Audio & Video Editing

A-Roll

• Primary footage, usually interviews or main storytelling segments.

• Ensure clear framing, good lighting, and a clean background.

• Ask unexpected or deeply personal questions to elicit raw emotions.

• Use different angles (medium close-up, close-up, and over-the-shoulder) for variety in editing.

B-Roll

• Supplemental footage to add context and visual engagement. (Often silent to be used with voiceover audio.)

• Includes location shots, action shots, hands-on work, reactions, and environmental details.

• Shoot from multiple angles and perspectives.

• Plan some cinematic movements like slow pans, push-ins, or drone shots.

Basic Shots

• Establishment Shot (Extreme Wide Shot): Sets the scene, gives context.

• Wide Shot (Long Shot): Shows the subject’s full body in the environment.

• Medium Shot: Frames from the waist up; good for interviews.

• Close-Up: Captures facial expressions, details, or objects.

• Extreme Close-Up: Focuses on eyes, hands, or an important detail for dramatic emphasis.

Camera Angles

• Eye-Level: Neutral and natural.

• High Angle: Makes the subject appear smaller or vulnerable.

• Low Angle: Creates a powerful, dominant appearance.

• Over-the-Shoulder (OTS): Used for interviews or conversations.

• Dutch Angle (Tilted Shot): Adds unease or drama.

• Bird’s Eye View (Overhead): Shows layout and movement in a scene.

• Point of View (POV): Puts the audience in the subject’s perspective.

Cinematic Movements

• Pan & Tilt: Slowly moving the camera horizontally (pan) or vertically (tilt) to create movement.

• Tracking (Dolly) Shot: Following the subject smoothly.

• Handheld Camera: Adds a raw, documentary feel.

• Rack Focus: Shifting focus between subjects to draw attention.

• Slow Motion: Enhances emotional or dramatic moments.

• Time-Lapse: Condenses time to show changes over a period.

Editing & Storytelling

1. Overlay B-Roll: Overlay interview audio over B-roll to make it more immersive.

2. Editing Scene Transitions: Use J-cuts & L-cuts to transition between scenes naturally.

3. Dramatic Color Grading: Enhances the mood (cool tones for sadness, warm tones for nostalgia).

4. Sound Design Matters: Use background scores and ambient noise to heighten emotions.

5. Jump Cuts: Use jump cuts to add energy and urgency.

6. Match Cuts: Use match cuts to create seamless transitions between similar frames in different scenes.

7. Transitions: Use creative transitions for fluidity and as elements of the video's story.  

1. Multiple Modes: Seamlessly blend audio, video, images, text, graphics, sound effects, music, voiceover, and animations for persuasive storytelling. 

2. Audience-Centered Design: Successful video production and editing prioritizes clarity, pacing, and aesthetics tailored to the target audience.

3. Capture More Footage Than Needed: You’ll appreciate extra B-roll during editing.

4. Present Topic from a Unique Perspective: Avoid clichés and Cammander Obvious; uncover hidden stories.

5. Manipulate Emotion Through Editing: Even mundane topics can feel dramatic with the right pacing and music.

6. Use Natural Light Whenever Possible: It looks more authentic. For indoor shots, use the principles of three-point lighting. 

7. Frame Subjects Creatively: Rule of thirds, leading lines, depth of field, and three-point lighting to make shots more engaging.

8. Production Templates: Use film production templates to organize, plan, and save time.