On Film Editing

16

Rescuing the Actor

One more important area remains to be discussed—selective editing of inadequate acting. I am not talking about bad acting; the only ameliorative measure an editor can take in such a circumstance is to diminish the misery as much as possible. I am talking about acting which, for one reason or another, fails to hit the mark.

The best example of corrective treatment of such acting is one I have referred to on previous occasions. It is a prime example of serendipity rather than of creative ability; the result of an effort to make the best of a difficult situation rather than a rationally conceived and executed editing accomplishment. With the publisher’s permission, I shall borrow the episode from my book, On Film Directing ...