How to Combine Shots in Video Editing

When you combine shots in video editing, you basically put together a series of different shots to achieve some purpose or send a message. Many television programs are made this way. Editors combine shots in video editing for music videos, commercial and television dramas and sitcoms. The ability to combine shots in video for editing can create a variety of special effects, drama comedy and intensity for a particular scene.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Edit according to the shots. If you have a close-up, a long shot or medium shot, make sure they match each other. Show different shots of the same scene and edit them together to show different angles, shots and camera movements.
2. Use insert shots by taking the same shot from 2 different angles like focusing on your main character's face and then quickly showing a shot of only her hands.
3. Try parallel editing. This is when you shoot more than 1 scene and edit them in such a way that when the scene shows 1 shot it switches away to another scene or event happening simultaneously. Parallel editing gives viewers the illusion that both events in different locations are happening at the same time, even though in reality the scenes were shot at different times.
4. Make sure when you are editing video that all of the directions for a scene match. Each scene should make sense without any vocal explanation.

Tips & Warnings

• Cutting in action is an editing technique that is basic but often comes in handy, especially when the camera zooms in and out in a scene. Simply cut the scene before the zoom action is complete.