Update 05/08/24

Forgive me if you don’t know what video editing is. This post is for those just beginning the journey or needing a refresher.

Debates may arise over the first film, with some pointing to the groundbreaking Horse in Motion (1878). This cinematic marvel was crafted using multiple cameras, a collection of still photographs ingeniously assembled into a motion picture. A staggering 24 cameras were employed to capture this pioneering piece of film history.

Actual motion picture cameras were developed in the 1880s. That is when the camera started capturing all the single images on one reel. At this time, there was no editing. Each film ran as long as there was a film to roll.

Early filmmakers would shoot scenes, halting the camera’s crank when they deemed the shot complete. They would then reset for the next scene, resuming the crank when all was ready. This marked the nascent stage of editing, a form of editing within the camera that did not involve manipulation of the reel.

Editing began in the 1900s. Did you know that one of the first reasons for editing is that studios want films to be longer? They wanted multiple film reels compiled into one continuous movie. After that revelation, they started putting images together to try and tell a story.

One of the very first films that not only combined reels but began to develop some rules (or guidelines, as I prefer) for video editing is The Great Train Robbery (1903)

Watch this movie and realize

• There is action/movement in every scene
• They maintain screen direction (except for one edit)
• There is sequencing
• Each edit advances the story
• There is an effort made in pacing/rhythm
• Editing has mostly stayed the same for over 100 years.