How to Give Feedback During the Video Editing Process21 min read

Video production is a collaborative effort, and the edit is no exception. We do our best work when the people we work with provide clear, concise, and constructive feedback. But what if you’ve never worked with a video team before or aren’t sure what’s helpful feedback? No sweat! In this blog, we’ll run through the different stages of video editing and how your feedback can be useful during each of these stages.

The Video Editing Process, and How to Give Feedback at Each Step

Step 1: Logging

Logging is the dirty job or grunt work portion of the edit. During the logging stage of the video editing process, video clips are imported and neatly organized to allow them to be accessed in a logical way. While this requires a time investment upfront, it reduces the amount of effort spent searching for footage throughout the rest of the editing process. This portion of the process generally doesn’t require much participation from you.

Step 2: First Assembly

During the first assembly, the video editing team roughs in a video’s general structure. In interview or documentary footage, the story begins to take shape. This stage of the editing process is sometimes called the radio edit because the story should make sense just by listening to the audio.

Your participation in this process depends on how involved you want to be in the minutia of the editing process. Most of our clients prefer to skip this portion, but some want to be more involved in finding the initial story in the footage. Sitting in on this portion of the edit can be a long and tedious process, so we generally recommend either reviewing transcriptions of the interviews, or reviewing raw interview footage through a collaborative video app. We use Frame.IO, but there are many others. Highlighting the desired segments in the transcripts or leaving detailed notes in the video app allows our clients more control over the creation of the initial story.

Step 3: Rough Cut

Once the assembly is complete, we move on to the rough cut. If the assembly is where we find the story, this is where we find the soul. We also add supporting footage, or “b-roll,” to the project to aid in the storytelling process and cover cuts in the interviews. We may also use scratch track voiceover and placeholder graphics to help develop the pacing.

The rough cut is often the first version of the edit you’ll review. It is not a finished product! Music, sound, and visual effects may be unbalanced or missing. The color of the video may be flat or may not match from shot to shot. This is normal and is not a cause for alarm or to second guess your choice of production companies. We often change or remove shots or even whole segments between the rough and final cuts, so it makes sense to hold off on polishing the picture and sound until the client is satisfied with all of the content. This is called “picture lock.”

When you’re viewing the rough cut, pay close attention to the content of the audio and visuals and the pacing of the edit. Now is a great time to give feedback on the sequence of events, the story that is emerging, and the quality and type of b-roll. The more specific you can be with your feedback, the more helpful it will be to your editor.

Some examples of good feedback are:

“I don’t care for the shot at 04:23. Do we have a different shot that better illustrates the concept?”

“I think John is taking too long to make his point at 07:27. Can we cut this down a little and cover the edit with some b-roll?”

“I think the segment with Joan at 03:56 would work better if we moved it to 09:45”

Step 4: Polished Cut

The polished cut is where the production value on your project really begins to shine through. We level the interview audio and remove hesitations and filler words as necessary. We also add music and visual effects to the mix. We may also add a first color pass to the footage so you can see what the video will look like when it’s color graded. All these steps make your video look more polished, but it’s still not the final version!

Now is a great time to make decisions about what works and what doesn’t, and what can be added to make the video better. Some examples of feedback during the polished cut are:

“05:55 – 06:23: This segment seems extraneous. Let’s remove it.”

“09:24: I really like the car here. Let’s add a revving noise to the soundtrack.”

“The music at 01:32 is too upbeat. Can we find something a little more somber?”

Step 5: Final Cut

Collaborative efforts really come to fruition during the final cut! We’ll “lock” the content and fine tune all the little details, including content and text. We color grade the video, giving the picture a distinctive “look” and making sure brand colors appear as they should. Sound design is key at this stage, so our team carefully mixes sound effects, music, and vocals, ensuring everything is clear and nothing is lost in the mix. Titles, graphics, and visual effects are completely edited into their appropriate scenes.

The final cut is generally your last chance to make changes, so you should point out any mistakes or request any changes (no matter how small) at this time.

Effective examples of great final cut feedback are:

“Morgan Pierson” is spelled wrong in the credits at 16:22. Please correct.”

“The interview audio seems to get lost in the music at 14:50. Please check the mix on audio monitors and laptop speakers.”

“We were not able to secure a release from the gentleman at 04:14. Please crop or blur him out.”

“Please fade out the credits more slowly at the end. I think three seconds will do it.”

Collaborating Creatively

No matter what stage of the video editing process you’re in, we always recommend watching the clips closely. It’s easy to overlook mistakes or miss story elements if you are distracted. These may be more difficult to correct as the edit progresses. Plus, as we outlined in this article, each stage of editing typically focuses on addressing specific critiques. Ideally, we don’t change shots in the final cut, because those changes should have been taken care of in the rough cut stage of the process.

If you’re not sure which stage of the process your video is in, just ask! It’s important to understand what version of the video you are viewing. For instance, a one-minute segment that requires dubbed sound effects (known in the industry as “foley”) may seem uninteresting or even boring during the rough cut. Understanding that the sound has not been added yet may help you decide whether to keep the segment or remove it altogether.

Finally, it is extremely important to be specific in your critiques. Vague comments like “It’s not working for me” or passive aggressive notes like, “why are you asking me when you’re the editor,” only build tension and frustration between you and your video editing team. Remember, both of you have a mutual goal: to deliver the best possible product to your audience. The best way to do that is to be upfront with each other about what your thoughts and needs are. Understanding how and when to give feedback during your video edit is a great way to keep the lines of communication open between you and your editor, and eventually, your audience.

DVS Is Your Post-Production Partner

Over the last three decades, we’ve spent a lot of time in the editing suite producing high-quality content for the West Michigan community and beyond. From concept to completion or anywhere in between, you can count on DVS to provide expert guidance and dependable professionalism. To get started on your video project, contact us today!