5 Tips For CINEMATIC Video Editing

There’s a ton of a great video editing tutorials available on YouTube but the problem is that most of those tutorials focus on difficult editing techniques and special effects–things that don’t have anything to do with making a video look cinematic. For me, cinematic is about simplicity and emotion. You can make a video look cinematic without speed ramps and without using slow-motion all the time. All you need tot do is pay attention to the basics of filmmaking and video editing.

Now, every filmmaker has their own habits, workflow and even quirks so it’s difficult to make a one-fits-all tutorial. So, I’ve decided to share my workflow in this video. How I tackle filming and editing a super simple cinematic sequence. 5 Tips for cinematic video editing. Bonus tips only in the video!

1. Footage & Light

The key to shooting cinematic looking footage is light. Even if you’re a beginner and as a solo filmmaker you’ll be able to shoot beautiful cinematic video if you pay attention to light. The easiest and quickest way to make it look cinematic is shooting at the right time of the day. Sunset, Sunrise, golden hour, and blue hour. Soft light is your friend!

2. Story & Emotion

You don’t necessarily need a story but if you think about anything can be a story. In the example that I show you in the video the story simply is: We’re going to watch the sunset. If anything, keep it simple if you’re just starting out. Focus on getting good shots. Composition and light is where it’s at.

3. Shot Selection

One of the most important tips I can give you is: Don’t delete “bad” shots. Shots that are shaky or slightly out of focus are better than technically perfect shots that are emotionally dead. Once you add a "bad” shot to a sequence, it might come alive and add value to the video./

4. Color Grade

Doing a quick color grade will help you to feel the sequence before you start looking for music. The colors will give you a better sense of the vibe of the video. Pick a few important shots for the sequence and throw on a LUT or a quick grade. Once the sequence is finished you can fine-tune the grade.

5. Music

I ALWAYS watch some shots of my sequence on repeat while playing music. I put my video editor window and browser with Epidemic Sound opened next to each other and play music tracks. That way you have a better idea of what kind of music matches the mood of your video.