Why you should edit films quickly.

…especially if you’re a busy parent!

By Tim Richardson

If you want to commit a moment to memory then you need to edit your films quickly.

Just editing a film doesn’t mean that you’ve created a long term memory. 

Undoubtedly an edited film will be waaaay better to watch than an unedited film. 

But if you’re just filming clips and then coming back to edit them 6 months later you’re missing out on a key part of the memory making process…

Why you need to edit films quickly…

There are 3 reasons to start editing your films on the day you film them…

  1. Editing something while it’s fresh in your memory is soooo much quicker. If there are shots that you know weren’t quite right, then you can exclude them straight away. If you’re coming back to it 6 months later – you have to rewatch everything to work out what to keep and what to chuck.
  2. Editing is a key part in committing a moment to memory! As you’re editing a film you’re making decisions about what is important and what you want to remember. While you are creating the film – your brain is building multiple connections and telling you that this is a significant moment to commit to the long term memory banks. As you are editing your brain also thinks back to the moment it was happening so if you edit a film on the day while it’s fresh you will in fact have a better memory overall than if you film it – forget about it – and edit it 6 months later!
  3. The sooner you edit a film the sooner you can share it. Watching a film back and reliving the moment is the final stage in committing a moment to memory. The sooner you can start reliving it the stronger that feeling will be when you’re watching it back later because your memory of the moment and your memory of watching back the moment blend. 

This was my eldest daughter on day 1

Even though the footage looks great – it sat on my computer for 3 years before I edited it together. 

When I watch it back it doesn’t evoke the same memory as the films I’ve created and edited since I started using the Memory Makers Methods. 

It still looks great and I’d rather have it than not…when I think about my daughter growing up the films I’ve made and edited on the day are so much clearer in my memory than the films I’ve edited later.

Why do parents find it hard editing films on the day?

If the thought of editing a film fills you with dread then chances are you’re making a few key mistakes. 

1: You’re probably filming clips that are too long. This makes it really difficult to find the bits that are worth keeping (especially if you’re doing it on your phone

2: You’ve not filmed clips from multiple angles. By changing your shots as you’re filming you can pretty much edit a film as you are filming it! That means all you have to do is stitch them together later!

Film short clips, from multiple angles, in the order you want to edit them. At that point editing can be done in a matter of minutes while you’re watching Netflix rather than the gargantuan task if you’re trying to edit a video together a year down the line. 

I make it a rule – never go to bed without editing the film from the day. 

It’s quicker, easier, and in the long run will make it more memorable for you and your family.

If you’ve never made a film before, or you have tried but found it too time consuming then there is a link below to my 6 tips training that will get you set up and running in a matter of minutes!

Get the free 6 Tips training and start Making Memories

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Why you should edit your films quickly

Just editing a film doesn’t mean that you’ve created a long term memory.

Undoubtedly an edited film will be waaaay better to watch than an unedited film.

But if you’re just filming clips and then coming back to edit them 6 months later you’re missing out on a key part of the memory making process…

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