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Open Question: “Good” Editing?
I’d like to direct my students to some great resources about editing. I can teach the the technical stuff…but what makes for “good” editing? What makes the difference between competent editing and great editing?
Are there any books or websites that helped you become a better editor? Do you know of any that could specifically help students become better editors?
Thanks,
Nate Hanson
Pilothouse Films -
7 Replies
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The 800lb gorillas in the room are probably the two Walter Murch books – ‘In The Blink Of An Eye’. and ‘Conversations‘ by Michael Ondatje. The one real rule for an editor I hold by is that a good editor should know how to get out of the way and let the storytelling do its thing. In most cases, a good edit is one no-one even notices. The exception that proves the rule is GREAT edits, like the bone-to-spaceship cut in 2001.
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Go to AMAZON.COM and look up THE LEAN FORWARD MOMENT by Norman Hollyn. GREAT book. A book by a successful editor who now teaches at USC, so this would be a great resource.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
OH, also WHEN THE SHOOTING STOPS THE CUTTING BEGINS is a great book. Mainly stories from the editing bay and how they solved things, but great stuff about the Russian film movement in there and the power of editing.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Agree with Philip, Murch’s In The Blink Of An Eye is great and is a pretty quick read. Highly recommend.
Michael Gossen
Helium Digital Media -
I second Norman’s book.
I had lunch with Norman last week.
Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Board of Directors
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group -
thanks for the tip about the lunch Steve 😉
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I’ve read both Walter Murch books above, both are great… reading Norman’s book now.
He has a good blog on Film Industry Bloggers. You should have them read Shane’s blog too.
I would suggest Save The Cat which is a screenwriting book, but is very good for just learning how to tell a story.
-Bryan
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