Creating films, YouTube productions, and television shows requires a broad range of different vital skills, including video editing.
In fact, teens fascinated by production may find these courses a powerful way of improving their lives and joining a rewarding career field. For example, they could become a full-time video editor or even a director and improve their earning opportunities. Just as significantly, they can minimize potential errors that affect their work.
Thankfully, there are many learning opportunities teens can tap into and improve their video editing knowledge. These include private training organizations that provide fast-paced and innovative classes that streamline education and make it more efficient. No matter what a teen’s interests, previous experiences, and natural abilities, there should be an animation class that provides the hands-on support that they need. Here’s what they need to know before beginning.
Defining Video Editing and Its Uses for Teens
Video editing is the process of manipulating and rearranging video shots to create a new work. It involves editing segments of motion video production footage, special effects, and sound recordings. Secretly, it’s one of the most essential skills for movie makers and production specialists to understand. Great editing can make films more exciting, minimize downtime, capture viewers' attention, and ensure they don’t get bored while watching.
This vital importance means that video editing is used in various fields, some of which might be surprising. The most obvious market is media production, such as shows and movies. However, video editing goes beyond these areas and includes more that could interest teenagers. Here are some that teens might enjoy researching if they want to get into video editing:
- Film and television production, including streaming services like Netflix
- Advertisements and social media content, especially when utilizing marketing materials
- General creator work, crafting compelling narratives and visual experiences on various subjects
- Event planning and production, including things like weddings and family reunions
Popularity and Benefits of Learning Video Editing for High Schoolers
Video editing is not only a popular hobby but also a critical skill in many professional fields. It’s also far harder than some people may realize because it includes multiple advanced topics that could be challenging to master. That doesn’t mean that high schoolers can’t learn it! Instead, they just have to take the time to practice these techniques and learn how to apply them properly in a myriad of fields. Doing so can ensure that they receive the benefits they want.
Most of these advantages center on utilizing video editing professionally. However, there are other unique hard and soft skills teens might master when getting into video editing. These may include personal advantages, such as a better understanding of film production and other technical concepts. For high school students, learning video editing offers benefits, including:
- Creative Expression: Video editing allows students to express themselves creatively, telling stories through visuals and sound. For example, they could start a YouTube channel and create tightly edited, fascinating, and high-quality work that gets their name out there. Others may use them for more personal projects for their family members.
- Professional Skills: The best video editing courses can teach project management, attention to detail, and the ability to meet deadlines—all valuable in any professional setting. Even if a teen never edits after completing this class (which could happen), knowing these high-level techniques makes them a more appealing candidate.
- Technical Proficiency: In these courses, students gain expertise in using industry-standard software, which is essential in many creative and communication careers. For example, they may use video editing when producing presentations for their employer, which can highlight essential subjects, such as earnings and losses.
- Overall Creative Knowledge: Learning video editing can improve a student’s understanding of other aspects of filmmaking and media production, including cinematography and scriptwriting. They can use these abilities to not only craft excellent film productions by transition into other fun and exciting projects.
Typical Video Editing Learning Program for High School Students
Generally speaking, training programs for high schoolers work you through beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons to ensure that they fully understand each lesson before moving on to more complex ideas. The goal here is to slowly but insistently help a student become a better editor, someone who knows how to produce streamlined and efficient work. That’s critical and can ensure that teens create videos that make sense for them.
By understanding these comprehensive lesson plans, teens can master video editing, avoid common pitfalls, and minimize errors. Those huge benefits make this tiered approach popular in many tech-based careers, as it builds on previously mastered abilities to ensure teens get great training results. A video editing program for teens might include classes in the following tiers:
- Beginner Lessons: During these early classes, teens are introduced to basic video editing software (such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro), understand workflows, and learn simple cuts and transitions. This will help them feel more comfortable transitioning to more difficult areas and do better overall.
- Intermediate Lessons: Now, teens will work on more advanced techniques like color correction, audio editing, and integrating text and graphics. Integrating these concepts into their work helps to make it more attractive and eye-catching. In other words, they’ll change the overall style and make each project far more professional.
- Advanced Lessons: In these classes, teens will complete complex projects involving effects, motion graphics, and narrative techniques. Students might also learn about encoding, exporting, and optimizing video formats for various platforms. When they’re done, they should feel better creating professional-level projects for their consumers.
Careers in Video Editing for Interested Teenagers
Proficiency in video editing can lead to diverse career opportunities in many fields. That makes it a very rewarding skill to learn, particularly for those creative teens looking to become more proficient in this unique and exciting market. Often, these jobs have a high earning potential and the ability to move up to even better roles, depending on a teen’s abilities and overall excellence. For instance, they could become video producers or directors.
It’s important to note that not every video editing career will be immediately apparent to teens. In fact, many are only tangentially related to filmmaking, video production, and YouTube channels. With all these fascinating career options available after mastering video editing, classes remain very in demand. Just a few of the most popular of these video-editing careers include:
- Video Production: Video production specialists will work on creating content for TV, cinema, or online platforms. For example, they might not just film the work but edit it carefully to create consistent and appealing work. No matter the scope of a producer’s career, they’ll likely use video editing regularly to keep their productions looking great.
- Filmmaking: Filmmakers will work on various aspects of film production, from short films to feature films. They’ll need video editing skills to keep their films moving efficiently and minimize downtime. Just as importantly, they need to use video editing when uploading projects online, which is common in many film production fields these days.
- Marketing: Marketers regularly work on producing promotional videos and advertisements for brands and services. Even if they aren’t full-time filmmakers, knowing how to edit and make videos attractive can improve their processes. Even knowing how to cut, paste, and tweak videos can ensure that marketing videos look fantastic.
- Web Design: Marketers may utilize video editing skills when incorporating video content into websites to enhance user engagement and convey information dynamically. That makes it critically important for web developers to fully understand video editing, primarily if they work in a competitive market that demands perfection in their work.
Schools and Bootcamps for Video Editing for Teens
There are many schools and bootcamps for video editing available for teenagers interested in this subject. These options give teens the hands-on support they need to master video editing in a streamlined and efficient way. Just as importantly, they provide other benefits like post-training job interviews, 1-on-1 mentoring, and small class sizes. Some even provide payment plans that help reduce initial expenses and help students progress to more hands-on work with ease.
NextGen Bootcamps
NextGen Bootcamps provides in-person and live virtual training explicitly suited to teens. Its courses use a fast-paced style (typically lasting between one to four weeks) to help students get the training they need without taking up too much of their summer. Just as importantly, they get benefits like 1-on-1 mentoring, free class setup support, assistance throughout the class from skilled professors, and a digital certificate that highlights their knowledge on resumes.
Animation Summer Bootcamp NYC
Animation Summer Bootcamp NYC teens learn about traditional 2D animation and various related subjects. For instance, they may study animation’s history and various principles and help learners master character design and other essential subjects to enhance their knowledge. Students outside the New York City region can also take Animation Summer Bootcamp Live Online if they’re fascinated by these subjects but don’t live anywhere near The Big Apple.
Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate NYC
Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate NYC helps students learn about Premiere Pro, After Effects, and other critical video editing software. Like Animation Summer Bootcamp NYC, NextGen provides a live version of this popular course. Video Editing & Emotion Graphics Live Online teaches teens these important lessons virtually, which works great for those outside New York City, those who simply prefer digital learning experiences, any anyone a little shy.
Noble Desktop
With over 30 years of training experience in business and tech, Noble Desktop has built a reputation for excellence that makes it the go-to educational facility for many firms. For example, teenagers looking for more advanced courses might find Noble more beneficial for their skills. Typically, these programs take longer and use a more comprehensive design than NextGen Bootcamps, which makes it an intelligent option for teens who want to solidify their skills.
Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate
Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate teaches students how to handle essential video editing software, including Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Cinema 4D Lite, and Audition. As teens work through this training, they’ll develop creative techniques for editing videos and create a professional demo reel that shows off their best work. That’s a huge advantage and is one that can help teenagers transition more effectively into an exciting career as video editors.
Motion Graphics Certificate
Motion Graphics Certificate focuses heavily on teaching teenagers how to use motion graphics and visual effects to improve their video projects. Programs they’ll learn include Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D Lite. These critical software tools help teenagers edit videos seamlessly and create excellent results. When they’re done, they’ll not only have a demo reel but a digital completion certificate that they can use to highlight their abilities in this field.
LinkedIn Learning
As the most respected professional social media site, LinkedIn has millions of users who connect with potential employers and learning programs. LinkedIn Learning is a self-paced educational suite that connects users with various types of learning resources. These include guided videos, streamlined courses, and exercises. It differs from NextGen or Noble because each class is asynchronous or not live. That means teens have to learn without a teacher.
Premiere Pro Essential Training (2022–2024)
Premiere Pro Essential Training (2022–2024) is a self-directed training program that teaches students how to use Premiere Pro to edit videos. Students learn about exercise files, linking media, starting and opening projects, using the Project Panel and Source Monitor, and carefully adjusting videos throughout the timeline. This information should help teens better understand this software and produce high-quality projects when they’re done with their training.
College Classes in Video Editing for High Schoolers
While there are no specific AP courses for video editing, many colleges offer courses or degrees in film and media studies that heavily focus on video editing and production. These institutions' programs often provide many benefits to students fascinated by video editing who want to build their skills and join a fun and exciting market. Often, they focus heavily on building the skills a teen may have learned in their previous training courses to ensure they understand editing.
Just as importantly, they can help teens reduce their course completion time by making it easier for them to skip boring entry-level classes. As a result, they can jump into more interesting and exciting subjects that will most likely capture their attention and ensure that stay focused during class. Just a few other advantages teens might get in these courses include:
- Access to Advanced Equipment: Students can use professional-grade cameras, editing software, and studios during their studies. This benefit is particularly huge when working with in-person training teams, which typically provide expensive and effective filming and editing software and hardware for student learners.
- Internships: Many programs have connections with media companies, offering students hands-on experience in the industry. Even better, they may even have job-placement programs, meaning teens learn how to interview correctly and could even work directly with a job placement professional to find a career that fascinates them.
- Career Preparation: In college courses, teens will receive comprehensive coursework and create real-world projects that help prepare them for careers in various aspects of media production. This way, they can build on their previous training, expand their knowledge base, and transition to an even better career after finishing college.
Enrolling in a video editing course as a high school student is an excellent investment in both personal and professional development. With courses like those offered at NextGen Bootcamps and Noble Desktop, students can gain a solid foundation in video editing that enhances their creativity, technical skills, and readiness for college or a career in the dynamic field of video production. In this way, they can become a fantastic video editor or start another career.