CCR Editing Blog: The Final Stretch
Okay, I’m back after hibernating in my room for the past two days. I am not exaggerating! Spring break started on the 21st, and today’s the 23rd, and I have been editing non-stop! I think it’s fair to say this was a bit of a painful experience—but at least I made it through (kind of)!
Editing the film opening was definitely easier. It was more about stitching clips together and keeping everything cohesive. But when it came to editing the CCRs? That was a whole different beast. I had to add clips, audio, animations at specific timestamps—it’s a level of precision that tested me since I’m not exactly an Adobe Premiere Pro expert.
The Struggles of an Aspiring Editor
Let me take you back for a second: in freshman year, I took a class called Information Technology. We learned editing on this really old program called Movie Maker, which, unfortunately, didn’t support the ambitious vision I had for my CCR (yes, I tried it). That’s when I decided to tackle Adobe Premiere Pro.
So, here’s what I did: I created separate folders for CCR #1 and CCR #2. Every video, image, and piece of footage I wanted to use was organized neatly. This one step saved me countless headaches because it meant I wasn’t constantly searching for files! Then, I opened Premiere and got to work.
One of the most frustrating parts was aligning images/videos with the exact words I was saying. I had to pause the footage repeatedly to insert images at the correct logical timing, and it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Oh, and let’s talk audio—BIG mistake on my part! I didn’t use any external microphone while filming, so I had to amplify the audio and use Adobe’s Essential Sound feature to reduce background noise. It worked, but it wasn’t fun.
Fixing Mistakes and Staying Creative
Another mistake I made was filming everything in separate clips instead of one continuous video. Editing these fragmented parts made the transitions noticeable, which wasn’t great. To fix this, I tried adding images, videos, or switching up angles to make the changes less obvious. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked well enough.
Then came the credits scene, which was surprisingly easier. I turned back to my old friend, Movie Maker, for this part since Premiere’s rolling credits feature confused me. Honestly, Movie Maker did the trick, and I’m glad I didn’t waste more time on it. The biggest hurdle was the number of times Premiere crashed—it was stressful, but I blame my ancient computer for that one.
Canva
While editing, I also added some personalized Canva elements to make my CCRs visually engaging. For CCR #1, I used two Canva edits to fit the theme of the director's commentary. The first was designed like the opening of a film, giving it that cinematic vibe to set the tone. The second was a title card that clearly introduced the segment as a "behind-the-scenes review," helping the audience understand the focus right away. For CCR #2, I created an animation on Canva with the words "Dear Diary" in cursive. It overlays the screen in a soft pink color, which perfectly matches the cozy, reflective vibe of the diary theme. These small touches made both CCRs feel more polished and creative!
Elevator Music Saves the Day
And finally, let’s talk about music. I picked the most basic elevator-type music—you know, soft background tunes that don’t demand attention—but shockingly, it fit perfectly with my footage. It gave the videos a polished feel while keeping the focus on my narration.
Looking Forward
Now that editing is officially DONE, I’m just glad it’s over. As tough as it was, I’m excited to present my film opening and the CCRs. Despite the challenges, this process taught me so much about editing, problem-solving, and staying creative under pressure. It was worth it, and now I can’t wait to share my work with the world!
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