The person who assembles all the footage into the finished video, making decisions about pacing, rhythm, structure, and storytelling.
Editing a music video is a very specific skill. The editorThe person who assembles all the footage into the finished v... needs to feel the music and cut instinctively to its rhythm. A great editorThe person who assembles all the footage into the finished v... can transform good footage into a memorable video; a weak edit can undermine even the best-shot material.
Editor in the real world
The video for Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991), directed by Samuel Bayer, was edited to feel simultaneously chaotic and anthemic. The editorThe person who assembles all the footage into the finished v... used sharp, rhythmically aggressive cuts in the performance sections and longer, more languid cuts in the quieter verses, making the dynamic shifts in the song feel physical. The edit is arguably as important as the cinematography in making that video work.
Related terms
Rough cutThe first assembled version of the video: all the best foota..., Picture lockThe point in post-production when the edit is fully approved..., Colour gradeThe creative process of applying a stylised look to the vide..., DirectorThe creative lead of the music video. They develop the conce..., Offline editEditing done on lower-resolution proxy files to keep things ...