Before the site was up-and-running, I retweeted links to a number of interesting articles on the work of film and TV editors. Here’s a selection I thought worth revisiting. These are a series of interviews and breakdowns on the work of the editors of PIXAR’s Soul, Raging Bull, 1917, Marriage Story, Succession, and The Queen’s…
The Challenges of Editing Top Gun
Editors Billy Weber and Chris Lebenzon spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about their Academy-nominated work editing Top Gun (1986), throwing light on some of the challenges they faced dealing with the aerial sequences, the love story, reshoots, and notes from the studio and distributors. I thought this was a fascinating insight into how, regardless of…
Keeping Yourself Fresh in the Edit
During an edit, you will watch scenes over and over as you cut, and you will likely view the whole film from start to finish a dozen times or more. Keeping yourself fresh, and not becoming over-familiar with the material is a difficult, but essential skill for an Editor. The Importance of Objectivity A big…
Using a Three-Act Structure for Non-Narrative Projects
There are a lot of non-filmmaking fields that talk about “narrative”, or “telling your story”. Companies are encouraged to get into the business of story-telling in order to sell themselves to customers, but what are the story-telling skills that you as a professional storyteller can apply, and how can you use a three-act structure to…
Editing Resources Roundup #3
Here’s a selection of film editing resources, some interesting things I’ve read, watched and listened to over the past few weeks. #1 – Saving Private Ryan’s Sound Design – INDEPTH Sound Design Saving Private Ryan is well-known for how immersive its scenes of storming the Normandy beaches are, and Sound Design played a big part…
Using Temp Music in an Edit
The rise of digital technology has given people access to equipment and software that 20 years ago was expensive and difficult to acquire. From a single computer, one person can now do the work of many. However, there is also an increased expectation that this one person is able to do high-quality work in multiple…
Notes on the Cinematograph by Robert Bresson
This is a book I first read maybe 15 years ago, and in an indirect way, Notes on the Cinematograph (also known as Notes on the Cinematographer), was an inspiration for this site. As much as editing is an emotive, instinctual process, it’s also an intentional one. Whether unconscious or fully conscious, we never entirely…
Mental Health Challenges for Freelancers
Film & TV can be a tough business. It’s certainly not the only one, but long hours, the precarious nature of contract work, competition for jobs, and the sacrifices required in order to develop your skills and your network, can all challenge the mental health of even the most dedicated and determined of people. Just…
Five Stages of the Edit: Part 5 – The Fine Cut
So you’ve reached the final stage of the edit. The film is almost done. You’ve fixed as many problems as you can, agonized over feedback, and built up a rapport with the Director through weeks and months that have tested and stretched all your skills – and perhaps you – to breaking point. And that’s…
Editing Resources Roundup #2
Here’s a selection of film editing resources, interesting things I’ve read, watched and listened to over the past few weeks. #1 – Dune’s Editing – Thomas Flight Winner of this year’s Oscar for Best Editing, Joe Walker is one of our finest film editors, and Thomas Flight’s video explores some of the reasons why that…