Beyond the Timeline: The Diverse World of Video Editing

Video editing. Sounds simple, right? Chop some clips, add a track, throw in a cool transition or two, done. Except… not really.

After more than a decade in this industry, I can tell you, editing is a shape-shifter. What works for one kind of project completely falls apart in another. And it’s taken me everything from newsroom burnout to polished corporate suites to fully appreciate that.

I started out in the fast, frantic world of news. The priority was speed and precision. Cut fast, cut clean, cut now. My boss use to say "as long as there were no black frames". Then came real estate walkthroughs, corporate interviews, lifestyle TV. Each one with its own rules, tone, and pacing. You start to realise: editing isn’t just about timing, it’s about tone control and sometimes finding the story where there is none.

Take short-form content for social media, "the TikTok generation". Breakneck pace, trend-driven sound design, and zero tolerance for boredom. You're expected to cut like your audience has ADHD and a thumb cramp.

To be honest, it’s not my thing.

This is why I don’t offer a social media editing package. I don't do "add this trending sound and zoom the camera in 200% every second beat." I offer short-form narrative edits. Still fast-paced, still short, but with rhythm and structure. With intention. Less noise, more story.

Now, if you get social media videos, none of this will make sense to you. Because you get it. And that's great. I simply don’t. I’ve tried. It’s not where I shine. And when you’re your own boss, one of the perks is not forcing yourself to do the things that go over your head or just grind you down. This is one of those things.

AI impression of how stressed I get doing Social Videos

That said, short-form narrative edits? I’m all over that.

Give me a punchy promo cut for a doco. A lifestyle teaser. A high-energy piece to launch a brand or event. Snappy, visual, intentional. That stuff gets me excited. That’s storytelling in miniature. And that’s a very different beast from the sparkly, sporadic, “did we just watch six unrelated clips in 10 seconds?” world of trending social edits.

you wouldn’t put a NASCAR champ behind the wheel at Monaco and expect them to win the Grand Prix.

Now, why do I sound like I’m shitting on social videos? I’m not. Truly. I just think it’s important to point out that not all videos are the same, and not all editors are either.

Different styles demand different instincts. Different tools. Different brains.

It’s like racing: Formula 1 and NASCAR drivers are all technically “drivers”, but you wouldn’t put a NASCAR champ behind the wheel at Monaco and expect them to win the Grand Prix. They’ve got different strengths*. Same goes for editors.

Some folks are wired for the chaos and trend-chasing creativity of social videos, and they do it brilliantly. But me? I’m better when there’s narrative intention behind the cut. When there’s a shape to the thing. A build. A payoff.

And that’s okay. It’s not about hierarchy. It’s about fit.

Then you’ve got the cinematic stuff, short films, music videos, high-end branded content. This is where visual storytelling shines. Every frame matters. Colour grading becomes its own language (the bane of my existence). You’re working alongside directors, obsessing over emotion, timing, texture, and transitions that feel like part of the story, not just something flashy.

And don’t get me started on live content. News, sports, events, it’s a high-wire act. You’re cutting as things happen, dealing with tech quirks, late delivery of the footage. Sometimes people are just idiots, but that's for another post.

What I’ve learned is this: the edit isn’t just where the story comes together, it’s where the tone, pacing, and intent are carved into place. And not every editor suits every style.

Finding the right editor for the right job? That’s not just about preference. It’s about results. Faster turnarounds, fewer headaches, and better stories.

So next time you watch a killer ad, a moving doc, or even a punchy TikTok, spare a thought for the editor. Chances are, their fingerprints are all over the way it made you feel.