Watch a Pro Video Editor Edit in Real Time (Sailing Scene Part 2)

When I first started editing, some of my biggest breakthroughs came from simply sitting behind pro editors and watching them work. With so many people working from home these days, this can be harder to come by, so I’m recreating that experience by inviting you into my edit suite. In this session (part two of the sailing sequence from last week), you get to watch me work in real time as I refine picture edits and build out a richer sound design.

I picked this project back up after a couple of weeks away, which I actually recommend when possible as taking a break can give you a fresh perspective. Right away, I noticed a screen direction issue with the sailboat shots. A quick horizontal flip and even a reversed shot made the sequence feel more natural.

From there, I dove into sound design. Using Artlist’s (affiliate link) Premiere Pro panel, I pulled in effects like splashes, rope movement, and even a distant ship horn to suggest a bigger world beyond the frame. This is one of my favorite concepts: “world building” with sound. By layering in seagulls, footsteps, wind, and even a hawk cry, the shots instantly felt more alive and grounded.

Some key takeaways from this session:

• Step away from your project (even if just overnight) for a fresh perspective.

• Pay attention to screen direction—a simple flip can save a cut.

• “What is the sound of this shot?” is a great guiding question for sound design.

• World build with audio to imply more than what’s on screen.

This was just a quick 20-minute pass, but it already made the scene feel more polished and immersive.

Happy editing!

Austen is an ADDY award-winning film & commercial editor with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with global brands like Meta, KPMG, SAP, and Christianity Today. His PSA work has championed causes like school safety (with Matthew McConaughey), driving safety, and anti-tobacco. A thought leader in the editing field, his online lessons quickly amassed over 100K views after launch.