Video Editing

Explore & Discover

Start by watching videos with your eyes on the craft, not just the story. Pull up YouTube and search for "video editing before and after" or "YouTube video editing breakdowns." Notice how editors cut between shots, when they add music, and why some videos feel fast and punchy while others feel calm and slow. Check out channels like Linus Tech Tips or any Utah creator you already watch — pause at transitions and ask yourself, "Why did they cut there?" No software needed yet, just your eyes and curiosity. Keep a simple notes doc or phone note where you jot what you notice. You're ready for the next step when you can name three specific editing choices you spotted and explain why you think the editor made them.

Learn the Basics

Download DaVinci Resolve — it's free, professional, and what real editors use. Open a project and import a short clip from your phone or download a free stock clip from Pexels. Learn these four things in order: trimming a clip on the timeline, cutting with the blade tool, adjusting audio volume, and exporting your first file. Search "DaVinci Resolve beginner tutorial 2024" on YouTube — channels like Casey Faris have short, clear lessons. Don't try to learn everything at once. Focus on getting a single 30-second clip to play cleanly from start to finish with a beginning, middle, and end. You're ready for the next step when you can import a clip, make at least three cuts, and export a watchable video file.

Build Your First Project

Pick a simple subject — your pet, your neighborhood, a quick cooking video, or something you genuinely think is cool in Utah like a trail you've hiked. Shoot five to ten short clips on your phone, then bring them into DaVinci Resolve and build a 60–90 second video. Add a music track from YouTube Audio Library (it's free and legal), cut your clips to match the beat, and include at least one title card with text. Don't aim for perfect — aim for finished. Finishing a project teaches you more than endlessly tweaking one clip. Export it and watch it all the way through. You're ready for the next step when you have a completed video you've exported and watched from beginning to end.

Experiment & Iterate

Now make three short videos back to back on different subjects — variety is how you level up fast. Try one that's fast-paced with quick cuts, one that's slow and cinematic, and one that uses a voiceover or on-camera narration. Experiment with color grading using DaVinci Resolve's color wheels — try making one clip warmer (more orange) and another cooler (more blue) and notice how the mood changes. Look up "J-cut and L-cut tutorial" to learn how audio and video can overlap smoothly. Each video should be 60–120 seconds. You're ready for the next step when you've made three noticeably different videos and can explain what you changed between them and why.

Advanced Techniques

Go deep on three pro techniques: multicam editing, motion graphics, and color correction. For multicam, search "DaVinci Resolve multicam sync" — this is how editors handle footage from multiple cameras at once. For motion graphics, open Fusion (built into DaVinci Resolve) and create an animated lower-third title that slides in with your name. For color correction, learn the difference between color correction (making it look real) and color grading (making it look like a style). Study how films like those from Sundance — held every year in Park City, Utah — use color to set mood. You're ready for the next step when you've used all three techniques in a single edited sequence.

Final Project Showcase

Create your best video yet — a 2–4 minute short documentary, mini-vlog, or creative piece on any subject you care about. It should use everything you've learned: clean cuts, color grading, music that fits the mood, motion graphics for titles, and intentional audio mixing. Share it somewhere real — upload it to YouTube (even as unlisted), show it at a local library maker event, or post it to a class or community. Get feedback from at least two people and write down what they say. Real creators ship their work and learn from the response. You're ready for the next step when you've shared your video with a real audience and collected at least two pieces of specific feedback.