Watch the raw film footage. Put it up on a big screen and make notes about the scenes you want to keep, where you think cuts should be made and which portions you can leave out. Bring out your film viewer once you are familiar with the footage. Make detailed notes to record the number of scenes, shots, angles and possible cutting points. Write down scenes and shots in the order they appear on each roll of film you are watching. If you are editing between multiple spools of film, you need to know which scene is where.
Position your splicer in front of the viewer. Load the spool of film onto the viewer that contains the portion of footage you want to edit first. Mark the frame you wish to make the first cut on, using your film marking pencil. Insert the film into the splicer and make the cut at both ends of the segment you wish to take out. Do the same for the next scene, the one you are editing to follow the first scene. Open the splicer to accept each segment of film. Clean the surfaces of the film on to which the film cement will be applied, using a can of compressed air. Apply film cement to the film using a paint brush, then clamp the film together to make the bond set. Tape is an alternative to cement, but it can break or cause jams in projectors.
Carry on editing the different sequences of film. Place them on separate spools if your film is lengthy or, alternatively, if you wish to work on different portions of your movie at various times. Keep a record of which scenes you have cut, where they have been spliced together and on which spool you have left them. Splice the separate sequences together and put them in the order you wish them to appear on the final edit. Watch the final cut on your viewer, making any last edits if you see something that needs removing or should be added. Show the finished movie to your friends and family.