This Bangkok Travel video is my first edit-practicing piece. Therefore I have been testing some ideas through this video. and I’m going to share the takeaways that you could use on your own video π
Video itself
1. Pre-plan the video is important. How to save the video if you didn’t plan it upfront.
This time, I don’t have a clear plan when I’m taking all the shots. It’s really hard to construct a piece that makes sense.
Therefore, this time I focus on several things.
- Provide information
- Put similar content together.
- Make clips short so the audience doesn’t get bored with random clips.
This clip is simple information for people, but I only learned about these apps when I went to Bangkok the second time. (First time to Bangkok I got scammed multiple times by taxi. that’s why I googled it and found these two apps.)
I don’t have clips that work together however I have hoot the “new” things for me. like the hotel, the transportation, food, etc. Which is really good content to introduce.
Most of my main content was introducing the things I ran into.
In the “FOODS” section I really want to put a price on every dish, which I think will be really valuable information for someone who wants to come to Bangkok, but I already spent too much time on this video so I skipped that part.
Also, I put some preparation tips, flight information, and hotel price references on it, as a seed for others to share my video. Another good part of this approach is that you could find a lot of images and information on the internet for your video. (later on section 3 will discuss more)
2. if you need to put text alone, use paper animation.
I want to avoid a plain white or black background when displaying text. I feel that’s a bit immature. I steel this Paper animation idea from another YouTube video.(he did it really well and high- quality but I can’t find the source π
3. Utilize the information that exists already.
GoogleMaps reviews, photos, merchandize’s homepage, booking.com, etc. There are a lot of sources you can find that provide really valuable information. Which will definitely help the audience. Sometimes you don’t have to recreate all the videos and images, just reorganize what’s already on the internet.
I believe every newbie content creator(like myself) needs to be more of an organizer instead of the creator at first. So we can get into “how to provide values/tell a story” without struggling with the cameras, images, and art creation.
4. If the clip itself is a bit boring, add a very slow zoom-in effect.
Sometimes if the video is really really steady and nothing is going on in the shots, for example just a simple photo, put a slow zoom-in, it will feel more “right” and eliminate some focus-loss event. I also learn it from other YouTubers.
There is also a clip of my other videos that put really slow zoom-in effect.
5. Try out some interesting old-fashioned effects. Don’t be cheap, be the CHEAPEST.
Everyone wants to prevent making PowerPoint-like effects, however, I feel it can give you a nostalgic touch.
for example, lots of zoom-in effects feel hilarious in my video
There is another video with lots of zoom-in zoom-out effects from boy pablo, and it is awesome.
6. Don’t put all clips in the same length.
at first, I put my food collection all in 1 second. but instantly it makes me bored. in this night market clip, I have a relatively long clip (me eating food. and it makes the tempo feel better.
(video start at 2:51)
7. Take a walk, and talk to people when you are editing.
Ideas come from wandering minds. When we are focused on our work, it limits our ideas. I came up with this RPG-liked idea when editing and chatting with a friend at the same time.
Always take a 1-minute stretch, 3-minute walk, 5-minute conversation, in-between the work. It gives ideas and clarity.
8. Epilogue. When you are stuck.
It feels stuck sometimes. especially when you don’t have experience and plan. The solution is straightforward. JUST DUMP WHAT YOU GOT! No matter if it is clips, texts, or whatever.
allow yourself to have a raw-edit. When you have your first clips collection, an idea will pop up. don’t wait too long to start!
Any project that isn’t finished, is NOTHING. finish it. make it whole (even if it still sucks). something finished is worth a decent point π