Video Editing: The Invisible Art

 

 

Video editing has gone mainstream. It’s easy to edit video and add basic effects, even on a smart phone or tablet, and stream it via broadband at resolutions sufficient for web and commercial broadcasts. Such technology makes it easier to overlook the artistry and creativity involved in great editing. Because true art conceals art, the best editing is invisible. People see the video, but not how beautifully put together it is. Viewers notice bad editing, too, for it can disrupt their mood and jolt them out of otherwise engrossing narratives.

This chapter looks at editing’s purpose and how it weaves the magic carpet that transports viewers through the screen and into the story. Most great editing ...

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