Editing softwares

1. Video Editing & Color Grading

Given your emphasis on lighting contrasts (neon vs. natural), set design, and blocking, you'll need an editor with strong color correction and layering tools:

• DaVinci Resolve – Best for color grading your neon-lit investigative office and contrasting it with the assistant’s more grounded lighting. The free version is powerful for indie projects.
• Adobe Premiere Pro – Ideal for multi-layered split-screen techniques, as seen in the detective vs. assistant dynamic. Also integrates well with After Effects for VFX.
• Final Cut Pro – If you’re on Mac, this offers smooth timeline editing with great organizational tools for handling multiple sequences like your montage and investigation board scenes.

2. Sound Editing & Design

Your project features sharp audio cues, foley elements, and tense atmospheric soundscapes, so high-quality sound mixing is crucial:

• Adobe Audition – Perfect for fine-tuning the severance transition sound effect and layering ambient sounds like whispers from past case files.
• Pro Tools – Industry standard for cinematic soundscapes, ideal for enhancing your low synth pulse tension build-up and balancing dialogue with environmental sounds.
• Audacity – Free and effective for cleaning up audio and enhancing foley details like pen clicks and rustling papers.

3. VFX & Motion Graphics (If Needed for Titles & Neon Effects)

If you plan to enhance the neon string effect or create a cinematic title drop (I N T E R W O V E N):

• Adobe After Effects – Great for animating neon string connections on the evidence board or adding subtle glowing effects.
• HitFilm Express – A free alternative with built-in cinematic VFX presets that could help with stylized lighting enhancements.

Suggested Workflow for Interwoven

1. Edit & Sequence Scenes – Use Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve to assemble footage, ensuring smooth pacing and split-screen integration.
2. Color Grade for Mood – Adjust neon-lit mystery scenes vs. grounded office lighting using DaVinci Resolve.
3. Sound Design & Mixing – Enhance atmosphere with Adobe Audition or Pro Tools, ensuring ambient tension-building sounds are balanced.
4. Add Visual Effects (If Needed) – Create neon thread animations or subtle lighting enhancements with After Effects.
5. Final Polish & Export – Render in high-quality formats, ensuring optimal contrast in lighting shifts and crisp sound transitions.