Great sound design can make a commercial—but where do you even start? In this video, I sit down with seasoned commercial director Scott Rice to break down how pro editors approach sound design specifically for commercials—and why it’s just as essential as the cinematography.
We talk about how so...
In this video, I brought in veteran commercial director Scott Rice to roast my rough cut of a comedy PSA about underage drinking. Scott’s not only a longtime collaborator, he also teaches with Matthew McConaughey at UT Austin, so I knew I’d get honest, high-level feedback.
We walked through mult...
If you've ever edited a commercial or short-form video, you've likely faced the same challenge Scott Rice and I tackle in this video: balancing cleverness with clarity.
Scott—veteran commercial director, former editor, and co-professor with Matthew McConaughey at UT Austin—joined me to dissect a...
When editors talk about emotion being the most important factor in a cut, it sounds inspiring—but vague. So in this video, I sit down with veteran director Scott Rice to break down how to actually edit for emotion in a practical, actionable way.
Whether you're working on a short film, commercial...
When people think of video editing, they usually think picture first—cutting visuals, matching pace. But honestly, one of the best ways to level up as an editor is through sound design. In this video, I walk you through my live process of designing sound for a cinematic motorcycle scene, and I do...
Ever wondered what it’s like to sit behind a pro editor during a real project? In this live editing session, I invite you into my edit suite and walk you through my actual process—no polish, just a real-time cut of a high-energy dirt bike sequence using stock footage from Artlist (affiliate link)...
You've probably heard that the best edits are the ones you don't notice. But that's not always true—especially when you're trying to evoke an emotion. I'm Austen Menges, a professional editor with over 20 years of experience specializing in broadcast TV commercials with budgets of $100,000 and hi...
Are you stuck on your editing journey? I can relate. I've been a professional editor for over 20 years, and it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. After editing over 500 broadcast TV commercials with budgets of $100,000 and higher, I’ve learned some brutal truths that I want to share to help make ...
How do you get amazing clients as a video editor? I’ve been a professional editor for over 20 years, and instead of just sharing my own experience, I wanted to bring on one of my longtime clients. His name is Scott Rice—he’s a filmmaker and a veteran commercial director—and we’ve worked together ...
Turn on YouTube for more than a couple of minutes and I guarantee you’ll run into one of the editing mistakes I’m about to talk about. I’m Austen Menges, a professional editor with over 20 years of experience, and today I’m inviting you into my edit suite to share six editing mistakes I hate—and ...
In the world of video editing, the journey from rough cut to polished product is often far from straightforward. It’s a process filled with trial and error, feedback, and countless revisions. Yet, those who embrace this reality can craft truly remarkable work. Below are ten editing secrets you wi...
Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve got tons of footage—maybe even hours of it—your timeline’s in disarray, and there’s no clear story in sight? Where do you even begin?
I’ve been there more times than I can count. So, I want to share four big lessons I’ve learned over my 20-year edit...