Cutting Rhythms: Shaping the Film Edit

by Karen Pearlman

There are many books on the technical aspects of film and video editing: e.g., how to use software packages like Final Cut Pro and Avid. Much rarer are books on how an editor thinks and makes decisions. Faced with hundreds of hours of raw footage, a film editor must craft the pieces into a coherent whole. Rhythm is a fundamental tool of the film editor; when a filmmaker adjust the length of shots in relation to one another, he or she affects the entire pace, structure, and mood of the film. Until this book, rhythm was considered a matter of intuition; good editors should just 'know' when to make a cut.

Cutting Rhythms breaks down the issue of rhythm in an accessible way that allows filmmakers to apply the principles to their own work and increase their creativity. This book offers possibilities rather than prescriptions. It presents questions  editors or filmmakers can ask themselves about their work, and a clear and useful vocabulary for working with those questions.

Filled with timeless principles and thought-provoking examples from a variety of international films, this book is destined to become a staple in the filmmaker's library.

* This is the only book to address the issue of rhythm in film editing. It's what separates an OK film from a great one!
* Easy-to-apply principles that will translate to better work. Don't just guess where to make a cut--read this book.
* Examples from a range of international films show you practical illustrations of the concepts at work.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Bakunin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book to learn more about the craft but found that the book to consists mostly of conceptualizing the process. It did not really help me in my own process and editing. If you are interested in learning more about editing I therefore suggest you look at videos on youtube (or take Whiplash editor Tom Cross masterclass).

[Juan Hernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very illustrative book on editing. It's useful for both beginners and professionals, because it makes one aware of how and why rhythms work.

[Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good editing guide to have on hand for a quick refresher

[Selim Yildirim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kötü çeviri.