theory of editing

[Martin Stacey]

at the moment i’m trying to choose between these two books.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0240804201/ref=pd_bxgy_text_2_cp/202-6859255-8951068
https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0719057779/ref=pd_sim_b_dp_1/202-6859255-8951068

[Scott Davis]

“In the Blink of an Eye”-Walter Murch
“The Conversations”-Walter Murch and Michael Onadatje
“When the Shooting Stops the Cutting Begins”-Ralph Rosenblum
Karel Reiz’s book (dated but still a lot of applicable content)
Any of Sergei Eisensteins writings
Watch “The Pawnbroker” any of Dede Allen’s, Ann Coates, Sarah Flack, Walter Murch’s work.

These are often cited and all some of my favs.

Scott Davis

[Martin Stacey]

yeah, amazon had “In the Blink of an Eye”-Walter Murch, but it was gonna take 2 -4 weeks, so i kinda have to choose between these two. cheers thou.

[Scott Davis]

Check out the Rosemblum book. I just finished it and really enjoyed it. Some nice commentary on one of the seminal films for editing “The Pawnbroker” I haven’t read either of the books you mentioned. One other I forgot of “First Cut: Conversations with Editors” A great book on real world editing theory. Plus I worked with one of the editors profiled in it. If you ever get the opportunity to work with a seasoned, good editor take it. You’ll (I did) learn more than you’ll ever learn from any book.

Scott Davis

Scott Davis

[David Bogie]

Visit you r local public library.
People have been writing books about movie editing for about 100 years and most of the information is not only still current, it’s literally foundational. The only things that have changed besides the sophistication of the audience (debatable) are acquisition formats and editing hardware.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[Nick Meyers]

i dont know about that rosenblum book.

most of it is him telling how he “saved” this move and that movie,

which can actually be a dangerous mindset for an editor to have.

however, there is a GREAT chapter on how Helen van Dongen worked with Robert Flaherty.

main point: she LISTENED to her director!

how novel! 🙂

i like the “conversations with editors” book a lot as it gives many different viewpoints

cheers,
nick

[Scott Davis]

Rosenblum developed a reputation as an editor to go to when a movie was in the toilet. Ovewrall I found him to be very self reflective in both his weaknesses and his strengths. He very much was championing the role of the editor which all to often is undervalued. How many directors do you here give any credit to the editor. On the theory side, I found the chapter on “The Pawnbroker” very informative in how in editing a film was transformed from average to extraordinary. All in all I agree with Rosenblum in that the editors role is as important as any of the higher profile postions. Directors from Welles to Ang Lee have made statements that cinema begins in the editing room.

Scott Davis