The Art of Motion Picture Editing: An Essential Guide to Methods, Principles, Processes, and Terminology Book

Acknowledgements xiii

Introduction xvii

Reading this Book xviii

Chapter 1 What Is Editing? 1

Toward a Definition of Editing as a Building Process 1

A Brief History of Motion Picture Editing 3

Intercutting 3

Montage 4

Film Editors 6

Music Videos 7

Theory and Schools of Editing 7

One-Shot Films 8

Tableau Structure 8

The Continuity System 9

Montage 10

German Expressionism 11

Documentary Filmmaking 11

Chapter 2 The Language of Editing 13

ADR 13

Breaking Axis/Crossing The Line/360-Degree Rule 14

Composite Shot 15

Compression 15

Continuity 16

Coverage 17

Cutaway 18

Cut in/Cut Out 18

Dailies (Also Rushes) 19

Dialogue 19

Dissolve 19

Dubbing 20

Fade in/Fade out 20

First Cut 21

Flashback 21

Flashforward 22

Flash Cut (Also Shock Cut) 22

Freeze Frame 22

Insert 23

Intercutting (Also Crosscuttting) 23

Interscene Structure 24

Jump Cut 24

Match Cut 24

Montage 25

Narration 26

Nonlinear Editing 27

Nonlinear Storytelling 28

Off Screen 28

On Screen 28

Overlap 29

Over-the-Shoulder Shot 29

Parallel Storytelling (Also Crosscuttting) 30

Pick-Up Shot 30

Reaction Shots 31

Scene 31

Selected Takes 31

Sequence 32

Shock Cut 32

Shot/Reverse Shot 32

Shot Size 32

Split Screen 33

Synchronization 33

Take 33

Take Ratio 34

Text 35

Titles 35

Trim 36

Transitions (Formerly Called Opticals) 36

Two-Screen Editing 37

Vertigo Shot 37

Wipe 39

X 39

"Your Back is to the Camera" 39

Zoom Shot 39

Chapter 3 The Editing Process 41

Dailies 41

Picking Selected Takes with the Director 43

First Cut 44

Director's Cut 44

New Opportunities for the Director's Cut 44

Editing Methods 45

Employing Multiple Cameras in Photographing a Movie 48

Matching 49

The Editing Crew, or the Magic Box and the Revolving Hat 50

The Hierarchy of the Crew 50

The Magic Box 51

After Picture Lock 52

Sound Editing 54

Automated Dialogue Replacement (Adr) 54

Representational and Nonrepresentational Sound 55

Sound Editors on Sound Editing 55

Chapter 4 The Art of Film Editing 61

Rhythm 61

Pacing 62

Time and Space 63

Sequencing 64

Visual Storytelling 64

Performance 65

Zen in the Art of Motion Picture Editing 66

The in and Out Point 67

The Most Difficult Decision 68

Chapter 5 Great Editors & Editing Relationships 71

Elevating the Editor 71

William Hornbeck 72

It's a Wonderful Life 74

A Place in the Sun 76

Dede Allen 78

Relationships With Directors 79

Editorial Achievements 82

Legacy 82

Director/Editor Long-Term Relationships 82

Director Ron Howard & Editors Dan Hanley & Mike Hill 83

Director Martin Scorsese & Editor Thelma Schoonmaker 85

Director Steven Spielberg & Editor Michael Kahn 86

Chapter 6 Landmark Films in the Art of Motion Picture Editing 89

Breathless 89

The French Connection 91

Jacob's Ladder 92

Koyaanisqatsi 96

Powaqqatsi 97

Naqoyqatsi 98

Man With a Movie Camera 100

The Wild Bunch 101

MR. Arkadin Aka Confidential Report 105

Apocalypse Now 108

On the Waterfront 112

Easy Rider 114

King Kong 117

Psycho 122

Vertigo 123

Annie Hall 124

Chapter 7 Shot by Shot 127

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 128

"The Big Chill" Sequence 130

"The News on the March" Sequence 146

"Alex is Attacked by the Shark" Sequence 162

"Johnny Rocco Addresses his Hostages" Sequence 175

"The Ditch-Digging" Sequence 192

The "Hot Lunch" Sequence 206

Chapter 8 In the End, Editing Is Editing Is Editing 219

Appendix A The Postproduction Set-Up 223

Monitors 224

Solutions 224

Sound 225

Appendix B Significant Films for Further Study 227

Appendix C Glossary 231

Appendix D Bibliography 243

Index 247