Don’t Fall into the Production Trap: Wipes and Filters to Avoid

It’s difficult to believe that video editing once consisted of physically splicing film clips and taping them together. Thanks to technology, video production has gone digital in Utah and around the world. All a person needs now to edit video is a computer program.

While digital technology is a blessing for the film production world from Hollywood to Utah, Ben Parker (if he were real) would remind editors, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.

High Tech But Cheesy 

High tech wipes cheapen a video and should never be used for professional production. While it might be trendy to transition from shot to shot with a star-shaped wipe, it appears amateurish. Using a clock wipe that sweeps around the clip from the center of the shot is just a lazy way to show the passing of time. 

Obvious wipes also date a production, no matter how “high tech” they may be. To put that in perspective, many of the wipes used today are reminiscent of those used by George Lucas in his Star Wars films. So, if you’re looking for that 1980’s feel, by all means, keep using those tech wipes. 

Old is New?

Filters are great. They can intensify and mute colors, create atmosphere and add that certain something a production lacked. We’ve come a long way since silent black-and-white film, so the question begs to be asked: Why are we suddenly going back?

Black-and-white and sepia filters are all the rage in video production. Similar to tech wipes, these types of filters date video productions–and not in the way intended.

Digital technology provides editing professionals in Utah and others around the country a plethora of tools and tricks. It’s easy to get caught up in all of the options. Ultimately, in professional video production, less is more.