Editing Videos

You’ve done the hard work of planning and recording your Pitch and Technical videos. Webale! Now comes the final, crucial stage: Post-production, or Editing. This is where you take all the raw footage you recorded and assemble it into polished, engaging, and concise videos that meet all the Technovation requirements.

Lesson Topic: Editing Videos

Section 1: What is Post-Production (Editing)?

Editing is the magic step where you transform your raw recordings into a finished product. It involves:

• Selecting: Choosing the very best takes from all the footage you recorded.
• Arranging: Putting those clips in the right order according to your script and storyboard.
• Trimming/Cutting: Removing mistakes, long pauses, or parts that aren’t essential to keep the video focused and within the time limit.
• Adding Visuals: Incorporating your screen recordings, screenshots, maybe titles, text, graphics, or relevant B-roll footage.
• Adding Audio: Including background music (carefully!), sound effects (rarely needed), or voiceovers if you recorded narration separately.
• Refining: Adjusting colors or sound levels slightly if needed.
• Adding Subtitles: Making sure your message is understood (required if not in English, highly recommended even if in English).

The goal is to create videos that are clear, concise, engaging, and effectively communicate your project’s story and technical details within the 3-minute limit for each video. Always keep the Technovation Judging Rubric in mind – ensure your edited video clearly addresses the required points!

Section 2: The Editing Workflow (Step-by-Step)

Here’s a typical process for editing your videos:

1. Review & Select Footage: Watch everything you recorded! Choose the best take for each segment – the one with the clearest audio, steadiest shot, and best delivery. Note down which clips you want to use.
2. Choose Your Editing Tool: You need software or an app to edit. Many free or affordable options work well:
   • On Phones/Tablets (Often Easiest!):
     • CapCut: Very popular, powerful, and free app for both Android and iOS. Relatively easy to learn.
     • InShot: Another popular mobile editor.
     • Built-in Editors: Many phones have basic editing features in their Gallery or Photos app (like Google Photos on Android, iMovie on iPhone). iMovie is quite powerful if you have Apple devices.
   • On Computers:
     • Clipchamp: Free, easy-to-use editor from Microsoft, built into Windows 11 and available online.
     • OpenShot: Free, open-source editor for Windows, Mac, and Linux (can be a bit more complex).
     • iMovie: Free and excellent on Macs.
     • (Professional tools like DaVinci Resolve exist but have a steep learning curve).
   • Choose one tool your team can access and learn together. Watch a quick “getting started” tutorial for your chosen editor if needed!
3. Assemble the Story (Content Edit):
   • Import your selected video clips, screen recordings, and any other visuals into your chosen editor.
   • Arrange them on the timeline in the correct order based on your storyboard and script.
   • Trim the beginning and end of each clip precisely. Cut out any mistakes, long pauses, or sections that repeat information or aren’t crucial. Be ruthless to save time!
   • Insert your app demo screen recordings, screenshots, or B-roll footage at the planned moments.

4. Enhance the Message (Adding Effects – Use Sparingly!):
   • Titles & Text: Add a clear title screen at the beginning with your team name and app name. Use simple text overlays (“Lower Thirds”) to introduce speakers or highlight key facts/statistics from your research or plan. Make sure text is large enough and contrasts well with the background to be easily readable.
   • Images/Graphics: If you planned to include charts or specific images, add them now. Ensure you have the right to use them (see Copyright section below)!
   • Background Music: Can make the Pitch video more engaging. Choose instrumental music that fits the mood (uplifting, serious, hopeful?). IMPORTANT: Use only Royalty-Free Music! Find tracks from the YouTube Audio Library (free) or sites like Pixabay Music, Bensound (check their specific license terms – usually require giving credit). Keep the music volume low so it doesn’t interfere with spoken words. Music might not be needed for the Technical video.
   • Voiceovers: If you recorded narration separately, add the audio file to your editor’s timeline and sync it carefully with the corresponding video clips.
5. Ensure Clarity (Subtitles):
   • Requirement: You MUST add English subtitles if the main language spoken in your video is NOT English.
   • Recommendation: It’s highly recommended to add English subtitles even if you speak English. This helps judges understand clearly (especially with different accents), improves accessibility, and allows viewing without sound.
   • How: Some video editors let you add text overlays manually for subtitles (time-consuming!). A common method is to upload your finished video to YouTube first, use its automatic captioning feature, then carefully review and edit those automatic captions for accuracy (they often make mistakes, especially with names or technical terms!), and finally download the corrected subtitle file (.srt) or just use the YouTube link with embedded captions for submission. The lesson links to a video on how to do this in YouTube.

Section 3: Keeping it Tight (The 3-Minute Rule!)

This is a strict Technovation rule:

• Pitch Video: Maximum 3 minutes 0 seconds.
• Technical Video: Maximum 3 minutes 0 seconds.
• Edit Ruthlessly: Your first assembled cut might be too long. You MUST cut it down. Remove anything that isn’t absolutely essential to telling your story and hitting the judging rubric points. Shorter, clearer explanations are better than long, rambling ones. Get feedback from your team/mentor on what can be cut.

Section 4: Let’s Edit! (Activity 1 – Pitch Video – 60 mins+)

Your Mission: Edit your Pitch Video into a polished final product (≤ 3 minutes).

Process:

1. Gather your selected footage, script, storyboard.
2. Choose your video editor.
3. Assemble the clips, trim, add screen recordings/images as planned.
4. Add titles, maybe background music (royalty-free!).
5. Add/Edit Subtitles.
6. Check the time constantly! Cut ruthlessly to get under 3:00.
7. Get feedback from team/mentor on the draft edit.
8. Refine based on feedback. Export the final video file.

Section 5: Edit Again! (Activity 2 – Technical Video – 60 mins+)

Your Mission: Edit your Technical Video into a polished final product (≤ 3 minutes).

Process:

1. Gather footage (including clear screen recordings!), script, storyboard.
2. Use the same editor.
3. Assemble clips, focusing on the demo and code/AI explanation. Trim carefully.
4. Add titles/text overlays to clarify technical points if needed. (Music usually less needed here).
5. Add/Edit Subtitles.
6. Check the time constantly! Ensure the technical explanation is clear but concise.
7. Get feedback, refine, export the final video file.

Section 6: Share Your Work! (Activity 3 – Upload Videos – 20 mins)

You’ve done the hard work, now make sure the judges can see it!

Your Mission: Upload your two final videos and get the links for submission.

Steps:

1. Choose Platform: YouTube or Vimeo. YouTube is generally recommended and widely used.
2. Upload: Log in to your chosen platform account (you might need to create one). Follow their instructions to upload your finished video files. This can take a while depending on your internet speed in Jinja – plan ahead, don’t leave it for the last minute!
3. Set Visibility: VERY IMPORTANT! Set the video privacy/visibility to Unlisted (recommended – only people with the link can view) or Public. DO NOT set it to Private, or the judges cannot watch it!
4. Get Shareable Links: Once uploaded and processed, find the unique shareable link for each video.
5. Submit Links: Copy these links accurately and paste them into the designated fields on the official Technovation online submission platform. Test the links yourself in an incognito/private browser window to make sure they work correctly!

Section 7: Celebrate & Reflect!

You’ve finished creating and submitting your videos! This is a huge accomplishment requiring planning, teamwork, technical skill, and creativity. Take a moment to celebrate with your team!

Reflection:

• How did your final videos differ from your initial storyboards? What changed during editing?
• What were the biggest challenges you faced during the editing process (e.g., software issues, cutting content, getting subtitles right)? What did you learn from overcoming them?

Section 8: Quick Review (Key Term)

• Post-production: The editing phase – assembling footage, cutting, adding effects, sound, titles, subtitles, and finalizing the video.

Section 9: More Resources

The lesson links to general guides on video editing basics if you want to learn more techniques.

Conclusion

Editing is where your video truly takes shape. Good editing makes your message clear, keeps the viewer engaged, and ensures you meet the strict Technovation requirements like the 3-minute time limit. Be patient with the process, use the tools available to you effectively, get feedback, and double-check everything before uploading. Congratulations on reaching this final stage of video creation! Muwanguzi! (Victory/Success!)