How to edit a music video.

Today we had a lesson on how to edit a music video. We had a similar talk last year, when we did a lip sync task, so this lesson was a short recap.

As well as last year for both our thriller and the lip sync we will be using Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects if needed.

The screen in Adobe is divided in 4 parts:

Bottom left contains bins and rushers, in other words - all the footage you upload. 

Top left is where you can watch rushers and drag them onto the timeline. 

Bottom right is a timeline, on which the video is edited. 

Top light is where you can watch the timeline and what you've edited. 

In order to start editing a music video you have to do all of these in the CORRECT order:

1) Sync up all your footage

We would need to drag our clips one by one on the top of the sound line so that it syncs up perfectly. To make it easier we would name each clip differently and group them by elements or shot types. After that, we would delete the original sound linked to the footage and leave the song only. This process is called 'picture sync'. Don't forget to do a duplicate now, until you've messed everything up - right click on bottom left and press 'duplicate' and rename. Now you can start editing. Listen to the music and illustrate what you hear.

2) Do a performance cut

Performance cut is needed in case EVERYTHING GOES WRONG AND ALL YOUR FOOTAGE IS RUBBISH OR DELETED OR WHATEVER AND YOU ARE PANICKING NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO. Also, it helps in further editing, as you just drop non-performance shots on the top of the already edited music video. 

3) Do a narrative cut

This is the process of adding in the creative stuff on the top of the performance cut.

4) Add the needed effects 

Anything you need extra - a giant clown or the pink dinosaur - now it's time to add it.

5) Do the colour grading 

DO NOT DO IT BEFORE. Save your time. Do the colour grading only with the footage you definitely use. 

TOP TIPS IN EDITING A MUSIC VIDEO:

1) Treat the whole editing as 10 sec. Try to make the best 10 seconds of the music video you possibly can and then move on.

2)First time you show the singer it should be a mid or a close up.

3) Group shots together - it helps to make unrandom choices.

4) Cut in movement, it looks cool.

5) Make a plan. Stick to a plan.

6) Don't do the rough cut.

7) ENJOY IT!