Taking a video editing class as a high school student is extremely valuable, particularly for those fascinated by filmmaking, television work, and YouTube channel careers.
Defined simply, video editing is manipulating and rearranging video shots to create new work, a fundamental skill in the digital media landscape. It’s surprisingly vital to various careers and fields, meaning that teenagers who master it can utilize it in many essential jobs in and outside of tech.
Thankfully, multiple video editing classes for teenagers are available that can help them transition into this rewarding career. Designed to push teenagers to a stronger overall understanding, these programs are a powerful tool that can help teenagers transition into a video editing career. Understanding their options can make it easier for teenagers to transition to a rewarding college program or career and enhance their overall knowledge.
Video Editing Class Options for Teens in and Out of School
Teens can learn video editing skills through various engaging and accessible methods, catering to different learning styles and preferences. They can enroll in formal courses offered by schools or specialized institutions, participate in online classes and tutorials on platforms like YouTube and Udemy, or join local workshops and community programs. These include powerful hands-on portfolio-building activities in a myriad of settings, including these fascinating settings:
- In School: In some cases, teens might have video editing classes available directly from their high school! For example, there may be production courses that teach them how to create attractive videos that capture the eye and flow smoothly. In this way, they can boost their overall knowledge base and prepare for an exciting college experience.
- After Class: What if a teenager’s school doesn’t provide video editing classes? They can easily find after-school programs that might help! These could be provided by various institutions in the area, including the school itself (common) or even from private or public colleges or universities that help set up and run these programs.
- Dual Enrollment: Colleges and universities often provide dual-enrollment classes that help them earn both college and high school credits. They typically include hands-on learning opportunities with professors who craft their courses to meet the needs of high school and college students. That makes them great for teens studying video editing.
- Summer Camps: Summer bootcamps often provide the most interesting learning experience for high school students. Designed to take place over just a few weeks, they create a fun and social experience that brings students together in engaging ways. Many take place entirely online, as well, meaning they don’t even have to leave their homes.
Lessons Teens Learn in Video Editing Courses
Video editing courses provide teens with a comprehensive learning journey, equipping them with the skills to create engaging and professional-quality videos. These courses are structured into three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. Each level builds on the previous one, guiding students from basic editing techniques to mastering sophisticated tools and effects. Here’s an overview of what teens will learn at each stage of their video editing education:
- Beginning: Teenagers start by learning the basics of video editing, including understanding different types of video formats, importing and organizing footage, and using essential editing tools in software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. They also explore concepts such as cutting and trimming clips and adding simple transitions.
- Intermediate: In the intermediate stage, teens delve into more complex editing techniques, such as color correction, audio synchronization, and multi-camera editing. They learn to use transitions, effects, and keyframing to enhance videos. Additionally, they explore storytelling through editing by understanding pacing, rhythm, and continuity.
- Advanced: Advanced students master high-level editing software features, including motion graphics, special effects, and advanced color grading. They learn about editing for different genres and platforms, such as social media, documentaries, and short films. The focus is on creating polished, industry-standard videos and developing a portfolio.
Understanding Video Editing and Its Uses
Video editing is integral to a variety of media-related fields. These are some of the biggest and most important in the industry today, and mastering them can ensure students feel comfortable transitioning into them whenever they want. However, they all have slightly different job roles and duties, which makes it important to read through this section very carefully:
- Film Production and Movies: Editors are crucial in the post-production process to cut, splice, effect, and finalize movies. In fact, most filmmakers agree that editing is the most important part of creating attractive, exciting, and unforgettable work. As a result, film editors often have very high-earning careers, depending on their employers.
- YouTube Content Creation: Creating engaging and professional-looking videos for YouTube often requires refined editing skills. Teenagers may find this work more interesting than other types of editing because of the increased demand and popularity of videos on platforms like YouTube and even Vimeo.
- Personal Projects: Video editing can turn personal footage into memorable or impactful multimedia presentations. For example, a teenager might get a side hustle creating videos for their family reunions and other unique gigs. These projects can help them earn good money and provide the help they need to make their projects stand out.
- Marketing and Advertising: Businesses increasingly rely on video content to engage customers and market products. Integrating videos into advertisements and websites helps companies capture customer attention more fully. Video editors in this field might be in particularly high demand to maximize quality and effectiveness.
Benefits of Learning Video Editing
The advantages of learning video editing while in high school are very diverse. Teenagers might simply want to work on personal projects or even make movies (a common pastime for ambitious teens). Others may want to master this skill before moving on to a rewarding career. Whatever the situation, the advantages of mastering video editing include things like:
- Ease of Use: Modern video editing software is user-friendly, with intuitive interfaces allowing beginners to learn quickly. That said, taking a video editing course can make them even easier to master! Most will focus heavily on teaching teenagers how to utilize these software tools to produce appealing and attractive video production work.
- Diverse Project Types: Skills in video editing apply to a wide range of projects, from simple vlogs to complex cinematic productions. From large-scale films with thousands of hours of footage to a 15-minute presentation for a management job, video editing helps give teens the skills they need to handle just about any project.
- Career Building: Video editing is a skill in high demand in the job market, essential for careers in many creative and media industries. Teenagers who want to transition into a YouTube production gig, in particular, will need these abilities. That said, video editing is also useful in many other markets, letting students jump into a myriad of unique fields.
Related Skills Worth Learning Alongside Video Editing
To maximize the potential of video editing skills, teens often learn related skills that boost their knowledge. These fascinating areas often make it easier for teenagers to produce unforgettable work that stands out compared to others. Just as importantly, they can help high school students prepare for careers in many fields and ensure that they do well in whichever they choose. Just a few things that teens should learn alongside video editing classes include:
- Design: Understanding graphic design can enhance the aesthetic quality of video projects. They’ll understand important layout ideas that make their videos more appealing and attractive. These useful skills can help in just about any creative career, which makes them a smart option for video editors to master.
- Film Production: Knowledge of the overall filmmaking process helps editors make more informed editing decisions that support the director's vision. Knowing how movies are filmed, storyboarded, arranged, and scored can make these steps even easier for a video editor. It can also improve their collaboration with directors and others.
- Drawing: Basic drawing skills can aid in storyboarding and visualization before the editing phase begins. Though they don’t necessarily need to become master drafters, knowing how to craft simple storyboards and styles can ensure that they know what edits to make. Furthermore, it can help them communicate edits more easily to directors.
- Web Design: Videos are often an essential part of website content, and understanding how to incorporate and optimize video in web design is valuable. Teenagers who master this skill in their training can easily move on to join a web design team. They may want to learn HTML, CSS, and even JavaScript to improve their understanding of this market.
Careers in Video Editing
Proficiency in video editing can lead to various exciting career opportunities. These often include creative and exciting roles in many industries, some of which are very high-earning. Students who master video editing, therefore, may have the opportunity to jump into some pretty fun and interesting areas and apply their skills fluently. These include jobs like:
- Video Editor: These experts work in television, film, or online platforms and edit footage into finished products. They may also work on shortening longer films, making them punchier, or livening up scenes by creating faster and more dynamic edits that help them move. They’re particularly important in smaller projects, too, such as training films.
- Film Director: Understanding video editing can aid aspiring directors in envisioning the final product during shooting. For example, directors need to know how editing works so that they can carefully plan their shoots. Though editors often have some freedom to edit however they want, directors may have specific visions they want editors to fulfill.
- Content Creator: Many content creators on platforms like YouTube and Twitch rely heavily on video editing to produce engaging content. In fact, these creatives need to understand video editing particularly well because their productions often need to be short and punchy. Knowing what to cut and what to keep is a skill that editing helps.
- Multimedia Artist: Combining video with other digital media elements helps video editors produce creative projects or marketing campaigns. Often, multimedia artists must understand not only video editing but also other important skills to improve their overall knowledge. That’s significant for anyone fascinated by this potential job role.
NextGen Bootcamp Courses in Video Editing for Teens
NextGen Bootcamps offers courses specifically designed to master video editing skills. As a trusted teens-only school, NextGen focuses on preparing teenagers for the unique steps necessary to master various careers. With hands-on courses, portfolio-building exercises, fast-paced lessons, and a fast completion time (usually just a few weeks) over the summer, this program gives teenagers the hands-on learning experience that they need to thrive.
Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate NYC
Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate NYC teaches teenagers how to use Adobe Premire Pro, the industry standard when it comes to video editing software. They’ll learn about video timeline management, changing footage speed, color correction, and much more. Video Editing & Motion Graphics Live Online provides the same experience in a virtual setting, meaning that teenagers outside of the New York City region can master these skills and build a great portfolio.
Motion Graphics with After Effects NYC
Motion Graphics with After Effects NYC teachers high school students how to create attractive motion graphics using After Effects, a powerful Adobe tool that creates strong work. It lets teens edit video quickly and efficiently and includes concepts like animation processing, motion tracking, title and text editing, and 3D layering. Video Editing & Motion Graphics Live Online provides the same experience virtually for any high schooler outside The Big Apple.
College Courses in Video Editing for Teenagers
While there are no specific Advanced Placement (AP) courses for video editing, many colleges and universities offer comprehensive programs in film and media arts that include video editing. Taking prep classes in high school should make it easier for teens to progress to these courses and also provide many other advantages. In this way, they’re essential for any high school student who wants to advance in this career. These programs often provide:
- Hands-On Experience: Students get practical experience with the latest video editing software and techniques. Typically, these courses include free monitors and computers on which students can practice splicing and editing footage with high-quality programs. In this way, this experience can help high schoolers become even more skilled.
- Internship Opportunities: Many training programs have connections with film studios and media companies, making it easier for teens to find an internship position. Even if they don’t work directly with a film company, they could find work with marketers and other companies that need video editors to produce excellent work.
- Career Preparation: College courses prepare students for the professional demands of careers in film, television, and digital media. They’ll get the fantastic hands-on experience they need to craft amazing videos. Just as importantly, they can get interview prep training that can make it easier for them to find a job after training.
Enrolling in a video editing class provides high school students not only with a set of technical skills but also with a pathway to creative expression and career opportunities in multiple fields. Whether through specialized bootcamps like NextGen or college degree programs, students can lay a strong foundation for a successful future in video editing and related media professions. That makes it more than worth pursuing, no matter what a teen’s skills.