Advanced Video Editing Techniques for Cinematic Look

May 4, 2024

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Lecture Notes on Video Editing for Cinematic Look

Summary

The class covered advanced video editing techniques to achieve a cinematic look using Adobe Premiere Pro. The instructor discussed choosing the right camera settings, enhancing footage in post-production with color grading, adding cinematic effects, and rendering settings for optimal video quality on platforms like YouTube.

Important Points

Camera and Shooting Details

  • Camera Used: Canon 5D Mark IV
  • Lens: Sigma 35mm f/1.4
  • Shooting Mode: Handheld, no gimbals, using C-Log picture profile by James Miller for better dynamic range
  • Recommendation: Use a flat picture profile to maximize dynamic range

Editing in Adobe Premiere Pro

Setting Up

  • Frame Rate: 24 fps for a cinematic look
  • Sequence Settings: Ensure 'Maximum Bit Depth' and 'Maximum Render Quality' are checked

Creating Slow Motion

  • Right-click footage, select Modify -> Interpret Footage, and set to 24 fps for slow-motion effect

Color Grading

  • Use adjustment layers for non-destructive edits
  • Apply Lumetri Color for initial grading
  • Adjust temperature and contrast to enhance the look
  • Utilize LUTs (Look-Up Tables) for quick color application; CMG Canon LUT mentioned

Stabilization

  • Use Warp Stabilizer effect to smooth out shaky footage

Cinematic Effects

  • Black Bars: Use crop effect or PNG files for letterboxing to create a widescreen aspect ratio
  • Film Grain: Overlay film grain (e.g., from Grainzilla) on the video to mimic high-budget cinema cameras
  • Sharpening: Apply Unsharp Mask in the case of softer footage, especially from cameras like Sony A6500 in 1080p

Adding Motion Blur

  • Use plugins like Real Smart Motion Blur for adding natural-looking motion blur between frames

Soundtrack and Audio Adjustment

  • Integrate suitable music to enhance the cinematic feel (e.g., Agnes Obel's soundtrack from the series "Dark")
  • Match clips to the rhythm and beat of the background music for better flow

Final Touches

  • Place all adjustment layers correctly in the stack; film grain and black bars must be adjusted to not overlap incorrectly
  • Utilize blend modes appropriately (e.g., Overlay for film grain)

Rendering and Output

  • Resolution: Render at 1440p instead of 1080p to surpass YouTube's bitrate limitations for better quality
  • Bitrate Settings: Use Variable Bit Rate (VBR) 2-pass with a target of 30 Mbit/s and a maximum of 50 Mbit/s
  • Check 'Maximum Render Quality' and include both video and audio in the export

Additional Tips

  • Always experiment with adjustments to see what best enhances your footage.
  • Keep learning and improving by applying new techniques and using feedback from various sources.

Comments and Suggestions

  • Encourages sharing techniques and learning from each other in the community. Provides discount codes and links for further resources in the video description.