As entertainment options expand and attention spans shrink, video editors play a vital role in grasping viewer interest and emotions. This paper examines universal best practices in video editing applicable to television, online content, and short social media like TikTok. Studies demonstrate faster pacing with frequent cuts and transitions sustains audience attention. However, such techniques should ultimately serve narrative structure’s three acts – setup, conflict, and resolution. The consistency of this narrative form across mediums and formats speaks to its power. Editors utilizing various editing techniques at the service of the three-act progression keep viewers engaged by manipulating their feelings and reactions. In doing so, they deliver more positive viewing experiences. Whether in established mediums like television or emerging formats like TikTok, editing in line with proven narrative models keeps audiences invested despite market saturation. Identifying and leveraging such universal techniques will only grow in importance for video editors tasked with capturing increasingly distracted consumers.

Capstone Project: Video Series