Changes during editing

 When we were making the bridge part of our music video, we had a different idea in our mind. We had intended to layer previous memories on the scene of her driving to the beach almost as though the relationship were being flashed in her mind. This was aimed at ensuring that the moment was more emotional and thought-provoking.

That is the version that my partner put together but after watching it, it was not what we wanted. The overlapping clips were too active and somehow distracting, and, rather than contributing to the feeling, it complicated the scene to follow. It also deprived the driving shots of their simplicity which were already powerful in themselves.

I proposed to use jump cuts instead of that. I believed that a less elaborate style would be more useful to the rhythm of the bridge itself and provide the emphasis on her without making the images too elaborate. My partner then re-edited the scene using jump cuts.

Such a change was a big difference. The jump cuts were smoother and much closer to the tempo of the music. It enhanced the scene and made it more watchable. In retrospect this was a lesson that it is necessary to re-evaluate your ideas when editing. Although something might sound good, it does not necessarily translate into a good picture and simplification of a picture can give the end result a significant boost, in some cases.