Storytelling through Video Editing… Paano?

Hindi lang basta basta ang pag-eedit. Video editors are also storytellers. Why?

Storytelling isn’t just done by the scriptwriter, the producer, or even the host of the video. If you edit videos for a client, especially sa mga content creators, here’s one thing you should never forget:

99% of the time, YOU are the STORYTELLER of the video

It’s because ikaw ang nagde-decide ng flow, music, timing, at ikaw ang nagde-decide anong kakalabasan ng final video. Lahat ng mangyayari sa video, sayo nakasalalay, and you have the power to manipulate how the audience feel through the video.

That’s why in the end, the video editor is the true storyteller of every video.

Think about it, lahat ng videos ng mga big YouTubers - Casey Neistat, Ryan Trahan, Yes Theory, Mr. Beast. Their video concept is fascinating, but in the end, what makes people stay watching and feel something is the flow of the video - which is dumedepende sa video editor.

So, ang tanong ngayon ay paano mo mapractice ang pagiging storyteller as a video editor?

Here are 5 tips to help you tell your story better through video editing:

1. Focus on the flow and not the music

Do not base your video edit on the music. Usually ang nangyayari, editors put the music first saka nila cinucut yung video based sa beat. Okay lang yun if music video ang habol niyo, but if you’re heading towards the story, make sure na i-edit niyo ang video base sa actual flow niya. 

One tip is to first rough cut, and fix the pacing, saka niyo pakinggan yung buong video while closing your eyes. If it sounds right even without seeing the video, goods na yun!

The flow is usually cut into 3 parts: Hook, body, and conclusion. Make sure to add pauses in between like cinematic breaks and cliffhangers. This strategy will make your watchers want more. 

2. Choose the right music

Wag niyo madaliin ang pagpili ng music. Make sure that the music you’re gonna choose matches the pacing and context of that certain part of your video. Kunwari, sad part, automatic sad music ilalagay niyo but make sure na hindi siya yung super exagerrated. The right music is the key to make people feel something - but it’s also the biggest turn-off if ever mali yung nilagay niyo. So far, this is my with good music.

Here are some stock music websites (free and paid) you can use:

3. Sound effects to evoke emotion

We all know sound effects are important in a video to immerse the audience. However, here’s one very important sound effect you need - risers.

Risers evoke tension and nagbibigay ng feeling of cliffhanger. This sound effect will make the audience expect something big or important after it. .

Besides that, madami pang sound effects na super useful para ma-immerse yung watchers at mag-evoke pa ng emotions. If you want to use my sound effects, you can get them .

4. Silence

Sound effects and music is really important, but silence is one of the best techniques you can do to make people feel something. Usually para mapafeel niyo to sa audience na super serious moment siya.

Here are great examples kung saan ginamit ang silence:

Silence could be used in many ways - either silence sa dialogue or silence sa whole sequence. Usually, silence is used to also ipakita yung seriousness of the matter. I’ll be teaching a course about advanced sound design soon on Nas.io! 

So, I hope you learned something today about storytelling as a video-editor. If you want to learn more, make sure na lagi niyong abangan ang para sa new courses, new content, and live events!,

See you soon guys. Happy editing!