Video Editor
The Video Editor is the central workspace in ACT3 AI where you assemble your production into a finished video. It combines a multi-track timeline, script view, preview playback, and render management in a single unified environment.
Editor Layout
The Video Editor workspace is divided into panels you can arrange and resize:
Script Pane — Write or import dialogue and action. Script lines are linked to timeline positions.
Timeline Pane — Arrange scenes, shots, B-roll, and audio tracks. Drag and drop to reorder. Trim clip handles to adjust duration.
Preview Pane — Watch draft previews and rendered clips in real time. Scrub to any point in your sequence.
Top-Down View — Place actors, cameras, and props in a bird's-eye layout for scene blocking.
The Timeline
The Timeline is the core editing surface. Use Trimming to shorten individual shots to remove dead space. The Shot List provides a structured management view of all shots alongside the timeline. Key features:
- Multi-track support — Video, audio, music, effects, and overlay elements on separate synchronized tracks
- Drag-and-drop — Move shots, scenes, and assets directly into position
- Zoom and scrub — Zoom in for frame-level accuracy or out for a full project overview
- Block sequencing — Each shot appears as a labeled block you can trim, extend, or reorder
- AI-assisted sequencing — Generate a suggested shot order based on your script or story arc
- Real-time preview — Play any section of the timeline without leaving the editor
Building Your Video
- Open Build Video mode from the editor toolbar
- Drag scenes and shots from the project panel into the timeline
- Add B-roll and supplemental footage from the Asset Library
- Arrange the sequence in your intended story order
- Add transitions between shots (cut, crossfade, wipe, match cut)
- Layer in background music and sound effects on audio tracks
- Apply color grading for visual consistency
- Preview the full sequence
- Send to the Render Queue for final output
Transitions and Effects
Available transitions between shots:
- Cut — Immediate edit, most common
- Crossfade / Dissolve — Gradual blend between shots
- Wipe — One shot replaces another with a directional movement
- Match Cut — Visual continuity between two different shots
- Fade to Black / White — Scene endings and beginnings
- Overlay — One clip plays over another at reduced opacity
Background Audio
The Background Audio track layer lets you control ambient sound separately from dialogue — enabling clean audio post-production handoffs and precise scene ambience control.
B-Roll and Supplemental Footage
Import B-roll (secondary footage) to support your main story:
- Go to Asset Library → Import B-Roll
- Upload video files (MP4, MOV, ProRes)
- Files are cataloged in the Asset Library
- Drag B-roll clips into the timeline on a secondary video track
- Layer them over or between your main shots
B-roll sources include your own recordings, stock footage, and AI-generated cutaway clips.
Color Grading
Apply color grading to ensure visual consistency across all clips:
- Choose from built-in LUT presets (cinematic, warm, cool, noir, high contrast)
- Import custom .cube LUT files for brand-specific looks
- Fine-tune exposure, contrast, saturation, highlights, and shadows
- Apply grading globally across the whole project or per shot
- Preview grading changes before committing to a render
AI Chat
Use the AI Chat window to make changes to shots, scenes, and the whole project through natural language instructions without navigating menus.
Collaboration in the Editor
Multiple team members can work in the editor simultaneously:
- See who is active in each panel with presence indicators
- Leave inline comments on timeline sections, shots, or script lines
- Lock completed sequences to prevent accidental edits
- Version History tracks all changes with timestamps and contributor names
Rendering and Export
From the editor, send your finished sequence to render:
- Confirm your timeline sequence is complete
- Go to Render → Add to Queue or click Export
- Choose output settings (see Export for full details)
- Monitor progress in the Render Queue
- Download completed output from the render dashboard
Persona Layout Views
Switch the editor layout to match your current role. Click the View menu and select a persona:
- Writer — Script panel is large and prominent; timeline is minimized
- Director — Timeline and video preview are dominant; script is in a side panel
- Actor — Character, cast, and motion capture panels are front and center
You can also switch any column to a different panel manually using the View As filter.
Keyframes
Add keyframes to the timeline to animate camera movement and character position over time:
- Click the keyframe button on a property (camera position, character location) at the current playhead position
- Set the value for that property at that point in time
- Move the playhead to a later time
- Add a second keyframe with a different value
- ACT3 AI interpolates between the two values smoothly
Tags and Batch Operations
Right-click any scene or shot and click Add Tag. Create tags like "Needs Review", "VFX Heavy", or "Beach Scenes". Use the Tag Filter in the sidebar to view only tagged items. You can run batch operations on all tagged items — for example, render all shots tagged "Approved for Final" in a single queue submission.
Locking Scenes and Shots
Right-click the scene or shot in the outline or timeline and select Lock. Locked elements are read-only for all team members except the project Owner and Admins. A lock icon appears on the item. Use locking after a scene is approved to prevent accidental edits during later production phases.
Captions and Subtitles
ACT3 AI generates captions automatically from TTS audio or uploaded dialogue tracks. Captions appear as a subtitle layer in the video editor timeline. You can:
- Edit the caption text and adjust timing
- Choose burned-in captions (embedded in video) or export as a separate SRT file
- Enable Auto-Caption in the Export dialog for captions on final export
Enable captions for all social media exports for accessibility and to comply with platform recommendations.
Selection Playback
Select a range of shots or scenes in the timeline by clicking and dragging, then press Play. ACT3 AI plays only the selected range and pauses when it reaches the end. This is useful for reviewing transitions and specific sequences without watching the entire film.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Play / Pause |
| Shift + ← / → | Jump between scenes |
| Alt + ← / → | Jump between shots |
| Keypad 1 / 3 | Frame-by-frame navigation |
| Ctrl/Cmd + E then P | Switch column panel |
The full shortcut list is available in Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts.
Best Practices
- Use draft renders frequently during editing to check timing without spending credits on full quality
- Organize your timeline into act-labeled sections for easier navigation in long projects
- Save manual version checkpoints before major restructuring
- Lock completed sequences once approved to protect them during final production
- Apply color grading and audio normalization before your final render to avoid needing to re-render
Troubleshooting
Editor not loading — Refresh the page or clear browser cache.
Preview not rendering — Check the Render Queue for queue status and verify your credit balance.
Timeline lagging with many tracks — Reduce the number of simultaneous active layers or lower preview resolution.
Assets missing from timeline — Re-import via the Asset Library or check that linked files are still in cloud storage.
Audio out of sync after export — Verify that project and export frame rates match (24fps, 30fps, 60fps).