Behind the Scenes: Editing Festival Performances

The Raw Footage

Taylor Stanis in a camera rig in the forest.

I find that with hours of video filled with unpredictable lighting and sound, capturing both the performers’ energy and the audience’s reactions is not an easy task. It feels almost impossible. I had to convey the atmosphere of the event, what people were doing, the activities available, and the range of performances featured. I felt like I needed to be everywhere at once, because if I wasn’t, I might miss the best part of the event.

All I could do was capture whatever I could, making sure it was the best footage possible, and trust that I could shape it into something meaningful during the editing process. Along the way, I learned, and am still learning, the importance of having a story in mind while filming. It helps guide decisions about which shots will serve the narrative best and makes it easier to determine what footage is necessary and what isn’t.

Organizing & Sorting

Once the event is over and I’m back home, the process of sorting, cataloging, and reorganizing all the footage begins. First, I offload the video from the SD cards into a dedicated folder for that specific event. Then comes the task of naming each clip clearly, so it’s easy to identify what each video contains and to highlight standout moments within the footage. For example I would name a video shooting performers on stage something like “1.1.2 - Great Violin Solo” if it had a great violin solo.

After copying and naming the files I format (or delete) all the footage on the card to ready it for my next shoot.

Crafting the Story

This is where the narrative starts to take shape. The goal of these videos is always to tell a compelling story, whether it’s about a specific person, the overall event, a particular aspect of it, or simply the vibe.

The first step is importing the footage into my editing software (Premier Pro for those interested), syncing the audio with the visuals, and correcting the color to ensure a consistent look across all clips. Then I search for music from the festival that matches the tone of the event. I edit the footage to align with the rhythm of the music, while also structuring the video in a concise, story-driven way.

Next, I send the video for review from the other members of Stanis Creative, first to Liv then to Jonathan, to get feedback on how it can be improved. I edit again, adding a clip here, removing one there, adjusting another, and send it off once more. This process repeats until we are both satisfied. With each round of feedback, the video becomes more refined and polished.

Taylor filming Katie Jane playing the violin at Mt. Tabor park in Portland

Final Cut & Delivery

Once Jonathan, Liv, and I believe the video is ready for performers or event organizers to review, we send it to them for final feedback. Based on their input, we make any final adjustments until they’re happy with the result. The video is then exported in multiple formats for various platforms like YouTube, Blue sky, and Mastodon, maximizing its reach. Throughout the process, our goal is to ensure the final product preserves the magic of the live performance.

Conclusion

Editing together a video capturing the fun and activities and entertainment and all the wonderful people is where the festival’s energy truly comes to life for future audiences. Through thoughtful editing, we can tell powerful stories and preserve moments from an event that lasts only a few days, allowing others to experience that same magic long after it’s over. This is why it’s so important for festival organizers to invest in high-quality video recording and editing, it ensures a lasting impact for years to come.