What do you enjoy in an edit? What is overused?

DBowden

Member
I thought this would not only help me know what people like and dislike in an edits for when I make one, but also be just a good thread.
 
Ok I am going to rant... Ready? You need good footage, you don't have to be a great skier, just do unique things find off the beaten track areas and f around with them. Second get decent music, something that reflects your edit and what you like listening to. Third learn how to use your software, know the INS and outs of it. The little subtle things make great edits. Don't change the color and don't go crazy with transitions. I personally like having a section for each person in the edit with their names in the corner. Edits take time and you might have to start over! Make it yours and only yours, unique in your own way.

Derek out
 
I'd also say that its really important to cut the filler. That is something that has been plaguing ski video since the beginning.

Only put in the banger stuff, if it isn't banger leave it out.
 
Storyline is something that personally I really feel is important. Of course, this is really usually more prevalent when you're doing a show vs. a strict edit, but I think its important to bring up.

In the days of web media, your edit is only as good as your tricks, whereas if you can tell a story and develop characters you gradually increase your audience with every episode you release - even if your tricks aren't the best.

 
This, I will watch an edit with so-so skiing and a great story over a random collection of bangers set to whatever thug beat pumps you up.
 
Sort of what like Bishop said, average skiing with no commentary will just be meh. It takes a lot of good skiing the make up for having no talking.

However if the skiers themselves do a bit of talking to the camera, it makes them way more relatable, and the edit more entertaining in general. That's why stuff like LTC is so good, it mixes skiing with nonskiing/commentary really well. All it takes is just 30 seconds to a minute of the skier talking about the day/trip/feature/whatever.
 
Warning: SMALL WALL OF TEXT!

Use different angles! - Nobody wants to see 4-6 guys having cool tricks, but from the same angles (like a tripod from top and bottom + "from the knucle"-shots).

Always have some movement in the shot! - (Everybody know how much better skiporn you get if you compare a still shot with a glidecam)

Use something to stabilize! - No matter how good the riding is, if your videographer has a strong case of parkinsons: the shot will prolly be shit.

Editing to music! - If you edit to the music. Such as cuts, landings, transitions, highlights people will also feel the music, and it won't make it look/sound so shitty.

Sound design! - Please, do use some sort of sounds in the edit. Unless you shoot with a GoPro, you're excused, but in most cases having a few sounds such as snow tearing, rails and stomp-sounds will help your edit....massively! (Especially if you use a tune that isn't so thick)

Filler material! - As bishop said, if the shots ain't bangin' leave them out, or use a small portion of it to fill inn some dead-time or speed up the edit. That can be such as bails, face-shots, environment-shot, screams/rages or tricks that look shit except for that one part of the rotation.

Be original! - Even if you shoot jumps, rails or jibbs, don't try to make the edit something which it's not. Find the mood, tempo and theme you want, and do your best within' that. Don't try to cover anything from a clean superbly shot artistic edit with the meanest B&W "hood-edit" (if that's even a therm).
 
I think being able to line up these three things:

Song

Slow mo

and the riding.

If you go on a 30 to 45 second slow motion binge when the song is slow and then rip some fast cuts of your ridings charging (skiing fast and doing wild tricks) when the music is fast. That shit always gets me.

I also could not agree more with Mr. Bishop. Cut the filler. I also think some edits use to much b-roll
 
I agree 100%. Except sometimes I think the slow and fast thing is overused if that makes sense... Although I do think it's killer in some edits.
 
I love concise editing. I'd rather see a portion of the trick than the entire trick because it can pack a greater punch.

I also love when the skier travels across the thirds of the screen, rather than keeping them i the center (gross).

Filling the frame with the skier bothers me. A trick is defined by its surroundings, and cramming the trick (by itself) down my throat by filling the screen with it defeats the purpose.

Higher frame rates not conformed to 24fps = ugly.

I love ambient music being used in ski edits. Electro-fart music, not so much.

 
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