5 Steps to Trim the Fat from Your Interview Videos: How We Do It
Menu

5 Steps to Trim the Fat from Your Interview Videos: How We Do It

5 Steps to Trim the Fat from Your Interview Videos: How We Do It

single-blog-img

Editing interview videos to perfection can be a daunting task, even for experienced cinematographers and production teams. Chopping several hours of footage and presenting them as a short, pithy, and perfectly coordinated video that doesn’t miss a beat requires a special range of skills. The goal of an interview video is met only when the final product captivates the right audience and makes the desired mark. That’s where editing pros like Motion Edits come in. 

In this blog, we offer you a sneak peek into the step-by-step process we follow to ensure your corporate films and footage get transformed into branded interview videos and become what you truly expect out of them. 

  1. Prep

Editing interview videos is no mean feat. It’s a task that involves a lot of focus and skill, so starting off in an organized manner is a formula that sets us up for success. It helps to have everything in order before beginning the editing process. 

The first step is to organize all the footage by naming files, sorting folders, and creating subfolders for audio, graphics, images, B-rolls, etc. Now that they are ready to be imported into the editing software, the magic of editing can begin.  

At this stage, we also determine the relevant video editing workflow of deconstruction and construction. Motion Edits does not have a ‘one size fits all’ approach, we brainstorm on the best approach that will suit your narrative perfectly.

  1. Synchronization 

Before editing, the interview has to be in perfect sync – the master audio from the conversation and the corresponding video have to make sense together. Further, sound levels are taken care of — when the subject looks away from the camera or the microphone and cannot be heard clearly, the volume is adjusted. 

Multi-cam timelines are created to get all the cameras in sync along with the external audio(s). This means syncing multi-camera sequences of different camera angles and audio tracks, then assembling the synced interview clips in a timeline so that they are ready for the cuts. These steps occur outside of editing software as there is niche software that handles sync effectively.

  1. Content Editing

Editing interview-based films are all about perfecting the storytelling flow through careful edits. Video editors highlight key points, themes, and important responses to condense all the action across the footage so that every frame contributes to the story. They create a flow from question to question with the best parts only. 

The goal of video trimming is to get the final edit to tell a story without boring the viewers with long explanations! 

Inadvertent errors in speech are fixed through jump cuts and layering. B-roll and stock footage are also added wherever required to fill gaps, so the audience stays connected despite the change of context. 

Next, the video is sequenced in a set order, customized to the brand. The video begins by creating an urge in the mind of viewers to stick around with it after the first few seconds considered crucial for marketing have passed. One of the approaches that can be followed is the problem-solution method where the audience gets to know the fixes for their issues through the explanation of a product or service by the interviewee.

4. Finishing Touches

Now that we have the primary file, it has to be polished into the gem it is supposed to be. This includes removing auditory discrepancies and background noise distractions, adding color correction, music, infographics, and subtitles to create a compelling montage. The two broad steps can be categorized into:

a) Audio

The audio has to be cleaned up to present the subjects in the best light. The sound design includes the removal of ‘filler’ words, noise, and unwanted distractions in the form of distant traffic sounds. Further, background scores and sound effects are added as per requirements. 

Perfect audio editing skills provide depth to visuals as they balance human voice, music, sound effects, and also silence.

b) Color Corrections

The goal here is to achieve a consistent technical standard of appearance as well as be accurate for the human eye. Since footage from multiple camera shots is assembled together, video editors alter each and every clip to conform to a color temperature and exposure. This process is color correction. It is followed by color grading where aesthetics come into play by manipulating colors to create a new visual tone that emphasize moods and feels.   

Ready to Take Advantage of Perfectly Trimmed Interview Videos? 

The expertise of great editors lies in their capacity of showcasing the role of the interviewee, the brand values, and their primary products or services within a stipulated timeframe. All this, keeping the viewer’s attention in mind and urging them to take action in the end. 

Motion Edits is backed by decades of experience in creating stunning videos that leave a lasting impression. With the help of our team of highly experienced professionals, we deliver video masterpieces for hundreds of clients worldwide! 

Get in touch with our experts that take the load off your shoulders and deliver high-quality videos in a surprising amount of time.

 

Recommended Posts