The moving picture had captured the imagination of people long ago. Eventually, the full-fledged feature film and documentaries came into being. Yet, humankind had progressed, with better and easier versions being available soon enough. You may try to edit the rough cut by fine-tuning it according to the preference of the viewers. Yet, it remains an Art even today! True, technology has been responsible for cutting both time and clutter, but it is your mind and brain that deserve most of the credit to date.
Film reels gave way to television and short clips, with digital platforms eventually becoming a force to reckon with. The online video editor can be utilized as a quality tool that cuts and crops. They add color and a host of elements to create the final look and sound. However, it would be a shame to forget the meaningful past of film that has shaped the history of filmmaking with and without technology. It is the perfect time for you to celebrate yesteryear and rejoice at the modern innovations that have successfully brought film/video editing right into our homes.
Blast from the Past
The advent of the “guillotine tape splicer” used for attaching films thanks to the sticky tape was introduced in the 1960s, taking the film industry by storm. Having a faulty splice peeled off and remade with the restoration of the frame produced a dramatic effect. It was indeed a revolution of sorts. You, the modern-day filmmaker, would never understand how this tiny step improved filmmaking capacity. You may be able to source the CIR splicer even today, especially when you look high and low for finding it. Sadly, you may have to wipe out your savings in one go.
The use of negative was paramount in those days. Yet, you ended up with a patchwork consisting of different splices. It did not matter greatly, however. You could create the final print for public screening by printing the fragmented negatives that would be joined with cement splices. You had to form a checkerboard of rolls with the assistance of a black spacer. It was the standard practice for 16mm film shots during the early days of film editing. The loss of frames at the exact point of cutting the negative was a well-known fact, and you, as a film editor, had to remain content with this loss.
Negatives were not the only necessity for shooting news, films, or documentaries, however. The 16 mm reversal was used instead, with the original, edited version being broadcast. Cement splices were utilized here in place of the improved tape splices. You would, thus, have to lose a substantial amount of the frames that caused losing a part of the content for good.
Enter Offline Editing
The entire scenario altered in 1980 with the advent of video editing. You had to take a step back to get the best out of editing practices. The established film editors were openly contemptuous about the new entrant in their terrain and scoffed at the idea. Bringing various shots together rather than using your creative flair seemed to be a crude way of achieving your objective then.
Video editing had many takers because of multiple advantages that were obvious from the beginning. Repeat shots and slow-motion were first introduced in the final half of the 80s. Sure, it involved a lot of expense, but the result justified the cost.
Nonlinear editing procedure became the norm precisely a decade later in the 90s. Surprisingly, it was the film editors who grabbed the opportunity with both hands. You would have been elated to create multiple versions of the same shot without trouble and use or discard each at your convenience. A subtle change in the work environment was taking place just then. Look back to the early 90s, and you would shudder to think of the ancient days when the workplace tended to be cluttered and messy, with the screen size too small to encourage group viewing. The tool became sleeker and went behind the scenes with the advent of digital editing. The plush sofa and aesthetically appealing office rooms became the new normal, with clients being invited to view both the editing and making of a film/video.
Final Cut from Apple and Premiere by Adobe has made the office redundant today. Instead, you can turn your cozy room at home into a well-equipped video editor’s den or switch to a desk replete with a computer and accessories to work on your editing skills.
Freedom of Nonlinear Editing
You would not even think of going back to the old techniques now that the nonlinear procedure has truly set you free. It is now easier to meet deadlines, even the more urgent ones. It does not interfere with your creativity, however. Give yourself time to think and develop a pattern that will enable you to complete the tasks efficiently without wasting even a minute extra. Organize the repetitive tasks, and attend to your work. You will find it simpler to handle the work pressure.
Technology has advanced for the better, allowing you to take on multiple responsibilities simultaneously. However, you, as a human being, are not infallible. Do not attempt to wear too many hats at the same time, though. Instead, delegate the tasks to experts in your team, and synchronize everything once each part is complete. You have to let go of your egotistical opinion and let other professionals play their roles to perfection. It will help you to get success every time.
Conclusion
Do not try to negate the importance of history once you have moved on to advanced technology to ensure video editing. Remember that your present has its roots in the past. Digital editing can help you to speed up the process and reduce costs substantially. However, you would do well to remember that the old equipment and practices remain a meaningful legacy that you have inherited. Advanced technology that powers video editing can be improved upon once you learn, and cherish, the foundation laid down by your precursors.
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