Shooting for the Edit

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The most successful video directors are those who understand how to shoot footage for the post production edit, or “shoot for the edit.” The concept of shooting for the edit is simple but it is rare to find a director who not only does it but also does it well. Shooting for the edit occurs when the video director knows exactly what shots they need for a particular scene and the order in which those shots will appear in the edit. Some examples of Hollywood filmmakers who are masters of this process are Alfred Hitchcock, Joel & Ethan Coen, and Steven Spielberg. These directors usually storyboard their films to know exactly how many shots they need and where they need to place the camera. Take a look at this video which compares the storyboards created for the famous shower scene in Psycho (1960) with the final film.  

Shooting for the edit makes the editor’s job more efficient. It gives the editor more time to perfect the pacing and tone of a scene instead of trying to find ways to arrange the shots just to make a scene work. However, not all video productions have the resources or time to shoot to edit. For example, shooting a branded content piece can often contain documentary elements. Or perhaps you are filming a live event like a conference or a sporting event. Sometimes it is impossible to predict what footage will be captured on set. 

If shooting for the edit is not possible then it is important to shoot coverage and b-roll. Each project will have its own set of specific requirements, but in general it is important to shoot a variety of coverage (a master shot, medium shots, and close ups are the standard) as well as a collection of b-roll (usually filmed in different frame rates). Cutting away from standard coverage to a slow motion b-roll montage is a simple and effective way to transition to a different scene or hide any mistakes in the footage. 

You don’t need to have a Hollywood budget to be able to shoot for the edit. It does require a significant amount of preparation and thought before a shoot, but I promise it will save you from countless headaches during the post production process.