Chris Martin Studios - Video Tip: Don’t Cut Off Your Action! - Stories Matter. Documentary Filmmaker, Photographer, Writer and Speaker.

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Video Tip: Don’t Cut Off Your Action!

A few weeks ago, I was handed some DVD’s with video clips for a project I was hired to edit. As I worked my way through the footage, I came across several clips that were shortened by the videographer prematurely stopping the camera before the scene ended.

Which brings me to a video tip that I need to remember as much as the videographer that gave me the footage: Don’t cut off your action!

Start recording
Wait 3-5 seconds (This is called pre-roll)
Say “Action”
Your subject will now talk or the scene will proceed as planned
Say “Cut”
Wait 3-5 seconds (This is called post-roll)
Stop recording

That’s it! Seven easy steps to not cutting off your action.

Happy filmmaking!