Lessons I Learned From Editing Same-Day Reels: When Planning Meets Luck!

"Girl, why do you upload so fast?!"

That’s what a member of the Golden Balangay Foundation (the non-profit organization I’m part of) said to me, and I was like, "Well, that's Arra for you!" 😆 But honestly, I think my time working at Estacion Filipino really helped sharpen my skills in creating event reels — especially when they launched Saturday Night Live Music. I’m so thankful for that experience because it also made me realize you need some stamina to keep up when filming, even just for reels...and also a little bit of planning and preparation! So, here’s a peek at my process for creating same-day edit reels and live event recaps.

Planning is the key

But first, check what's happening on TikTok. I always say this to clients: TikTok usually sets the trends before they spread to Instagram. So, if you’re looking for content ideas, it’s worth lurking on TikTok. It really helps jumpstart my planning when I have a sense of the trending sounds my target audience is into. In this case, I’ll use the content I created for the Filipino-Canadian youth conference, Pinoys on Parliament 2025, to give you some examples while I walk you through my process.

By now, you probably already know who the target audience for this event is: Filipino/a/x-Canadian Gen Zs. For this event, I wasn't really aiming for reels with transitions or lip syncs. Instead, I want to use Filipino modern songs that complement my content ideas.

First, I wanted to create an en-route reel featuring our team heading to the Pinoys on Parliament venue. Sarah Geronimo's Kilometro felt like the perfect song choice. Even though it’s a love song, it’s about going the distance (crossing oceans just to be with someone) which feels symbolic, especially. It ties in perfectly with the fact that the Golden Balangay Foundation and Kabangka, whose brands are rooted in the balangay and bangka (boat) was going to announce the recipients of the Filipino-Canadian National Scholarship Program. It’s like saying: "Hey, we, the GBF and Kabangka team, have voyaged and are now here to support Filipino-Canadian youth." No one else might have thought of that connection, but I did. 😆

Prepare the reel templates and the captions

When I say reel templates, I mean preparing a set of videos with blank canvas placeholders that you can easily swap out with the clips you’ve taken. Include the exported music as well so you can trim the videos to match the beats of the music. Something I highly recommend for a smoother, more polished final cut.

And don’t forget the caption! You don’t want to stress yourself out last minute trying to come up with a thoughtful message that resonates with both your audience and the account you’re collaborating with.

For this enroute reel, I asked the GBF members to film themselves while heading out. As for the three clips, I got lucky to come across Jezeth Esmas and Earl Tamayo of Kabangka, as well as Ryan Mendoza clapping passionately during Venus Ramos’ speech. It all came together perfectly!

Know the flow of the program and keep the batteries in check!

Since I’m working solo, it’s crucial for me to know when to be in the right place at the right time and where to stand to get the best shots. I didn't have anyone to capture different angles for me, so I had to be present during the key moments of the event. In this case, the awarding of the Filipino-Canadian National Scholarship Program.

BUT, f*ck, something went wrong. Please, don’t make the same mistake I did... always keep your gadgets' batteries in check and be ready for other media folks to get in your way. My Insta360 Flow died in the middle of the awarding, and someone blocked my shot, haha. 🙃 It’s easy to forget about your gadgets’ battery levels, but you need to be mindful. Save your battery for the moments that truly matter. You might have hundreds of clips, but not everything will make it into your reel.

Also, official photographers and videographers will be in the front row, so be prepared not to disturb them. But, also stay ready to move around if you want to get a good shot. Despite the challenges, I still believe I created a good FCNSP highlight reel. What do you think?

It's really 20% preparation, 80% luck

Same-day reel edits are largely driven by spontaneity and luck. You never really know which moments you’ll capture because emotions, reactions, and events themselves can’t be predicted. But, that 20% of planning and preparation makes a huge difference.

Take this reel, for example, where I feature Centre Kapwa's Relax Ka Lang space, a chill spot for the POP delegates to decompress. This wasn’t originally in my plan, but because POP's guest artist was Hillari, I had a jazzy, smooth track of hers on standby. Also, I happened to film someone entering the room, and one of the FCNSP recipients was also there (which was worth mentioning in the caption). I was so happy everything matched perfectly with the vibe of the reel! Sometimes, a little prep goes a long way. 😉

And sometimes, it's just pure luck

This last reel I’m sharing was something I didn’t have a vision for, nor a song in mind. All I knew was that I couldn’t go wrong with it because it was for the Pinoys on Parliament Community Symposium, an event expected to be lively and colorful. So, I just trusted my instincts and used my go-to editing app, InShot, to work its magic. Looking back, I didn’t even plan to time the blinking transition to BINI's song, Blink Twice. It was just the first song that popped up on Instagram. I guess it was a lucky moment that made my job a little easier.

So, when we meet, blink twice if you need my help capturing the best moments at your events! 😉