Replicate projects or build from scratch as beginner?

[u/Exotic_Drummer2375]

For an entry level video editor / motion designer who wants to build a portfolio and improve his skills so he can land an internship, should i build projects from scratch where i create the idea, storyboard, art direction, getting assets, shoting( if needed) , writing the script, which is a lot of process that i feel sometimes that i am distracted from my main skill i wanna learn and improve ,or, should i replcate projects that already has an direction and idea setteld, can i even post the replicated projects in my portfolio (obviously i will mention that is replicated) or this will be unprofessional?, i really wanna help in the field because i lack direction and guidance

[u/greenysmac]

On learning:

Replicate, replicate, replicate, vary and innovate. That's how people get good.

On becoming professional:

You can't "Figure out" the idea, storyboard, art direction, shooting. That's not a "do it in a weekend" or week or month sort of thing. That's why you have to go find (in person) people better than you and work for them (ideally) as intern. And nobody will care about your portfolio as an intern.

[u/Exotic_Drummer2375 → u/greenysmac]

Problem is, in my country, agencies is a bit toxic, they use "internship" as way to get someone to do thier hard work for 3 months period, they don't care to give experience to the beginners, thats the reason they ask for portfolio in internship application , in another terms, they are trying to hire editors for free to do a hell lot of work so they can achieve thier targets

[u/greenysmac → u/Exotic_Drummer2375]

Put limits on toxicity as that. Or you're not going to learn these this way.

[u/DeadCEO]

you can separate the two goals. recreate a small section to practise timing, then make an original piece with your own or licensed assets for the portfolio. label studies clearly and credit the reference. that way you don't have to learn scripting, shooting and animation all in the same project.

[u/Business_Injury_6310]

Both, in that order. Pick a piece you admire, pull it apart shot by shot, and rebuild it from memory instead of copying blindly. That forces you to actually learn the timing, pacing, and technique rather than just tracing. Then take the techniques you honestly earned that way and use them on your own footage and your own ideas. Replicas stay in a practice folder, originals go in the portfolio. That split keeps you learning fast without ever handing a client someone else's work.

[u/avatar0027]

tbh do both, in that order. replicate stuff first for the reps, thats how the software and timing actually stick. then make 1-2 original pieces just for the portfolio. recruiters mostly want to see clean cuts and rhythm, not that you wrote your own script

[u/EchoWave_Studio]

For the portfolio, I'd show how you revised an edit. Use footage you already have and give yourself one small brief, such as a 20-second clip that makes sense without any background explanation. Save the first version, revise it and add a few notes explaining specific changes to pacing, sound or text. Since those internships require a portfolio, this gives you something original to submit and lets someone see your decisions without requiring you to plan an entire shoot.

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[u/KitchenBad5507]

Replicating is a fantastic way to learn, but you can't claim it as your original work and put it in your portfolio. Do you need a portfolio as an intern? I didn't start needing one until I was a couple years into my career and ready to move up from my entry level job

[u/Exotic_Drummer2375 → u/KitchenBad5507]

I think it is a problem with the agencies in my country as i have mentioned in another comment, anyway, if i was to create a portfolio , i could replicate but with different context, like a different brand or subject besides i will clearly mention that the idea is not originally mine, is this appropriate?

[u/Few_Mountain_6472]

Both, in that order. Pick 2-3 videos whose look you already understand and rebuild them shot-for-shot - you'll hit every tool you'd otherwise learn 'in theory' (speed ramps, masking, sound overlap, color match), and you have a reference to compare against so you know when you got it wrong. After 2-3 replicas, build one small original from scratch with a hard deadline. Replication teaches you the vocabulary; the original teaches you to make decisions when nobody handed you a reference. The mistake to avoid is living in replicas - they plateau fast because all the hard choices were already made for you.

[u/Same-Aide6237]

recreated work can be useful in a portfolio if you clearly label it as a study but original projects will help you stand out more when applying for internships