2
Mastering the Art of Film Editing
► Heart of the Matter
The editor has propriety over a realm that belongs to no one else in the filmmaking process. While the cinematographer has her lights and lenses, the costume designer his clothing, and the production designer her sets, only the editor bears the responsibility for the pace and rhythm of the film. And that, as much as anything, influences the outcome of the movie. It is the beating heart of the medium.
That may sound like a rash assessment. It is not as intuitive, perhaps, as our perception of what is said or how it is said. Yet when it is said, and for how long, including pauses, glances, breaths, and reactions, fuels the emotional subtext of the film.
How is this achieved? Pace and rhythm ...
Get The Healthy Edit, 2nd Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.