suggest me a good book to learn art of editing

B

bowie_rascal

Member
i am not asking book to learn technical thing about editing software. i am asking book to learn how to tell story with editing skills/thecniques. please suggest me some great books. thankx in advance.
 
@VMT: true to a point, but the fact is for example that the casino sequence in edge code's documentary was a turning point for me (and a lot of people) when starting out. And there's a lot more to learn when they talk about the history of editing and how moviola and later digital changed the way movies are edited. Learning editing by reading is like reading about how to take care of a pet you don't even have. To be honest I would rather say this now: Screw textbooks and whatever when it comes to skills. Just learn whatever software and start editing and play around. Turn the footage inside out. Play it in reverse, slow-motion, make it black and white, take out the audio and try every effect and filter you can find. Make it as long as possible, make it as short as possible. There is no school like actually editing. You don't have to worry about making duplicate prints and cutting negatives, the only thing you need is time and passion.
 
The Lean Forward Moment, by Norm Hollyn is a great book on how to recognize what is essential to story regardless of content type. It's like learning the fundamentals in identifying, emphasizing, etc, those story moments that make compelling programs:

http://www.amazon.com/Lean-Forward-...5453/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318797196&sr=8-1

Norm was the co-editor with me on my last feature, and many times I saw first hand during the editorial process, how those moments came to life.

Michael
 
hempo22 said:
@VMT: true to a point, but the fact is for example that the casino sequence in edge code's documentary was a turning point for me (and a lot of people) when starting out.
Click to expand...

my comment was about The Cutting Edge, not Edge Codes which I haven't seen. should have made that clear.

hempo22 said:
And there's a lot more to learn when they talk about the history of editing and how moviola and later digital changed the way movies are edited. Learning editing by reading is like reading about how to take care of a pet you don't even have.
Click to expand...

I have never had to take care of a pet so I don't know if your analogy is true. I do know that you don't learn to edit films by learning film editing history. useful but it won't teach editing.

hempo22 said:
To be honest I would rather say this now: Screw textbooks and whatever when it comes to skills. Just learn whatever software and start editing and play around. Turn the footage inside out. Play it in reverse, slow-motion, make it black and white, take out the audio and try every effect and filter you can find. Make it as long as possible, make it as short as possible. There is no school like actually editing. You don't have to worry about making duplicate prints and cutting negatives, the only thing you need is time and passion.
Click to expand...

Learning how to use an NLE won't necessarily teach one good editing techniques. NLE users who could do a lot of fancy stuff are a dime a dozen, but those who could edit to tell a story effectively are few.

Read the Reize and Miller book, or any good book, along with watching the films they use as examples. Then practice the techniques on your favorite NLE.
 
Last edited:
Each project has its own story within it, so replicating what you see in other movies will not work most of the time. Learning how to find the story within your footage and techniques to bring the viewer in and out of the different emotions you want to weave is what can be applied to all editing.

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