Video editing can’t be learnt from theory alone — Richard MacCarthy - Punch Newspapers

Video production expert, Richard MacCarthy, has called for a shift in the way aspiring creatives are trained, criticising what he described as an increasing focus on monetary gains rather than equipping learners with practical skills. MacCarthy said some people had entered the coaching space without adequate professional experience, yet marketed courses to aspiring creatives who often lacked the practical knowledge required to build successful careers. He told Sunday Scoop, “In the coaching space, the tutors have more focus on the monetary gain over equipping people with real knowledge. Some of these tutors never had a prior professional experience; they just get their stuff together, run ads and people pay.” He argued that theoretical courses were often insufficient for beginners, stressing the importance of combining classroom knowledge with practical experience. According to MacCarthy, his own training programme was designed to bridge that gap by combining theory and practical exercises while explaining technical processes in simple terms.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google He said the goal was to help participants develop the confidence to work with the tools available to them instead of waiting until they could afford expensive equipment or software. MacCarthy also emphasised the importance of storytelling and understanding what constitutes good editing, saying technical knowledge alone was not enough to produce effective videos. He added, “The psychology here is letting them understand what a good video looks like. This is the first psychological guide. What they’d consider good editing? If they come across a video, can they identify if it’s well edited or if it’s badly edited?” he said. He added that creatives also needed to understand how to balance their artistic vision with clients’ expectations. No office of First Lady under my presidency – Sowore 2027: Sowore promises N500,000 wage, 24-hour electricity if elected FULL LIST: INEC releases final list of 18 presidential candidates for 2027 election MacCarthy said his experience in the industry had reinforced his belief that consistent visibility and personal branding were essential for building lasting professional relationships. “The biggest lesson I have learnt is constantly pushing more awareness to my brand and placing my brand in people’s faces as much as I can, as this has brought about my connections with people, giving a chance for long-term relationships,” he said. He cited his work with BTC Podcast, where he handled cinematography and post-production for sessions featuring GehGeh, Grand Tycoon and Omoyele Sowore, as some of his major projects. He also worked with Blackview Mobile as a photographer and director on a product and brand shoot for the Blackview Shark 9 smartphone. Speaking about his approach to editing, he challenged the widespread perception that professional results could only be achieved with expensive industry-standard software. He specifically advocated the use of CapCut, saying the software had developed beyond its reputation as a tool for basic social media videos. “CapCut is not just a mobile app. For a long time, it has graduated into a full-fledged professional software. Professional is not only by what you use; it’s by how much you understand what you use,” he said. MacCarthy, however, acknowledged that the mobile version had limitations but maintained that it could handle most of the projects beginners were likely to undertake. He said the broader lesson for aspiring creatives was to understand their tools deeply and develop their technical and storytelling abilities rather than waiting for access to more expensive software. Kindly share this story:

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.