Rules of Editing 4

Identifying the rules of edtiing

Using the rules of video editing can help increase the quality of a video production, help avert mistakes and save time. Knowing to use action and title safe areas, monitor vectors and be aware of shots that cross the action axis give an editor some of the tools needed to create great video projects.

Rules of Editing Applied

Knowing the rules of video editing can make video project look and work better. Look at the following example problems to the right and see how following the rules can have a positive impact on a video production.

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Editing Rules Applied example 1

An editor is hired to edit a home show. The title of the show is “Heating the home”. While viewing the finished video the editor notices that the title shows up on screen as “eating the home”. If the editor had followed the action and title safe area rule he wouldn’t have had this problem.

Editing Rules Applied example 2

An editor is hired to edit a snowboarding competition. Halfway through editing the project he notices that some of the shots that he is using make it seem as though the snowboarders are riding up the mountain. He realizes that the camera person must have switched sides on the half-pipe at some point causing the shots to cross the action axis. Now the editor has two options to make the video not cross the action axis. First he could remove all shots that cross the action axis or secondly he could try and find a shot that shows the shot that moves from on side to the other or an intermediate shot that could help ease the visual transition from on side to the other.