Editing

Editing is the process of selecting, manipulating and joining together pieces of footage in order to create a new piece of film. There are several rules to follow as part of editing, such as match on action, however these rules don't apply to every type of film; for example, match on action isn't required to be used in a music video.

Match on action
Match on action is an editing technique in which one shot cuts to another shot, but the action is continued through both shots, and it matches up exactly. This technique is used to create an impression of continuity, and a fluid sequence helps maintain the viewer's attention, so it isn't drawn away by misplaced cuts.

Shrinking time
Shrinking time is the process of showing an amount of the plot within a shorter amount of screen time. For example, irrelevant shots could be removed from a sequence to make it go from a screen time of 30 seconds to a screen time of 10 seconds. The process of shrinking can be very effective, when  used in the correct scenario.

Expanding time
Expanding time is the complete opposite of shrinking time: showing an amount of the plot, but taking far longer to do it. There are many ways this can be done, either by decreasing the frame rate of the shot, or by adding more shots into the sequence. Although this could make a sequence boring, it can be used effectively, to build tension, or to match a rhythm in a music video.

Finding Rhythm
When it comes to creating a music video, the editor has to make a decision; whether to make cuts on or off beat. It can be dependent on the genre of the song, as fast, rock tracks will tend to cut on beat, whereas more mellow songs might not be so strict with making cuts on beat.