lessons

L10: When not to cut

when you edit it is consider lying and not cutting/editing scenes adds more truth to a scene but sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is lie (edit), when necessary. This however can also be said for telling the truth (not-editing) of a scene, it all depends on how you use it.

L1: Keep your ego in check

Remember it's not about your ego, but the final product. Great editing needs a map, not a person obsessed with cool editing tricks and choices they've made, whilst not looking at the whole picture.However, it is alright to just do what you believe is right in editing if it helps overall.

L2: Trust the process

Edit to your choice when best to show the director or others what matters, the final product not every random scene with dialogue.

L3: Bad to good ideas

Add a scene if you believe is necessary and don't shy away from the extra work given for it and if adding a scene isn't possible and you need to change stuff, try changing small stuff to make a big effect in the plot.Also do not refuse any extra work to make your final product better, take the challenge head on - so be willing to lay/understand preconceived notions and re-examine them in a new context.Finally it is critical to have an open mind - remember your collaborators and other people people because they have ideas too.

L4: Editing is editing

Editing is a process of revision because it is contextual as it relies on the scenes in front of it and even the ones after it - so do not cut scenes without without an understanding of order.Also you can't just use every scene so you you have to choose the ones you like the most.

L5: Organisation = editing

The goal is to organised the material and understand it a lot of the time.This could be done by knowing what needs to be ignored or by trying to compartmentalize and break down scenes into smaller chunks.

L6: Just edit

Play around with scenes you can make on maybe your phone and just try to edit that, then to get used to and familiarize with what your doing. This can help your brain to understand how story works with editing as well how scenes are constructed and what you need to do as an editor.

L7; Storytelling is a muscle

As a muscle it can be built upon, which is to say practice make perfect and muscle don't just happen in a day. Joke telling is a form of story telling and it's the shortest version of it. It misdirects you then the punchline snaps you back into a different direction.You need to edit things and understand how your editorial decisions effect the story.Editing is your storytelling.

L8: Beware of reactions

You don't have to use reaction shots all the time and instead use them at specific moment to create a more powerful effect.Reactions create strong impressions on the audience and it can even effect weather you want certain scenes or lines with them as you may want a way to more informally(emotionally) or informally(informative/no reaction shot) to connect with the audience.