Pro Editor Reveals 6 Ways To Add Emotion To Any Video

Ever finish an edit that looks flawless but just doesn’t feel right? I’ve been there. After 20 years cutting broadcast TV spots, I’ve learned that emotion isn’t something that just happens—it’s built, cut by cut. In this video, I break down one of the most emotional scenes in Interstellar and show you six editing techniques that make it hit so hard—and how you can use them to bring more emotion into your own edits.

Before anything else, here’s the biggest mistake most editors make: jumping into the timeline without knowing what emotion they want the audience to feel. Here, the director and editor knew exactly what emotions they were targeting—loss, heartbreak, love—long before they started cutting. So take five minutes before your next project and pick an emotional target. Every choice—shot, rhythm, sound—should flow from that.

Here’s how Interstellar builds its power, step by step:

1. Align with story structure. This scene sits at the emotional midpoint of the movie, when external tension turns inward. Knowing where your scene lands in the overall story helps you cut with purpose.

2. Give each scene its own arc. Even short scenes should have a setup, rising tension, and climax—just like a mini story.

3. Use reaction shots. We feel what the character feels, so hold on those close-ups. The emotion often lives in the reaction, not the dialogue.

4. Shape the rhythm. Start slow, build momentum, then return to stillness for impact. Contrast in pacing creates emotional weight.

5. Use silence strategically. Sometimes the most powerful move isn’t adding more music—it’s stopping it. Silence gives the audience space to feel.

6. Move closer. Gradually tightening your shots as emotion builds draws viewers in and heightens connection.

Each of these techniques helps you design emotion—not just capture it.