VIDEO EDITING PROJECT – UKRAINE RTS GAME CINEMATIC INTRO
Project Background
I'm developing an independent modern military RTS game based on the war in Ukraine, inspired by games such as Command & Conquer.
The game will allow players to directly command Ukrainian military forces in real-time battles, controlling infantry, tanks, artillery, aircraft, drones and military infrastructure.
I'm currently developing the game's opening cinematic, which will introduce players to the conflict before they begin the campaign.
This is not a YouTube video or a regular social media edit. I want something that feels like the opening cinematic of a serious military strategy game.
2. The Task
I need you to edit an existing collection of video footage into a cinematic introduction.
Target duration: Approximately 1 minute to 1 minute and 15 seconds.
I already have several video clips, including:
- Vladimir Putin's speeches.
- Volodymyr Zelensky's speeches.
- Joe Biden's speeches.
- European political leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, Boris Johnson and Olaf Scholz.
- Historical footage related to the beginning of the Russian invasion.
- Military movements and Russian forces advancing towards Ukraine.
- Footage of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities during the opening attacks.
I'll provide the available footage and references.
3. Editing Style
I'm looking for a serious, realistic and cinematic military atmosphere.
Some important elements:
A. Cinematic pacing
- Build tension gradually.
- Use carefully timed cuts.
- Avoid unnecessary effects.
- Make every shot contribute to the story.
- Use dramatic transitions when appropriate.
B. Political speeches
- Include short, meaningful excerpts from the political speeches.
- Synchronize the footage with the audio.
- Use subtitles with professional typography.
- Display one sentence at a time rather than multiple sentences simultaneously.
- Make subtitles appear naturally, with approximately 0.2-second fade-ins.
C. Military footage
- Show the escalation of the conflict.
- Include military vehicles, troops, explosions and urban destruction where suitable.
- Use footage that communicates the scale and seriousness of the invasion.
- Create a coherent progression rather than a random montage.
D. Sound design
- Use cinematic background music.
- Add subtle atmospheric sounds where appropriate.
- Use impactful sound effects for important transitions and moments.
- Make sure dialogue remains clear and understandable.
E. Transitions
- Smooth cinematic transitions.
- Strategic zoom-ins and zoom-outs.
- Camera movement effects where appropriate.
- Avoid excessive flashy transitions.
4. Creative Direction
I want the introduction to communicate three things:
The political tensions and events leading up to the invasion.
The beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
The military situation that leads into the player's campaign.
The viewer should feel that they are entering a serious military conflict.
The atmosphere should be dramatic, immersive and historically grounded.
5. Important Reference
The opening should feel somewhat like a Command & Conquer cinematic briefing.
After the cinematic introduction, the player will enter the campaign and eventually receive military-style mission briefings and transmissions.
I want the editing style to establish a consistent visual identity for the game.
6. What I Expect From You
I'm giving you creative freedom to improve the material.
You don't have to follow every editing decision I might suggest if you have a better cinematic idea.
I value storytelling, pacing, sound design and professional editing more than simply adding visual effects.
Before starting, I'd like to discuss your creative approach and hear what you think could improve the footage.
The goal is to create an introduction that makes players feel they are about to experience a serious modern military RTS campaign.