“Complex edits and showing off your skillset might impress other video editors. But to make something valuable, your edit has to put the video’s intent and story first.”
Visual effects creator Ignace Aleya knows that sometimes less is more. Your edit shouldn’t be about applying every skill or effect you know. Instead it’s important to refine the narrative, know what to cut, and make every moment feel intentional.
Ignace has built a YouTube channel of over 500,000 subscribers by doing just that. He combines cinematic visuals with practical editing workflows, always focusing on what serves the final video best. In this interview with Uppbeat, he shares how he approaches each edit, and how you can find your own balance between creativity, clarity and structure.
YouTuber Ignace Aleya specialises in visual effects tutorials for Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, drawing in over 500,000 subscribers. He co-founded Filmbro.com with Arnaud Melis, sharing courses and assets designed to make the life of video editors easier.
- Lead with the story, not your own skills
- Build your edit in structured stages
- Keep the intro short and punchy
- Let experience shape your process
- Invite feedback on your edits
1. Lead with the story, not your own skills
That mindset is at the heart of how Ignace approaches editing. Early on, he admits he focused more on flashy effects than what the viewer actually needed. “I definitely overused visual effects,” he explains. “I wasn't thinking about story and intent. I just thought the more effects, the better.”
Those experiments helped him develop his technical skills, but something was missing. Over time, he realised that editing wasn’t about showing what you could do. It was about communicating something clearly and creatively.
IA: “The older I got, the more I stopped appreciating visual effects in movies, or at least if they were obvious. Visual effects only have to aid your story, rather than show you have production value.”
He doesn’t regret that learning curve. It gave him the tools. But once storytelling became the goal, his entire mindset shifted.
IA: “Once you really start telling stories, then you should think about what tools you’re going to use to tell that story. Don’t overdo anything and find the perfect balance between your story and your visuals.”
You can see it clearly in his Hot Wheels stunt car video, where the edit captures the thrill of what’s to come before pulling back to reveal the story behind it – a childhood love of cars that inspired the entire concept. It’s this balance that hooks viewers into the content.
Ignace’s Key Takeaway:
A strong edit doesn’t show off every skill you know. It helps your idea land clearly and with purpose.
2. Build your edit in stages
Ignace keeps his editing process simple and structured. He starts with the basics and only adds complexity once everything’s working.
IA: “After each shoot, I follow the same steps. I build out my folders, import all my files, and make a rough version of what I’m trying to create.”
The focus is on making a clear edit before Ignace applies any effects or polish. Then it’s a case of working on the footage in stages. “I work until the shots are about 70% done,” he explains. “Then I’ll move over to visual effects, refine the entire edit more, and finally finish the shots that need it.”
It’s a clear, step-by-step process, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for flexibility. “Sometimes I just need to see what the color looks like immediately. I know grading is normally a step you do at the end, but I’ll do it earlier if I need it to guide myself.” That flexibility is what helps Ignace stay creative. The structure gives him a solid base, but he trusts his instincts when it’s time to shift gears.
Once your edit’s locked in, that’s your cue to bring it to life. Uppbeat’s free music, sound effects and motion graphics can help your video feel complete.
Ignace’s Key Takeaway:
Don’t try to do everything at once. Structure your editing process so you can focus on one part at a time, then build from there.
3. Don’t let the intro drag
The opening seconds are make or break, and Ignace always focuses on curiosity over context. “You need to find your hook,” he insists. “Something that makes the audience curious to see more, to have them sit at the tip of their chair.”
Once you’ve got their attention, you need to back it up with value. “Curiosity is what you need to show in the first two or three seconds,” Ignace explains. “After that, you have to be really clear and intentional about what your audience is going to see and then deliver on that.”
You can see this play out in his Harry Potter portrait tutorial. It opens with a close encounter with a giant spider – not just a flashy moment, but a clever way to show the exact kind of effect he’s about to break down. It’s an intentional move that pulls people in right away and sets expectations from the start.
Ignace has learned the hard way what doesn’t work, long intros packed with backstory: “The biggest mistake is too much yapping. I used to tell the viewers why I’m doing something and made the intro about me. You could get three minutes in and I still hadn’t started what people came for.”
Now, he keeps it focused. “I would tell creators not to create an intro. They might stroke your ego but apart from that they don’t have any value to the viewer. What’s important is the hook.”
Ignace’s Key Takeaway:
Start strong, get to the point, and save the personal backstory for later in the video, if at all.
4. Let past experience shape your process
Clean edits don’t happen overnight. For Ignace, becoming a stronger editor has come from doing the work, over and over again.
A big part of that experience? Making mistakes. Ignace doesn’t just accept failure – he sees it as a crucial step in the creative process. “I think you should be proud of your failures – in fact, I don’t see them as failures. Because the more you have, the more chances you have to grow.”
He’s open about the fact it took time to get where he is – and that’s exactly why he believes other creators can do it too. “For me, it took a little while to get good at creating content. And I think that's why I'm always using my own story to convince people, because I truly believe if I can do it, anyone can do it.”
Ignace’s Key Takeaway:
Editing is a skill that improves with time, trial, and repetition. Don’t be afraid to learn by doing – even when it doesn’t go to plan.
5. Get feedback from people outside your bubble
When it comes to improving an edit, outside perspective is everything. But for Ignace, that doesn’t always mean asking other creators or editors. In fact, some of the most useful feedback comes from people who have nothing to do with filmmaking at all.
IA: “The people that give me feedback are usually the people that have absolutely zero experience and won’t even watch my videos.”
It might sound surprising, but he often turns to friends, family – even his mum – for honest reactions. Why? Because they watch like real viewers, not through a creator’s eyes.
IA: “My nephew is 20 years old and wants to follow in my footsteps as a creator. He’ll give me technical feedback. But I still value feedback from my mum too. She’s someone completely out of the game, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need to get better.”
Of course, not all feedback hits the mark. But Ignace has learned to trust his gut.
That balance of listening to others while staying true to your creative instincts is something Ignace has learned over time. Feedback is key, but knowing when to follow it and when to trust yourself, is just as important.
Ignace’s Key Takeaway:
You don’t need expert feedback to improve. Sometimes, the best insight comes from someone who’s just watching with fresh eyes, just like your audience will be.
A strong editing process makes for great content
Your edit shapes how people experience your story, but it also sets the tone for everything that follows. From pacing and structure to the hook at the start, every decision you make should earn the viewer’s attention.
Ignace’s approach reminds us that great editing isn’t just about what you can do – it’s about what you should do to serve the story. And if you want to sharpen the most important part of your next video – the first few seconds – check out Ignace’s guide to crafting intros that hook viewers instantly.
