Beware the Edit

This last week I've been sitting and choosing footage to be used for a promo. And whilst it only lasts 2 minutes, I am quite pleased with myself, mainly because it successfully does the job of promotion, but also for not going for the cheap gag and making people look utterly abhorrent.

I should mention that in the rushes I was choosing clips from there was no rudeness, no complaining, no divas. They were perfectly lovely. But it could have so easily been made to look the other way.

So, with that, here are my top tips for if you do find yourself in front of the camera to avoid being made a knob of in the edit.

1. Be nice to everyone. Not just the director and producer, but the tea runner, make up girl, the props assistant. You'll be impressed by who has a say in things sometimes.

2. Don't blink. Even if the shot lasts for fifteen minutes. People can pause on you, and let me say no one looks cute when mid wink.

3. Don't ever be angry. Of all the footage taken that day, one shot of you frowning can be used anywhere in the programme. No one gives a damn about continuity, if they can get you completely disagreeing with the most rational of subjects, say, aren't puppies lovely. And even if you frown once, they can use it again, and again, and again. Making you one of the most grumpy irrational people to never write for the Daily Mail.

4. Breathe, but quietly. Whilst varying speech patterns are good, as it alerts us to when people ar excited, nervous or angry, a coherent and paced monologue makes you confident and most likely to make the final edit, as you are snippable in perfect bitesize chunks. IfallwordsarestrungtogetherwithlotsofumsandersthenaMASSIVEdeepbreath, so loud it'll awaken the Kraken, you're either going to be edited to within an inch of your life changing all meaning or you'll be left on the floor.