Rough Cut

 What are the steps in editing a rough cut?  Why is a rough cut so important?

There's no right or wrong way to edit, but here are some easy steps to follow:

1) Lay out your content
2) Start doing basic cuts that just cut out silence or mistakes
3) Go back and start adding music

A rough cit is important because you can watch the entire story after the rough cut, so you can see if there's something that needs to be added, or more scenes that have to be shot. It's also nice to have a just in case" draft if you're working with a deadline. If you've left your edits long, it's always easier to cut little bits out rather than bring back footage you deleted. Lastly, you can get helpful feedback when showing a rough cut. It's easier to change things if you have a rough cut, and not a finalized project.