Technique of Film Editing

I have dabbled in many fields and one of them was film making on a very experimental level. I learned a lot by trial and error, but I would have loved to have had this book 15 or 20 years ago. If you're into film making or just like the art of film making, this book is an interesting read and could be considered priceless to those who are really into the craft. Editing is so important in film making, but I don't think most people realize just how much so.....it can make or break a film regardless of how good the story or actors are.

What I love about this is it's a book that is new to me, and only updated a couple times. The last time over 40 years ago. There is of course, additional text in reference to our changing times and methods, but the art of editing is just that, art. It does not change. It is what it is. You either know what you are doing, or you don't. This book what you do and do not know. Therefore, you learn. Does not matter what type of equipment or software you use. This is about technique and style in a technical standpoint. You explore viewer expectations, while you develop your own style to present the unexpected. You need the technical tips to guide and help you achieve your vision. This is what gets you there. Whether you are a newbie on YouTube or on your way to being an Oscar winner, this is something you will refer to many times. I have not read the whole thing, as it's not that type of book. However, with each section I am interested in, it creates more questions which lead me to other areas. I have been looking at this every night and have post-its all over the place. I am far from being anything notable in film-making, but this certainly makes me feel like taking it a bit more seriously. My notebook is fool of inspirations from just a few nights with this historic text. I assume all successful filmmakers have it on their shelves already.

Editing is a major part of making a quility film or TV show. And this great book is chock full of great and useful information. I consider the editor of film almost as important as the director. The SRP is bit high at $49.99, but this is a wonderful reference quility book.

This review is for the enhanced second edition, published in 2010. The Technique of Film Editing is the seminal work on the subject of editing cinematography. It was originally published in 1953 and revised and expanded as a second edition in 1968. The 2010 printing is essentially a reprint of the 1968 second edition with an updated forward. That does not diminish the book in the least, the 1968 edition is as valid today as the day it was published. Although we live in an increasingly digital world, this book is every bit as pertinent to the digital editor working with Final Cut as it is to a celluloid editor working on a Movieola. For this book is not about software or hardware, but about the process and art of editing. It makes no difference whether the images were captured on silver halide film, video tape or a silicon chip. The Technique of Film Editing is comprehensive, it begins with a history of editing and then moves on to the practice of editing in a variety of cinemagraphic styles, from action and comedy sequences, documentary reportage, montages and dialog sequences, to name only a few. What follows next is a discussion of the timeless principles of editing, such as timing, pace and rhythm. In the second part of the book, Reisz and Millar explore the work of some notable directors and editors. They point out to us how seemingly minor choices in framing and editing can have a profound impact on how the scene is perceived by the audience. The real examples (film frames are printed that coincide with the text) from real films make this section particularly useful. Through the printed examples, you can precisely see the various points the authors are making. This was my favorite part of the book - I could understand the choices the directors and editors made and I learned much from that. If you are involved with film editing, in any of its various forms, this is a book you should not be without. Prior to this reprinting, older copies were selling at several times this price in used bookstores and online. Focal Press is to be commended for bringing back a great work.

First you have to find it. Incidentally, I am sure it is not extremely difficult to find, for I happen to have found it accidentally in a film book store in Hollywood. Needless to say this book provides any potential film maker with an exciting view of the craft, turning mechanics into art. It is written in a clear style and in an almost profound way it will change the way you understand cinema and editing. Reisz and Millar will teach you how to turn the art of film into film art.