Editing books...

K

Kugar13

Well-known member
Could someone recommend a good, or series of good, editing books. Editing in general, not specifically on the software I'll be using (premiere), but the form of editing itself.

Thanks
 
I've never read any editing books myself, but I can't imagine they'd be that helpful.

For editing, you'd be better off playing around with footage yourself, and paying attention to the way shots are cut in films/tv shows, and then trying to emulate it. I feel that the trick to editing is developing a feeling for how your scene should play out. I mean, when you preview your rough cut, ask yourself if it feels right. As you go through, make a list of everything that bothers you, such as lengths of cuts, or the followthrough motion of cuts.
Editing is difficult to teach, because the intesions of your edit can vary so greatly.

I don't know, there's probably decent books out there, but I'm the type of person who learns better by trial and error than by texts.
 
I gotta concur with what dj200423 is saying. The best editors all say that they edit "with their gut feeling". That may be better experienced than read in a manual IMHO.
 
I have never heard an editor say that ever. Most of the editors I know started editing film on a flat bed or even a Moviola and many started as assistant editors so they were taught to "cut".

There is always value in learning on the job and using your instincts but you have got to start with the basic editing principles somewhere, somehow, sometime. A book is a good option as a starting point.
 
Reading books on the subject of editing is incredibly helpful, I think.
It's a craft, and like any other craft it's always helpful to read what people who have mastered it have to say on the subject.

Check out 'In the Blink of an Eye" by Walter Murch.
You'd be hard pressed to find a better book on the subject.

Another interesting one is "First Cut: Conversations with Film Editors"


EDITED TO ADD:

Another one I almost forgot:

"The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film" This one is a series of interviews with Walter Murch, spanning his career.
 
Shooter said:
I have never heard an editor say that ever. Most of the editors I know started editing film on a flat bed or even a Moviola and many started as assistant editors so they were taught to "cut".

There is always value in learning on the job and using your instincts but you have got to start with the basic editing principles somewhere, somehow, sometime. A book is a good option as a starting point.
Click to expand...
My interpretation of the thread-opening question was that he was looking not for the technical, but for the artistic approach to editing. I have heard one version or another of the "gut editing" method from interviews given by Michael Kahn, George Tomasini, William Reynolds and others.

I feel that intensely studying the cuts in various films from every genre, and every period would help someone hone their instinctual skills used to know when to cut.

As I posted in my prior post, this is strictly IMHO.
 
CallaghanFilms said:
I have heard one version or another of the "gut editing" method from interviews given by Michael Kahn, George Tomasini, William Reynolds and others.
Click to expand...

Don't you think it's a little ironic that you would read that in an interview...but then say that it wouldn't be that helpful to read books on the subject of editing? Sounds like you feel you learned something about editing by reading interviews with them.
:)

What if Michael Kahn, George Tomasini, or William Reynolds were to write a book on the art of editing?

I'm with you on the technical vs. artistic distinction... but I think there are many useful and insightful texts out there on the art of editing (written by experienced editors).
 
Good points, Luis.

But I guess what I am trying to say it that your scenario of their writing a book never existed because they couldn't put into words the how, when or why they edited the way they did.

That being said, I have seen the book that you mentioned (In the Blink of an Eye) praised often in these parts...maybe I'll check it out, and my thinking on the subject will be forever changed.

:beer:
 
I actually think we're on the same page here (no pun intended, but I'll still take credit for it).

I've never found a good book that is going to teach you how to edit.
The books I mentioned are mostly interviews with editors (or written by editors) on the subject of editing...the art of it, and their specific approach to it.

Murch won't ever say "this is how you need to edit a scene"
Instead he talks about the films he cut, problems he ran into, and how he solved them.

So, while the books can't overtly teach you how to edit... you can pick up things here and there just by listening to the approaches that others use.

The long and short of it is, I agree with the spirit of what you were saying. Not to get too zen about it, but editing is one of those things that can't really be taught, but has to be learned.

(jeez, I know it's late if I'm getting that pretentious)
 
I dont agree that editing can not be taught but acknowledge that it can be learned.

Learning anything is a combination of inputs including practical experience. (The latter being probably the best teacher so therefore it can be taught)

Editing is a technical and creative skill and to be good at it requires a "talent" that arguably is a "right-brain" / "left-brain" capable person. Editing has changed so much with the advent of NLE and now the creative editor is expected to perform other technical/creative functions such as compositing, sound mix, graphic design etc because the whole performance is now on the desktop and not necesarily in the lab, the audio studio, the graphic studio or an on line suite. This is a good thing but often means opening and reading the manual to do a creative function. (Plug-ins do not exist for everything)

As a director / cameraman / editor , I have learnt (somehow) to overlap the "skills and knowledge" gained. A good example is Directing a dialogue scene and the basic "crossing the line" issue. The issue I originally learnt from a book and have applied it as a Director, a camera operator and in the editing room for many years.

BTW "experience is something you get ...just after you need it"


Good thread guys
 
Thank you so much!

Thank you so much!

I would like to thank you all for your amazing help! I have been out of town the past few days and working on a film with another production group in my home town. so I haven't had much time to check the board. I am very impressed with how helpful all of you have been! I'll purchase a few of these amazing books, as well as trusting my gut feeling/intuition. I hope the merger of the two will guide me....

Thanks again,

AE
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top