A few weeks ago, while editing one of the acts from my documentary, I learned just how much film editing can change the meaning of a story. The act I was working on focused on the rise of junk food in America and how this trend has quietly shaped our health as a nation. The tone was supposed to be serious, urgent, even.
But as I played the sequence back, something felt… off.
Instead of feeling concerned, I caught myself smiling. The act suddenly felt upbeat and almost cheerful, which made no sense for what I was trying to say. After watching it a few more times, I realized what had happened: I had accidentally layered in a fun, energetic song, something that sounded more like the soundtrack to a summer commercial than a segment about a public health crisis.
It’s funny now, but that mistake completely changed how the story felt. The urgency was gone, the tension was gone, and the message was completely lost. All from one editing choice.
That moment made me realize how powerful editing really is. Editing doesn’t just polish a story; it defines it.
Starting Narratives 
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