Today, I spent the afternoon running technology for the NPPA TV Best of Photojournalism Editing competition. It was really great getting to spend three hours of one-on-one time with Shawn Montano and Matt Apthorp and eating lunch with the rest of the judges. Even though I'm not going to to a newsroom or working a video camera, I learned a lot.
Watching all of these videos, I had to train my eye to look past a great story or great photography and look at what the editor did. I learned about the differences good pacing makes. The best videos kept the pacing in tune with the storytelling. Interrupting a good story with choppy jump cuts and natural sound can distract you. There were a lot of videos that lost first place because of unnecessary footage or cheesy effects, even if the rest of their video was great. Including a bad effect is definitely memorable, but when you get them right it adds a lot to the video.
The story is the most important thing when it comes to video. Editing should enhance the story; it should reflect the people in it. If the people are ridiculous, you're allowed to go a little over the top with editing. If the people are showing their respect to an important figure in the video, calm down, use effects to also pay respect. Editing and storytelling should work together and from what I've seen today, when the editor lets that happen it turns out wonderfully.
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