Video Editing

[insertnamehere]

So, I got what will hopefully be a pretty awesome job starting this fall semester, editing videos to produce an educational DVD. Ok, so the fact that it's an educational DVD is kinda lame, but I'll get credits in a textbook and video editing experience, and that can't be a bad thing. There's just one problem.

I have no idea how to edit videos.

I'm going to go by the professor's office who's in charge later today to pick up some Corel Video Editing software. I'm not sure if that's the actual name of it or what, but that's what the guy keeps calling it. Anyway, I've been told that I'll get that and some raw preshot footage to screw around with over the summer and show to them at the beginning of the fall semester, and then for the real job I'll be using Finalcut Pro. I like to pretend like this means that they're giving me a macbook, but more likely I'll be spending a lot lot lot of time in the library.

Anyway, if anyone is familiar with this kind of thing, a brief run down of what kind of stuff I'll need to learn/do would be nice. I know it might be hard to say without seeing the footage, but im guessing its gonna be stuff like putting together stuff from multiple camera angles. What else is super common? I need to know the fancy names for this stuff so I can look it up. I got through a semester of using ArcGIS for a class with nothing but Google to help me, I figure this will be more of the same.

[Nygel]

Yeah, really more info would be great. I know pretty much all final cut has to offer so I can help you there when the time comes, never even heard of Coral. I've done educational vids before and it depends on the message and content. Mostly though you'll expect the multi-camera angles of one scene IF they even have scene and lots of text superimposed over it with voiceovers. Also I'd imagine a lot of key-framing with the text.

thats all i can say for basics.

[insertnamehere]

It's going to be a lot of dialogue between people. From what I understand the textbook is going to be written sort of like a script (I've had another textbook by the same guy done in the same style, I think it's pretty stupid but it's supposed to make it easier/more fun to read)

Anyway, a DVD will come with the textbook, so that essentially you can read the book or just watch the DVD. It will be scenes of things like *suzy walks in to dr. smith's office*

Suzy: Dr. Smith, you mentioned in class today that -------, but I don't really understand the concept of ------, could you explain it to me?

Yeah, it's really really really lame, but I get course credit, paid well, and good experience, so I don't really care that it's not like national geographic documentary awesome.

[kll]

wiggum, ralph did that for a living if i recall...

[insertnamehere]

things i remember about ralph wiggum: was cute. and had a cute dog. smoked blunts

haven't seen him in years though

[Nygel]

id imagine it be set up where you just cut to the closeups of each person talking then when he explains the method text or b-roll will be superimposed over his voice.

[roosta]

If you have multiple angles a good trick is to hide cuts during a movement.

So, say someone picks up something or puts their hand up, make the cut as the movement is happening. People concentrate on the movement and don't notice the cut as much. It depends on the footage you have and if the takes match, but if they do and it works out its good.

There's one thing I remember from my editing classes, amongst others.

[DandyFop]

Go to lynda.com

Tons of videos and tutorials about a bunch of different programs. Not sure if the one you need is on there but eh. I just keep signing up for different free trials with it.

[paul jones]

I used to do video editing back in the olden days .good fun just pissing around at this university I was working at.occasionally some students would drop by and want to bore me to death with an idea they had for some presentation or whatever and disturb me from watching the french channel CANAL+ with it's shower gel adverts with tits in it or watching Starsky and Hutch in german

[mikizee]

I just did an 18 hour day, 12 hours at my normal job then 6 hours directing a music video shoot for a hip hop track.

Try directing 200 drunk people at a bar to do what you want them to do.

An absolute fucking nightmare. After tonight, I want to curl up in the foetal position and cry myself to sleep.

except i've got another 12 hour work day, followed by round 2, another 6 hour shoot with another 200 drunk people.

Someone kill me. Please.

[ET]

Oh man, I'm a fan of Adobe Premiere and After Effects. Like Dandy mentioned, lynda has a ton of tuts. I find that After Effects is really great to throw in some graphical stuff... gives your work a little more oomph.

Like lens flare for example. Lots of lens flare.

[The Notorious LOL]

Theres this dude in a cosby sweater on public access talkin about how Emerson Avenue is never snow plowed for shit and the roads are turrible and Im like "take em to church Lamont"

doesnt really have shit to do with the subject but they edit that video, too.

[ET]

Pretty much everywhere, it's gonna be hot. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BG4e1nbg8c)

[insertnamehere]

it always need more lense flare