Do you have a massive video editing project that you need to complete? You already have the raw video footage but are feeling confused and overwhelmed about what to do next? If so, you’re in luck. In this article, we give you a step-by-step plan for editing and assembling your videos.
1- Identify the purpose and key messages
Before you do anything else, it is important to identify the goal or purpose of your video. Is it a promotional video, workplace communication video, educational video, or a video for entertainment? Knowing the context of what the video is supposed to accomplish helps you craft your message and story.
In addition to the message, you want to think about how you want people to feel when they watch your video. Are you trying to raise awareness, educate, or inspire? Do you want people to feel shock, joy, hope, or frustration?
Finally, what action do you want the viewer to take after they watch your video? It is important to identify the video’s call-to-action. Do you want your viewers to buy your product or service, visit your website, like your video, or subscribe? If this is a workplace communication video, then let your viewers know what they should do next. If it is an educational or eLearning video, tell your learners how they can practice. The call-to-action gives the audience a sense of direction of what you want them to do after viewing your video.
2- Create a script or storyboard
After you determine the purpose and key messages of the video, you’ll want to create an outline for the video. This could be in the form of a script, storyboard, or a combination of both.
Your video script is the story that you want to tell in the video. In your final video, this could be done as narration or as written text on the screen. For now, you want to write this out as it will drive the direction for the rest of your video creation.
To expand your script in more detail, create a storyboard to help outline the visual aspect of what the audience will see in the video.
Script = Words
Storyboard = Visual elements
3- Review and edit media assets
After your video script or storyboard is created, the next step is to review all your footage and media assets. You can see what media you currently have for your video and what you still need to collect before you begin to pull together the final video.
If you have a lot of raw video footage, you might need to trim and grab the specific bits that you want to use in the final video. If you’re adding narration, now is also the time to record your narration or have someone else do it for you.
You can also find free stock images, videos, and royalty-free music online to help fill any missing media elements your video might need. To find websites that offer free royalty-free images, check it out here.
4- Assemble your video
You’ve found the purpose of the video, created a script, have all your media, and now you’re ready to begin assembling the video. This means pulling together all the elements in the order that you want—video clips, images, narration, background music. Depending on the software that you are using you might also want to add in some motion graphics to grab your audience’s attention.
5- Publish and share
Making a video is like creating a piece of art. After all your hard work, it is time to share your masterpiece with the world! Publish your video and share it with the employees in your company, in your eLearning module, on your social media, YouTube, Vimeo, your website, or by email.
Recap of the video creation process
So, there you have it! Here are the steps again.
1- Identify the purpose and key messages
2- Create a script and/or storyboard
3- Review and edit media assets
4- Assemble your video
5- Publish and share
Now you have a video plan you can use to help with your next massive video editing project!
Want to know more about video production?
Lorena Klingel and Mitchell Vanlerberg will present the pre-conference workshop "P11 -BYOD: Creating Compelling eLearning Video: From Tech to Technique" on March 30 at The eLearning Guild's Learning Solutions 2020 Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida.
In this hands-on workshop you’ll learn about the different types of videos you can create, and generate your own list of video ideas. You’ll select two of your ideas and create short videos using stock footage and content captured from your mobile device. You’ll share your videos and script with others and get feedback, and then learn about equipment that you can use with your smartphone to increase the production quality of your videos.
Participants will need a laptop (with Chrome browser installed) and a mobile device.
Registration for the Conference is required in order to participate in this workshop. Register for Learning Solutions 2020 Conference & Expo by February 7 to receive the Last Chance Discount and save $150 on the conference cost! See what makes Learning Solutions unique!