The Technique of Film & Video Editing ISBN 9780240813974

The Technique of Film and Video Editing by Ken Dancyger provides a detailed, precise look at the artistic and aesthetic principles and practices of editing for both picture and sound. Because editing is about more than learning a specific software program, this book focuses on the fundamentals of editing as art. Analysis of photographs from dozens of classic and contemporary films and videos provide a sound basis for the professional filmmaker and student editor. This book puts into context the storytelling choices an editor will have to make against a background of theory, history, and practice. This edition includes brand new chapters covering the goals of editing, including editing for narrative clarity, subtext, aesthetics, and dramatic emphasis, all showing how to evoke specific audience responses. Some of the new films to be discussed include A History of Violence, Atonement, The Departed, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Michael Clayton, and more.

• Learn how to strengthen your story and engage your audience through the editing process
• Examples, analysis, and film stills from great movies
• Brand new chapters covering the creative goals of editing - learn the why behind editing choices, especially as they relate to narrative clarity, dramatic emphasis, subtext, and aesthetics
• New films covered include THE HOURS, THE DEPARTED, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, ATONEMENT, INTOLERANCE, UNITED 93, FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, THE DEPARTED, MICHAEL CLAYTON, LUST, CAUTION, THERE WILL BE BLOOD, BRIGHTON ROCK, THE THIRD MAN, and THE PASSION
• Updates to the genre section demonstrate new theories on editing for action, comedy, and dialogue sequences

Reviews "From D.W. Griffith to MTV, from silent movies to action films, Dancyger explores not only history, techniques, and the social aspects of film and video, but he also looks at how technology has affected film and video making and editing. This isn't a quick read but definitely worthwhile if you want to gain an understanding of what it takes to be an excellent director and editor." -Theano Nikitas, Camcorder & ComputerVideo

Praise for previous editions:
"Ken's additions to his book show all of us who love and study the craft of editing, a real understanding of the importance and stimulating impact editing has in helping tell a story, create mood, and shape characters." --Sam Pollard, film editor, Girl 6, Clockers, Mo Better Blues

"Dancyger's book is an excellent introduction to the art of manipulating moving pictures and sound for students, amateurs, hobbiests and professionals alike." - Videomaker

"...a thoroughly "reader friendly" introduction and survey of proven editing techniques and how those techniques influence the editing process..." - The Bookwatch, Sept. 2006"

Contents
Introduction; The Silent Period; The Early Sound Film; The Influence of the Documentary; The Influence of the Popular Arts; Editors Who Became Directors; Experiments in Editing: Alfred Hitchcock; New Technologies; International Advances; The Influence of Television and Theatre; New Challenges to Filmic Narrative Conventions; The MTV Influence on Editing I; The MTV Influence on Editing II; The Influence of Psychoanalytic Ideas on Editing; The Appropriation of Style I : Imitation and Innovation; The Appropriate of Style II: Limitation and Innovation; The Appropriation of Style III Digital Reality; Editing for Narrative Clarity; Editing for Dramatic Emphasis; Editing for Aesthetics; Editing for Subtext; Action; Dialogue; Comedy; Documentary; Imaginative Documentary; Innovations in Documentary; More Innovations in Documentary; Ideas and Sound; The Picture Edit and Continuity; The Picture Edit and Pace; Changes in Pace; The Sound Edit and Clarity; The Sound Edit and Creative Sound; Innovations in the Use of Sound; Nonlinear Editing and Digital Technology I; Nonlinear Editing and Digital Technology II; Altering Reality Using Digital Visuals and Sound; Conclusion