What to Do When a Shot Is Missing in the Edit

Start with the story problem

A missing shot is not always a missing-footage problem. First establish what the audience must understand at that moment: a reaction, a location, a change in time, or a piece of action. Often the cleanest fix is editorial rather than technical.

Possible routes include restructuring the sequence, using a different angle, extending a reaction, building a transition from available material, or creating a new cover shot where it is appropriate. The right solution depends on the footage, the deadline and what the sequence needs to communicate.