Due to some classic tech drama (because, of course, something had to go wrong), my laptop decided to quit on me right when I needed it most. So, while I waited for it to be fixed, I focused on studying for my other subjects, trying to stay calm. Then, Sir Zia asked in class who had completed their video, and that sinking feeling hit me hard because, well, it was due at the end of January. But hey, better late than never, right?
The moment I got home, I immediately downloaded CapCut on my phone (desperate times call for desperate measures) and yes, I had to splurge on the premium version to unlock all the features. At least it was successful! Since I had to submit the video to Sir Zia for approval the next morning, I had less than two hours to edit it.
Since editing is no joke, this is when things start to get serious.
To start, I slowed down the old birthday video to create a gentle, sentimental feel. The look I desired for the historical moments in contrast to the current photos was achieved by applying a radiance filter, which intensified this memory-like vibe. As a result, the two timelines were clearly separated. I used the original sound of the matchstick hitting and the candle being lighted in the scene where the character lights the candle. It seemed to me to add authenticity and make the scene more engaging. I began playing the song "The Night We Met" at this point, relating the candle's symbolism—which stands for hope—to the song's premise.
I had to change the exposure to lessen the intense yellow light that the candle was casting. To make the scene a little darker and less dazzling, I used a little filter. This made it easy to distinguish between the past and current periods and controlled the yellow lighting. This filter remains consistent until the end of the video. Between the scenes, I added many fade-out transitions to ensure the pacing was slow and reflective, avoiding any jarring cuts. The aim was to build the emotional weight steadily, making sure everything felt like a gradual unfolding of the narrative.
I chose to alter the tone for the scene where the character puts the brownie in the refrigerator, making it appear colder and almost whitewashed to represent emotional distance. This photo was a bit too slow, so I sped it up to break the rhythm. Similarly, when the character plugs in the headphones, I quickened the motion and zoomed in slightly to give the shot more intensity and focus. When it came to the moment the character turned up the volume to 100%, I made sure to give that action a lot of attention with close-ups to really drive home the immersion and the intensity of his emotions.
It's interesting to note that I didn't intend for the lighting in the room where the character enters to turn red. The way the room lights worked during filming was the cause, not any filters or post-editing. However, I adored the result since it gave the frame a cozy, almost unpolished look that was ideal for the atmosphere. In order to make the shot smooth and even and give it a polished appearance, I additionally stabilized the scene where the character opens his email after cranking up the volume.
I reinstated the low-key filter as we moved to the last scene, where the character gets the word from his sister, emphasizing the message's emotional impact: "Grandma passed away." That heavy quiet that follows hearing news that changes your life was captured in the long, black fade-out.
To wrap it all up, I added a fade-out effect before the title “BETWEEN TWO WORLDS” appeared. I didn’t include my name in the title card because, honestly, I forgot. And now, I just don’t have the energy to re-download everything just to add it. After all, I directed, edited, and pretty much did everything myself. So yeah—that’s how it all came together!
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