The Technique of Film and Video Editing: History, Theory, and Practice

by Ken Dancyger

The Technique of Film & Video Editing provides a detailed, precise look at the artistic and aesthetic principles and practices of editing for both picture and sound. Analyses 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 new edition has been updated to include the latest advances in digital video and nonlinear editing and explores the new trend of documentary as mainstream entertainment, using films such as "Farenheit 9/11" and "The Fog of War" as examples.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Art

508 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Ken Dancyger is the author or co-author of seven books on screenwriting, directing, film editing and production. They are The Technique of Film and Video Editing (5th edition), Focal Press, 2010; The Director's Idea, Focal Press, 2006; Alternative Scriptwriting (4th edition), Focal Press, 2006 (with Jeff Rush); Writing the Short Film (3rd edition), Focal Press, 2005 (with Pat Cooper); Global Scriptwriting, Focal Press, 2001; The World of Film and Video Production, Harcourt Brace, 1999; Broadcast Writing, Focal Press, 1991. Each is a theory/practice book rather than a how-to book. There have been fourteen translations of his books, including Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Korean and Arabic. Two of his books, Alternative Scriptwriting and The Technique of Film and Video Editing are considered definitive in their respective areas and are core texts at top film programs worldwide.

Ken conducts screenwriting and post-production workshops internationally for the past eighteen years, including South Africa, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Columbia, Singapore, Australia and Canada. He is active as a script consultant in the United States and throughout Europe and Asia.

Ken is past Chair of Undergraduate Film and Television, TISCH School of the Arts, New York University, where he is a Full Professor.

Current writing projects include a book about Genre Scriptwriting, a book entitled The Greatest: Hollywood in 1939, a personal memoir, The War That Never Ended and Murder Not Permitted, his first novel.
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EDUCATION:
B. Comm., M.A., Toronto; M.S., Boston
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Reviews

[Justin Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of interesting, but really, it didn't focus as much on editing techniques as it did in director's choices and storytelling I was a bit disappointed. Also too theoretical as I feel I could dispute quite a few of his points.

[Raghunath · Rating 2 out of 5]

NOT RECOMMENDED. Disappointed with this book. This has very little about editing. In fact, I got only 20 pages of useful information about editing from this book.

The author meanders so much! When he writes 3 pages about a film, he spends *all* of it talking about the story, the screenplay, the framing, the photography, etc etc that he barely inserts a paragraph about the actual editing in the scenes and how it gives the desired emotional impact.

Sometimes, he describes a film for 3 pages and then adds "Here the director didn't use editing techniques for emotional impact" WHY DID YOU TALK THIS LONG ABOUT THIS FILM THEN?

Also, no screenshots of the shots that he describes! WHAT IS THE POINT?

Off to buy the Karel Reisz book!

[K T]

Since I have to return this to library, listing it here so I don't forget to finish later.

[Amelie White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book, and the films mentioned in this book have very good songs.

[Adil Farooq · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Technique of Film and Video Editing by Ken Dancyger is a must-read for anyone interested in the art and history of editing. It covers everything from early film techniques to modern digital workflows, offering both practical advice and deep theoretical insight.

Whether you're a beginner or experienced editor, this book helps you understand how editing shapes story, rhythm, and emotion. It’s especially useful if you're working on digital content, short films, or even mobile videos.

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For a smoother video playback experience while reviewing your edits, I recommend using mxpalyerapk.com — a reliable media player that supports a wide range of formats.

[Luthor King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dancyger's The Technique of Film and Video Editing is an invaluable resource for both beginners and seasoned editors. It delves deep into the art and science of editing, offering clear explanations and practical examples. Whether you're editing narrative films, documentaries, or music videos, this book provides foundational knowledge that enhances storytelling through editing.

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[john wick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a cornerstone for anyone serious about filmmaking and post-production. What I appreciate most is how it doesn’t just focus on the technical side of editing, but also dives deep into the art, history, and theory behind storytelling choices. The analyses of both classic and modern films really help put editing into perspective, showing how each cut shapes meaning and emotion. Dancyger balances theory with practice in a way that makes the book useful not only for students but also for working editors looking to refine their craft.
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[Muddassar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sounds like a solid resource for anyone studying the craft of editing. The evolution from traditional film editing to digital and nonlinear workflows really shows how much storage and accessibility matter for editors today. For those working on older systems or looking for a lightweight solution to manage large media files, the Terabox Old Version can be really useful since it offers cloud storage without demanding heavy resources, making it easier to store and access editing projects on the go.

[Waston John · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great resource for understanding how creative choices shape powerful results. In a similar way, interior projects in Dubai also rely on the right approvals before the creative work begins. For example, JAFZA approvals in Dubai are essential for commercial fit-outs, and companies like Atech Interiors LLC not only handle these approvals but also deliver functional and stylish interiors that bring concepts to life seamlessly.

[Your Crush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insights on The Technique of Film & Video Editing. I like how the book not only talks about theory but also connects it with modern editing practices. As someone experimenting with mobile editing apps, I found that tools like No watermark Alight Motion Mod APK also make it easier for beginners to practice transitions, effects, and storytelling techniques without worrying about watermarks. Thanks for sharing such a useful review!

[William Edward]

A great read for anyone interested in how editing shapes storytelling. Ken Dancyger explains the art of pacing, rhythm, and emotional timing with real examples from film history. It’s fascinating how attention to detail whether in filmmaking or in innovations like the Rybelsus 3mg Tablet, can completely change outcomes. Concise, insightful, and highly recommended.

[Jos Buttler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The review offers a solid take on *The Technique of Film & Video Editing*, especially the way it links classic theory with today’s editing methods. For anyone learning on mobile, apps like the No watermark Alight Motion Mod APKK make it simple to practice transitions, effects and basic storytelling. It’s a helpful breakdown and a nice push for beginners exploring editing.

[Jan Hfyz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great book if you are looking for the techniques for filming and video editing. It provides depth knowledge about the history, theory and the practice as well. I personally loved it after the section 2. I practiced to edit my cricket videos.

[Krunchy Roll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its an great book for those who are looking for the basics to make their grip stronger in video editing. I have read this and learned a lot from it by implementing it on freehit eu.

[Ahmad Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very insightful book that explains the art of editing with clear examples and techniques. Also found remini online free download helpful for enhancing visuals alongside my projects.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was somewhat interesting, but I found it focused more on the director's decisions and narrative elements than on actual editing techniques, which was disappointing. It also leaned heavily into theory, and I felt like several of the arguments could be challenged. https://spotipremiiumapk.com/

[Sawar Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great Book for learning the basics to the advance level about Techniques of films and video editing. Enhance your skills by reading it as i did while working on futbol libre en vivo that polished my skills to the next level.

[Farnaz Asadnezhad · Rating 4 out of 5]

خیلی کتاب کاملیه، امیدوارم به فارسی ترجمه بشه.

[Joel Cutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

While editing is not the focus of my work, this proved a useful book that helped me understand what happens after the story happens. Much respect to all you editors out there!

[Cristina Aguilar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Al final se hace muy pesado. Es muy descriptivo y no acaba de dar ninguna conclusión general. Está fatal traducido (he llegado a ver traducido "success" por "suceso".

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Amazing book that help in lot in my youtube channels success.
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[David John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book is really a bag of gem for me because I'm a video editor, and I got very useful information form this book.

[John Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

for those who want to know the basics of the video editing can checkout the techniques from this book. I repeat, just basics not proper advanced techniques.

[Mango · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Maaz Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Maheen Malyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Beirut Shisha]

I loved to read about video editing. Great book! If you're into movie stuff, check out this movie app — really useful!

[Tải Camtasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is good for my editing career, Love it!!!

[سید سردار · Rating 4 out of 5]

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