Drop your clips onto the timeline in the order of your script or storyboards. Don't worry about pacing yet; just get the "bones" of the story down.
The bulk of the film where stakes rise and obstacles appear. Act III (Resolution): The climax and the aftermath. 3. Assembly & Rough Cut
Vary your cut lengths. Fast cuts create tension; long takes allow for emotional weight.
Start trimming the heads and tails of clips. Focus on the flow of the story and making sure the logic of the scenes makes sense. 4. Refining the "Feature" Feel
Features live and die by audio. Layer in ambient room tone, foley (footsteps, fabric rustle), and a cohesive score.
Watch your footage and move the best takes into a "Selects" folder to save time during the edit. 2. The Narrative Structure A standard feature usually follows a three-act structure:
Ensure your timeline matches your highest quality clip (likely 1080p or 4K).
For a feature-length project, H.264 or H.265 (HEVC) are standard for digital sharing, while ProRes is preferred for high-quality masters.