When we got the call to edit the latest video for one of the biggest artists in the world, the stakes were high. Here's the full breakdown of how we pulled it off in 48 hours.
Hour 0-6: Organization
6 hours of footage across 3 LA locations, 2 nights. Ingested, organized into bins, flagged best takes, assembled a 45-minute selects timeline.
Hour 6-18: Rough cut
Lead editor cut to the beat. Verses: long dissolves, sensual movement. Choruses: rapid-fire cuts, jump cuts, speed ramping.
Hour 18-30: VFX & motion graphics
Custom glitch effects, neon light trails, digital distortion in After Effects. Trapcode Particular for the bridge.
Hour 30-40: Color grading
14-node tree in DaVinci Resolve. Desaturated teal base, neon highlights via HSL qualifiers, protected skin tones.
Hour 40-48: Sound, mix, deliver
5.1 mix for the premiere. Two rounds of label notes. Final master in ProRes 4444 4K plus IG/TikTok/YouTube cuts.
Result: 15M+ views first week, Best Music Video Editing at the VMA Creative Awards.
