message. So should your film.
  • 2. Kill Your Darlings. Time is short. Attention spans are shorter, particularly with online content. Less is More. Do I really need to watch 20 minutes of you cycling down a big hill? So “kill your darlings” – cut away everything but the essentials. Show me only what I want to see / need to see. Only include the most important clips. Be ruthless. Less is more.
  • 3. Pieces to camera (you looking at the camera and speaking) are important and powerful. But they can be boring if they are too long or frequent. Learn how to extract the audio from the clip and place it on top of other video clips. I don’t want to watch you staring intently into my eyes for two minutes whilst you tell me about your recent escape from a bear. Show me the bear instead (aside: if you ever get chased by a bear, make sure you film it!) and add the audio over the top.
  • 4. Keep your clips short. My rough rule is 3 seconds per clip. Don’t go above 7 unless you have a good reason to do so. Varying the clip lengths will change the mood of your film. Think about the effect you want to create.
  • 5. Include details. If you’re cooking a meal show a close up of stirring the pot. If a big truck is roaring in the background whilst you explain something of critical importance (i.e. that cannot be re-recorded once the noisy truck has gone), then show me the truck too. Contextualise everything.
  • 6. Vary your shots: a scene should generally include a wide shot, a medium shot and a detail shot. This might mean you have to cycle past the camera several times to capture the clips you need.
  • 7. Music can be powerful. Absence of music can be powerful. Think carefully before you decide. Pick music that will resonate with other people, not just your favourite song. Be sure to use Creative Commons licensed music if you want to submit your film to festivals etc.
  • 8. Keep it short! If you don’t need 10 points to your list, leave it at 8. If you halve the length of your film it will almost certainly create more of an impact on your audience.

Good luck!

Read Comments

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Comments

  1. Excellent advice,couple of things I would never have thought of, I have a couple of film students staying with me this June to shoot some videos of my little corner of Brazil and I’m trying to pick up some tips, you have helped thanks. Loving your site, even the design is great:)

    Reply
  2. Great tips!

    Reply
  3. Thanks a lot. Very helpful!

    Reply
  4. Great tips, really!

    The only question remaining for me is which filming/audio recording equipment to take, or, to say which is the best compromise between, weight, bulk, quality, efficiency and ease of use.

    Reply
    • Alastair Posted

      I use a Canon 5D Mkii with a Rode VideoMic. I have an ION camera for action / underwater.

      Reply
  5. I totally agree with the author’s view that it is important for a professional video editor to keep the video clippings short and crop anything that deviates or unnecessarily lengthens the main story. Thank you for this post, it will be very helpful for budding video editors.

    Reply
  6. Marian Smith Posted

    Thanks for the tips. It will help me in my projects.:D Anyway, I found a website here’s the link http://www.ootb.net.au/. Their videos are amazing.

    Reply
  7. I definitely overshoot right now. I’m just afraid of not having enough video to send to production. You’re right, though– it makes editing an absolute nightmare. I just need to get better at visualizing what I need.

    Reply
  8. Excellent advice. Thanks for the tips.

    Reply
  9. Greg Wayward Posted

    The other things I must add is energy and fun! A lot of the greatest followings in YouTube have been amassed by YouTubers that have high energy and clearly are having FUN making their content! Here is a guy I know locally that runs a corporate video production business and he is fill of spirits and fun!

    Reply
  10. I want to finish a film I’ve been working on this spring so thanks for sharing this. I like your point about cutting out everything but the essentials. I’ll be sure to do this so the film is more clear and concise without boring the audience.

    Reply
  11. Hi Thanks for sharing the 10 tips for video production

    Reply
  12. My cousin is beginning to move into video production as a professional. In his transition, he has discovered the same thing mentioned in these tips, such as varying the shots from wide to detailed. This seems to produce results. When searching for a video creation professional, teamwork and understanding the same values is important.

    Reply
  13. This article is so helpful for those also who are not technology experts. I would love to share this article.

    Reply

 
 

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