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...
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...
Story editing is one of the most powerful tools in an editor's tool belt, yet it’s often overlooked. Today, we’re diving into story structure—specifically, the Hero’s Journey in Star Wars: A New Hope—with a very special guest. Scott Rice is a co-professor alongside Oscar-winning actor Matthew McC...
When you think of making an edit, you probably think of matching on action—but what if I told you there was a better way to cut? I’ve been a pro editor for over 20 years, and today I’d like to invite you into my edit suite so I can show you a new way to think about editing, complete with actual e...
I’ve been a pro editor for over 20 years, and when it comes down to it there are five simple ideas that have made the biggest impact on my editing. Today, I’d like to invite you into my edit suite so I can share them with you in the context of a broadcast commercial I recently completed, so you c...
Continuity. It’s one of the first rules editors are taught to respect. But here’s the thing: if you make it your top editing criteria, you might miss the bigger picture. I’ve been a pro editor for over 20 years and today we’ll cover what continuity editing is, why it’s not as important as you thi...
I’ve been a pro editor for over 20 years, and today I’d like to invite you into my edit suite so I can show you the what, the why, and the how behind the editing technique of cross-cutting. Watch the video above for the full lesson, and read through to the end of this article where you will find ...