The Art and Craft of Motion Picture Editing

Book excerpt: This book explains the broader context of what the art and craft of motion picture editing entails, framing the creative acts of editing within an overall view of the production process and requirements for effective storytelling. This book offers real experiences and advice from seasoned editors on the editing process, providing a detailed examination of filmmaking from the editor’s point of view and exploring how best to cultivate creative relationships with other areas of production to form the final personality of the film. Emphasizing both practicality and creativity, industry veteran Michael Hoggan successfully bridges the gap between the mechanical skills of editing and the thought process behind these decisions. While most books focus primarily on the mind of the creator, this book explores the evolution of practices in film production and editing with respect to the ever-changing expectations of the audience. As the book demonstrates, understanding editing from the audience’s perspective is essential to any successful film. This book will be of interest to post-production students, independent filmmakers, film critics, and agents with editing clients. It is accompanied by a collection of rich digital materials, including a glossary, bibliography, and more.