Motion Picture Editing covers the art and technique of assembling footage to create a coherent narrative. You'll learn about cutting techniques, pacing, rhythm, and how to manipulate time and space through editing. The course dives into various editing software, explores different editing styles, and teaches you how to enhance storytelling through thoughtful cuts and transitions.

Is Motion Picture Editing hard?

Motion Picture Editing can be challenging, but it's also super rewarding. The technical aspects of learning editing software might be a bit tricky at first, but most students get the hang of it pretty quickly. The real challenge lies in developing your creative eye and making decisions that serve the story best. It takes practice, but once you start seeing how your edits shape the final product, it gets really exciting.

Tips for taking Motion Picture Editing in college

Use Fiveable Study Guides to help you cram 🌶️
Watch tons of movies and TV shows, paying close attention to editing techniques
Practice, practice, practice - edit anything you can get your hands on
Learn keyboard shortcuts for your editing software to speed up your workflow
Experiment with different editing styles (e.g., montage, jump cuts, match cuts)
Collaborate with other film students to edit their projects and get more experience
Check out "The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing" documentary for inspiration
Read Walter Murch's "In the Blink of an Eye" for insights from a legendary editor

Common pre-requisites for Motion Picture Editing

Introduction to Film Production: This course covers the basics of filmmaking, including pre-production, production, and post-production processes. It gives you a solid foundation in the overall filmmaking process.
Digital Video Production: In this class, you'll learn the fundamentals of shooting and capturing digital video. It's crucial for understanding the raw material you'll be working with in editing.

Classes similar to Motion Picture Editing

Sound Design for Film: This course focuses on creating and manipulating audio elements for films. You'll learn how sound complements visuals and enhances storytelling.
Visual Effects and Compositing: Here, you'll explore techniques for creating and integrating visual effects into film and video projects. It's a great companion to editing, as many effects are finalized in post-production.
Documentary Filmmaking: This class teaches you how to craft compelling non-fiction stories. It often involves a different approach to editing compared to narrative films.
Advanced Post-Production Techniques: This course dives deeper into complex editing and post-production processes, building on the skills from basic editing classes.

Film and Television Production: Students learn all aspects of creating films and TV shows, from scriptwriting to post-production. Editing is a crucial component of this major.
Digital Media Production: This major focuses on creating content for various digital platforms. It includes video editing along with other digital content creation skills.
Animation: While primarily focused on creating animated content, this major often includes courses on editing and post-production specific to animated works.

What can you do with a degree in Motion Picture Editing?

Film Editor: You'll work closely with directors to assemble raw footage into a cohesive final product. Film editors play a crucial role in shaping the narrative and pacing of movies and TV shows.
TV Editor: Similar to film editors, but you'll work on television shows, which often have tighter deadlines and different pacing requirements. You might work on anything from sitcoms to reality TV.
Trailer Editor: This specialized role involves creating compelling trailers for movies and TV shows. You'll need to condense entire stories into short, exciting previews that grab viewers' attention.
Video Content Creator: Many companies need skilled editors to create content for social media, websites, and marketing campaigns. You'll edit various types of video content to engage online audiences.