How To Make a Short Documentary About the Titanic: 5 Editing Tips

Creating something from scratch seeks creativity, even when that something is a short documentary that should be informative. Some might think that making documentaries is easy, but there are certain standards you need to follow, and above all, you need to create a video that will be interesting for the viewers, which can sometimes be tricky, even when covering popular themes and topics like Titanic. That is why these tips should be of much help with editing your short video documentary, so let’s start.

Going Through the Footage

The first step in editing videos is somewhat the dullest one because it requires time to go through all the footage in order to determine what’s important and should be in the video. This is even more important for short videos as this is where the focus is solely on key segments and frames.

In case you have shot some scenes several times, then this process can last even longer as you will have to go through every shoot and pick the best one. Understandably, the goal is to provide viewers with an authentic view and content, as you need to keep them interested in watching the entire video and also provide the essential info.

One of the ways we can achieve this is by determining whether to go with fun facts or to provide essential information without. Keep in mind that Titanic is something that everyone knows about, and the movie has a huge role in that, meaning that mentioning it is always a good thing. But even this can be a bit tricky, as using videos and clips that are not made by you is never a good idea due to copyright. Luckily, there are so many ways to avoid this, and even if you need to use something, using some photo created by AI will do the job.

Use the Right Program

Use the Right Program
Source: mixkit.co

People with enough experience in video editing are well aware of how important it is to have all the necessary video editing tools. Namely, the only way to create something that will stand out from the rest yet still be informative and entertaining is by creating a video that has all the required segments, which is why having the right program and editing software is of vast importance. Features and editing tools can help a lot in creating a video that will follow all the required standards but will help you create something authentic at the same time.

Luckily, there are so many editing tools and software available, and even if one doesn’t want to spend too much on this, one can still find great editing software for free. Another good thing about these programs is that they also provide so many tips and guides so that even those not that familiar with how video editing works or how a great short video should look can easily be found here, so make sure to give this a view. There is something for everyone, but make sure to pick the editing software that suits your purposes the most.

Don’t Forget the Storyline

This is where most new video editors make a mistake, especially when a documentary they are creating is about something as popular as Titanic. That is why having a detailed guide on what the video should put the key focus on and the message you want to send is so important.

This will also help you stick to the scenario and make the editing process even easier. Remember, the story is everything, and the one about Titanic is so unique and special that you can easily find an angle to approach this subject that will be new, authentic, and, above all, interesting for the viewers. Understandably, the key thing is to stick to the scenario and the goal of the story you want to create, and determining the beginning, the middle, and the end of the documentary about Titanic before you even start shooting video or assembling photos can be of much help.

Use Free Photos if Needed

Use Free Photos if Needed
Source: buffer.com

Since this is a short documentary, there isn’t that much room for dull images and even information that is not essential to the story. Luckily, topics like Titanic are so great as there are so many interesting facts, but sometimes, even when you cover topics like Titanic, you simply get to the point where you need to use some photo that will fit perfectly with the plotline and scenario.

Understandably, there are so many free stock photos to choose from, and all that’s needed is a bit of time to do the necessary research in order to find the ideal photo. Of course, another way to achieve this goal is to use an AI image generator, and this probably is the easiest way as all that’s needed is to add specific parameters of what you want the photo to be about and, voila, you will get a free photo that you can use.

The Length of The Video

Yes, we are talking about a short documentary, but that doesn’t mean there is some predetermined and genuine rule that specifies how long the video should be. This is great because we can focus on the content and put everything in the documentary that we find essential and edit it in a way so that the message and story follow each other.

Now, the goal is not to get carried away and create a documentary that lasts much more than it should. Short documentaries are extremely popular, as today, people are much more eager and willing to watch videos that don’t last for more than half an hour.

This leaves enough room to place everything we find important in the video and still fit within this margin. Understandably, we don’t want to create a documentary that lasts less than 5 minutes, especially when the topic is such a popular and extensive one like Titanic. So, when determining the length of your short documentary, keep in mind that you need to place every important segment so that it fits the format of the short documentary.