film editing book

[Dr. Phil]

i know this prob. isn't the place to post this, but does anyone know of a good film editing book? i've become quite proficient in final cut pro 6, but i'm looking for something to guide me in the creative sense. even if there was a book to just deepen my knowledge of what final cut can do, that would be great.

[minister]

In The Blink of an Eye

[philper]

Originally Posted by minister

In The Blink of an Eye

yeah.

Philip Perkins

[smsjr]

I second Minister's suggestion. Great book, and Walter is a great guy. Pick up any of his books.

Also, watch some movies with the sound off. You'll start to get a senseof telling stories with pictures.

Steve

[Dr. Phil]

any other suggestions considering i've read a few reviews on amazon and most of them are negative. supposedly it's a lecture transcript. i was looking at another one called "Cut by Cut: Editing Your Film or Video" by Gael Chandler

[smsjr]

Okay, here's the deal. When you hear Murch speak about film editing, and just about every other topic, you realize he is one of those people who are on another level. He's fascinating and he has some unique approaches to editing. For example, he edits standing up. Go figure right? Who does that. Well, try it some time. You'll find that the blood flows better to the brain, you are more emotionally involved in the edit, etc. Or maybe you won't. Everyone's approach is different.

As to the books. Great book is Behind the Seen. A must read for Final Cut editors. All about how they managed to edit Cold Mountain on FCP. Lots of insight in there. Also, Conversations with Walter Murch. There are a lot of good books out there. But they won't make you a good editor. The only way to get there is to cut a lot of films, tv, commercials, etc. Also, the apprenticeship system was really good when it came to crafts like editing because you got to learn quite a bit about the technical side and the creative side. As Murch says in the book that you have dismissed, "a scene made up of only twenty-five shots can be edited in approximately 39,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999 ways".

My advice would be to pick up a few of the books, read them for some of the very useful insight, but then get cutting as many things as you can because you will find it takes a lot of experience to become really good at it.

Steve

[Dr. Phil]

ok, first off, i haven't dismissed anything yet. i'm just trying to see what else is out there that's insiteful and inspiring. i'm not a reader for the most part, so something that will grab me is preferred, h/e i know that it's something i need to get over.

with that whole standing up while editing thing is understandable....if you have a desk high enough to work standing up. i prefer to stand up when i mix or design, but i'm not always at that liberty. i'll def. give it a shot though.

i'm trying to find new things to edit and create, but i can only edit 1 movie so long before i blow something up in the process. lol. (not a fun movie to edit in any way, shape, or form)

so like i said....just looking at the options for new books to help me find my own niche for film editing.

[smsjr]

ok, first off, i haven't dismissed anything yet. i'm just trying to see what else is out there that's insiteful and inspiring. i'm not a reader for the most part, so something that will grab me is preferred, h/e i know that it's something i need to get over.

I didn't mean to come off as presumptuous. I had checked out the reviews on Amazon and figured you might dismiss it based on those reviews, which I happen to disagree with those reviews for the most part. I think there's some good stuff in this book and for $12, it's well worth it. You also might enjoy Jerry Hoffman's book(s) on Final Cut editing as he gets into some of the creative/storytelling aspects as well.

I have found that watching DVDs with the commentary tracks can be helpful sometimes as often they will have the director and editor and you get to see why they cut a scene a certain way. That stuff can be very useful.

Steve

[charles maynes]

Originally Posted by Dr. Phil

ok, first off, i haven't dismissed anything yet. i'm just trying to see what else is out there that's insiteful and inspiring. i'm not a reader for the most part, so something that will grab me is preferred, h/e i know that it's something i need to get over.

with that whole standing up while editing thing is understandable....if you have a desk high enough to work standing up. i prefer to stand up when i mix or design, but i'm not always at that liberty. i'll def. give it a shot though.

i'm trying to find new things to edit and create, but i can only edit 1 movie so long before i blow something up in the process. lol. (not a fun movie to edit in any way, shape, or form)

so like i said....just looking at the options for new books to help me find my own niche for film editing.

don't forget the little figures that Murch arrays as if they are looking at the picture monitor either...

Charles Maynes

[smsjr]

don't forget the little figures that Murch arrays as if they are looking at the picture monitor either..

.
Yes, simulated theater on your desktop.

I've actually been caught by this big screen little screen phenomena. It's quite interesting how your edits can play differently when viewed by a large audience on a big screen.

Steve

[minister]

Originally Posted by smsjr

For example, he edits standing up. Go figure right? Who does that.

*raises hand*

"Uh, Tom Cruise in MINORITY REPORT?"

[smsjr]

*raises hand*

"Uh, Tom Cruise in MINORITY REPORT?"

Good point!

Steve