Editing Tips

START EARLY: Don't wait to edit your footage until you've shot everything. Start importing and
editing your footage on a computer as soon as you have some. Continue to edit throughout the
process. Never leave all of your editing until the last day.
SAVE: Save often! If you have your own external harddrive, save all of your media and your edited
work-in-progress on that. This will allow you to work on any computer and not be tied down. If
possible, also back up your project on another drive.
CUT, CUT, CUT: Editing movies can be a heartbreaking process. You are attached to your footage
and want to include as much of it as you can. Unfortunately, your audience has a short attention
span. Cut everything that is not relevant and does not propel your story forward.
KEEP IT SIMPLE: Use effects, animations, and titles sparingly. Remember, substance always
trumps style! Focus on telling your story in a clear and compelling way.
FEEDBACK: Before you turn your final project in, show it to someone that you trust for feedback. A
fresh set of eyes can provide valuable information.
CREDITS: Don't forget to include a title and end credits. Credit everyone who helped you make the
film and credit the source of any media (audio/video/stills) contained in your movie that you did not
create.

Editing Audio in Garageband

If you want more control over your audio editing or you want to create your own
soundtrack, try GarageBand. It is easy to learn and includes lots of royalty-free loops
and sound effects for you to experiment with.  See this lynda.com tutorial  for an
extensive overview of using Garageband. The video below provides a quick
introduction to the basic features of Garageband.