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What are the first steps to becoming a video editor.?

I'm a 10th grader and am very interested in being a film/video editor, what are my first steps to becoming one?

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Lindsey’s Answer

A great start would be to experiment with your own projects. All it takes is a couple of your own video clips and a free video editor like CapCut, Canva, or iMovie to learn the basics of editing videos without spending money on the higher-end video editing software.

Even if you have to start by filming some boring event from your day and adding filters, scene cuts, etc. to it, you are still getting a start and learning how to interact with editing software.

Free online tutorials on YouTube can help you learn the basics you need to start understanding video editing. So can the websites for your chosen video editor. CapCut has some great advice on their website.

Lindsey recommends the following next steps:

If your school offers any classes in video editing or clubs where you could learn or build editing skills, enroll in them if you can.
Submit video projects for classes when that is an option to practice your skills and build new ones.
Try out paid video editing classes online. Skillshare is one option that is easy to get started with.
Pay for a higher-end video editor like Adobe Premiere to learn and practice more in-depth editing techniques.
Once you have a good feel for video editing, consider pursuing a college degree in film production or a similar field. You can possibly talk to a school counselor about options and also research options online.
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Steve’s Answer

Dive into the world of online video editing platforms. Play around, press buttons, explore! Watch YouTube and LinkedIn tutorials on editing to expand your knowledge.

Next, grab your phone and start filming. Bring in the footage and begin piecing it together. Familiarize yourself with the features and functionalities of different platforms. If possible, connect with professionals in the field and learn from their experiences on what it takes to succeed.

As you approach high school graduation, start considering a reputable film school to further hone your skills.

In my senior year, I gifted my school a documentary that I produced, directed, and edited. It featured interviews with teachers, staff, and students from various clubs and organizations. That was quite a while back... : > )

Best of luck on your journey!
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Jacob’s Answer

Hi Raffi,

I think the first, best step is to start watching other people's films and television episodes. I believe that by studying the editing styles of different editors and the different genres they edit, you'll be able to obtain an overall perspective of how editing is done. Different decades called for different editing styles, and the editing styles continue to change as the years go by.

Another good way to get started is to read articles where editors comprehensively break down the way they edited each film and or television episode, as this will provide insight into what they were thinking at the time when making the decisions they made.

Both these methods don't cost a dime, and can act as a starting point for your journey. Then as Steve mentioned, I would suggest using your phone camera to gather footage as beginning practice. As time goes by, and your interest grows, I suggest taking on projects for free to gain experience in the field. As your name and reputation grow among the circle or circles you're in, and you feel comfortable in your abilities, that's when I recommend you go professional.

What's great about film school is that you get to build connections with others and meet people that you wouldn't otherwise get to meet if you were not in an academic environment. But film school isn't always the answer, and you could most certainly make your way to a successful career without it by interning for high-end post-production companies for free and learning the ropes. Either way, I think you'll be fine.

I hope this helps!
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Nik’s Answer

Raffi, I would agree with Steve that the most important part is getting your hands on some editing software and learning how it works. This will allow you to see behind the scenes on the videos that you experience around you in your life. Fades, voice overs, and jump cuts will all start to pop out at you as you play around with them in an editing platform. It is like learning to hear the notes, progressions, and chord changes in a song. You'll start to understand how people make videos and why they make the decisions they make. Have fun!
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Doug’s Answer

I would see if you can edit some short films with your friends. Have some of your friends shoot a short movie or music video and tell them you want to edit it. That's the best place to start is by doing. Get all the footage into your computer and use iMovie on a Mac or Movavi on a pc and start putting the video together shot by shot. You'll start to get the hang of timing and pace as you watch it back and forth. You have an inner clock inside you and you'll feel when to cut to the next shot. It becomes almost innate as to what works and doesn't. If you have the editing instinct inside you it will show. It's something that cannot be taught mostly. You have to practice it. I mean, you can study film and how film is put together, but when you finally edit, it must come from within you. Your creativity will come forth out of you as you put the shots together and as you add music, sound and visual effects it will all come together. Sit back and play it over and over. If you feel a shot is too long then trim it back a bit. Try experimenting with shot arrangements. See how it changes the feeling either for better or worse. Editing is feeling. Viewing and feeling until it works for the emotion you want to convey at the time. As a film editor who works mostly in movies and television series, I'm approaching my answer to you from a narrative angle, which is usually telling a story of some kind. It will take some time before you get to where I am but editing is simply putting the shots together so they work. Keep practicing that, and like I said earlier, you'll get the hang of it and it will feel fun!

On another note, I know others have suggested getting used to professional software like DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut, and Adobe Premiere, which is good, but when you start out you don't have to try and learn these professional software's to learn how to edit. If you have one of these already, yeah, go ahead and keep learning those softwares. It won't hurt you to know them, but you can start out with simpler software programs. The idea is to keep editing whatever you can. You can do it!
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Annaleigh’s Answer

Hi Raffi! I agree with a lot of the other answers, just keep practicing on your own projects! Watch YouTube videos, find assets online, and learn as much as you can! If your school has any film or broadcasting classes that is an incredible way to learn from others. Good luck!
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Priyanka’s Answer

1. Watch Films and Videos:
Choose content that appeals to you or challenges your editing style.
Study the timeline, paying attention to how each scene is cut and arranged.
Mute the sound to focus solely on the visual editing techniques.

2. Observe and Apply:
Analyze the timing of cuts, transitions, and other editing choices.
Apply similar techniques in your own work by mimicking professional styles and refining your skills.

3. Practice Editing:
Use free projects available on platforms like Cinestudy to gain hands-on experience.
Experiment with different cuts and techniques to improve your editing flow.

4.Learn Softwares:
Get comfortable with professional video editing tools like DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, or Final Cut Pro.

Note: It’s ideal to shoot and edit your own footage to understand the entire filmmaking process better
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Yingna’s Answer

Watch your favorite movies. Watch your favorite scenes shot by shot, if possible. Access any film footage available and start editing them for fun. Add music, sounds. Play with the footage. no pressure
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