What are the signs that it's time to cut a scene in video production?

1 Sign #1: Your scene is not advancing the story

One of the main reasons to cut a scene is that it is not advancing the story. A story is a series of events that lead to a goal, a conflict, or a resolution. Every scene in your video should contribute to the story in some way, either by introducing a new event, developing a character, creating tension, or resolving a problem. If your scene is not doing any of these things, it is probably unnecessary and should be cut.

2 Sign #2: Your scene is repeating information

Another reason to cut a scene is that it is repeating information that the audience already knows or can infer. Repeating information can make your video boring, redundant, or patronizing. It can also slow down the pace and reduce the impact of your key messages. To avoid repeating information, you should review your script and storyboard and identify any scenes that are saying the same thing in different ways. Then, you should either cut them or combine them into one scene.

3 Sign #3: Your scene is confusing the audience

A third reason to cut a scene is that it is confusing the audience. Confusing scenes can make your video hard to follow, unclear, or inconsistent. They can also undermine your credibility and authority as a video producer. To avoid confusing scenes, you should check your logic and continuity and make sure that your scenes are coherent, relevant, and connected. You should also use transitions, captions, and voice-overs to guide the audience and explain any gaps or changes.

4 Sign #4: Your scene is losing the audience's attention

A fourth reason to cut a scene is that it is losing the audience's attention. Losing the audience's attention can make your video ineffective, unengaging, or forgettable. It can also hurt your retention and conversion rates. To avoid losing the audience's attention, you should monitor your scene length and duration and make sure that they are appropriate for your video format, genre, and purpose. You should also use variety, contrast, and emotion to keep the audience interested and invested.

5 Sign #5: Your scene is distracting from the main point

A fifth reason to cut a scene is that it is distracting from the main point. Distracting scenes can make your video unfocused, irrelevant, or off-topic. They can also dilute your message and weaken your call to action. To avoid distracting scenes, you should define your main point and goal and make sure that every scene supports them. You should also eliminate any scenes that are tangential, unrelated, or contradictory to your main point and goal.

6 How to cut a scene effectively

Cutting a scene is not as straightforward as deleting it from your timeline; you need to consider the effect of your cut on the rest of your video. To do this effectively, you can use the rule of three, the L-cut, the J-cut, and the jump cut. The rule of three states that things that come in threes are more satisfying, memorable, and effective than other numbers. You can use this rule to structure your scenes and decide which ones to cut. The L-cut and J-cut are editing techniques that create a smooth and natural transition between scenes. The L-cut is when the audio of the first scene continues over the video of the second scene. The J-cut is when the audio of the second scene starts before the video of the first scene. Lastly, you can use a jump cut to create a sense of speed, urgency, or excitement in your video. This cut skips over irrelevant or repetitive parts of a scene without losing context or continuity.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?