Table of contents
Short video editing and production looks like dragging clips onto a timeline. The time actually goes into the hours before and after: unlabelled footage, unclear versions, wrong export settings. A two-minute video can be redone four times for reasons that have nothing to do with creativity.
1. Five Stages, Five Deliverables
From shoot to publish there are five stages: asset intake, rough cut, fine cut, packaging, export. Each should end with something you can look at, otherwise progress is judged by "almost done".
| Stage | Deliverable | Share of hours | Typical rework cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asset intake | Organised library plus shot log | ~20% | Duplicate names, missing shots |
| Rough cut | A complete first timeline | ~10% | Structure reversed late |
| Fine cut | Locked pace version | ~30% | Verbal notes never written down |
| Packaging | Subtitle file and cover | ~20% | Typos, inconsistent term readings |
| Export | Platform-specific versions | ~20% | Wrong bitrate, platform re-compression |
Put this table in a shared doc. It gives the team a common language for where a project is stuck.
2. Asset Management Saves Half the Time
Organise on shoot day, not the next morning. Build folders by date, scene and camera, and name files scene-shot-take, for example "workshop-03-02". Keep pickups in a separate folder labelled as b-roll or behind the scenes.
The shot log records three things: what the shot shows, whether it is usable, what is missing. Send the missing-shot list to the crew the same day; pickup shoots cost far less than reshoots.
3. Rough Cut for Structure, Fine Cut for Pace
The rough cut answers one question: is the order right? Conclusion or tension in the first five seconds, evidence in the middle, an action at the end. Do not worry about transitions or grading yet.
The fine cut removes every pause and filler that does not move information. One shot, one point. For talking-head content, change the frame every three to five seconds or completion rates collapse.
4. Subtitles, Covers and Export Settings
| Use | Resolution | Frame rate | Bitrate | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical feed | 1080x1920 | 30 | 6-8 Mbps | Keep subject out of UI zones |
| Website embed | 1920x1080 | 25 or 30 | 8-12 Mbps | First frame is the cover |
| Square post | 1080x1080 | 30 | 5-6 Mbps | Subtitles one size larger |
Before export, check three things: peak audio levelled, no black first frame, subtitles inside the frame.
5. Delivery Checklist
Package the final cut, subtitle file, cover image and a clean version without subtitles, plus a note on what each version is for and how many revision rounds the contract includes.
6. FAQ
Is a phone enough?
For vertical talking heads and store visits, a phone with a clip-on mic is fine. Move to a computer when you need multiple angles, grading or complex graphics.
How long does a two-minute video take?
One to two days of post once assets are complete. Most of it goes to the fine cut and subtitle proofing.
Can a one-person team skip stages?
Merge stages if you must, but keep asset intake and the delivery check. Skipping them returns as rework.
See also
- Short video: topics, shooting and distribution
- Corporate film: one shoot can feed both formats
- Pre-production: the on-site checklist before you roll
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