Dialogue Editing for Motion Pictures: A Guide to the Invisible Art [Paperback]

John Purcell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 9, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0240809181 | ISBN-13: 978-0240809182 | Edition: 1

Dialogue editing is a crucial yet invisible part of filmmaking. Do it right, and no one notices. Do it wrong, and your film or video sounds messy, distracting, and unrealistic. This is a book for people who need to edit production sound for film, TV, or video but were never taught how to do it. It goes step by step through the process and covers all the workflows you are likely to encounter. Efficient working practices are emphasized throughout, so you learn to save time and avoid needless repetition.

Many dialogue editors are hobbled by a lack of understanding of the non-sound aspects of filmmaking. Unlike editors who cut effects, backgrounds or Foley, a dialogue editor's work is directly affected by what has gone on before. How a film was shot, recorded and edited will dramatically influence the dialogue editing process. Much of this book, then, deals with things which at first glance don't appear to be dialogue. You will find overviews of film picture and sound postproduction--film, tape, NTSC, PAL, 24p, and HD. There are summaries of film picture editing, OMF manipulation, and ADR management.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The premise of the book is true: it is a necessary but usually overlooked part of film sound." - Larry Blake, supervising sound editor/re-recording mixer: films include "Traffic", "Erin Brockovich", "Ocean's Eleven", etc.

"John Purcell's excellent book is a concise and detailed text on the aesthetic and techniques of dialogue editing in the digital age. He brings a wealth of knowledge of the entire production sound arc and how dialogue editing significantly contributes to the process. Any filmmaker who follows Mr. Purcell's methods will have gone a long way to producing a very polished and professional sound track for their film." - Bill Dannevik, Professor of Digital Media, USC Cinema-TV/Savannah College of Art & Design and Technical Manager of World Wide Dubbing, Disney Character Voices International

"John Purcell's book is a comprehensive and detailed guide to the arcane craft of dialogue editing. Both instructors and students will benefit from his thoughtful examination of each stage of the post production sound process as it relates to this crucial component of the soundtrack." - Harry M. Cheney MPSE - Supervising Sound Editor - Associate Professor; Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

"This is a great subject matter and I and my colleagues would have loved to have had a book like this 10 years ago...there is very little information on the specifics of dialogue editing available." - Todd Hooker, film editor

"I am very happy to endorse this book. I have not previously seen a book that has realistically dealt with the professional responsibilities of a dialog editor. Dialog is the focus of a successful soundtrack. It not only contains the majority of the intellectual arch of the film but the timbers and tempos of the actor's voices are instrumental in establishing the critical relationship between the audience and the viewer. Without the Dialog editor's well-prepared session it is difficult and costly, (in terms of time spent in the dub) if not impossible, for the mixer to do what is necessary to establish or enhance that relationship. I look forward to being able to use this book as a required reading for my students." -Professor John Sisti, Savannah College of Arts and Design/Department of Sound Design. Formerly with Columbia Pictures/Sony Entertainment Supervising Sound Editor and Dialog Editor "Mad About You”

"Purcell has written this book for people who need to edit production sound for narrative films but were 'never taught how to do it.' Unlike music and effects editing, dialogue editing operates under a different set of rules. There are certain fundamental procedures that are absolutely essential to know and, unless one has been fortunate enough to work with an experienced editor in different situations, the information is not available. Purcell's book will fill in the gaps." - Editor's Guild Magazine

About the Author

An Emmy award-winning sound editor based in Tel Aviv, John Purcell has decades of experience in film, video, and sound editing in the US, Europe, and Middle East. In his current role as a motion picture dialogue editor and sound supervisor, he is responsible for budget development, artistic direction, sound editing and mix preparation. He is often called upon to fix unprofessional or botched sound jobs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (May 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240809181
• ISBN-13: 978-0240809182
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #649,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Emmy Award winning dialogue editor John Purcell has worked in film and television for over three decades. As a picture and sound editor, he's edited projects ranging from PBS documentary and performance programs to presidential political advertising, from television series to feature films. He as also edited numerous Grammy-nominated classical albums.

John was instrumental in the changeover from sprockets to digital technology at Sound One in New York, and he has consulted for manufacturers and studios in the USA and in Europe. Currently he lives in Israel, where he edits dialogue for feature films, writes for Waves Audio, and teaches film sound editing.

The Sela Yaniv Sound School has produced a series of training videos based on "Dialogue Editing for Motion Pictures: A Guide for the Invisible Art." They're always adding more titles to the series, so check out these lessons now and come back from time to time to find new installments. To watch a lesson, copy the appropriate URL and paste it into your browser.

Dialogue Editing tutorials (English):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d5XIzKlWFk&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Dialogue Editing tutorials (Spanish subtitles):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwdfgltNXBg&feature=BFa&list=ULi842nKym5xw&index=8

Dialogue Editing tutorials (Portuguese subtitles):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXadHC8TtF8&feature=BFa&list=ULi842nKym5xw&index=14

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A good professional book for aspiring film professionals. July 27, 2007

By Doron S

Format:Paperback

Clearly phrased, easy to read, concise and extremely useful, this book is a step by step guide to every pop, crackle and roll of the core part of sound editing - making the dialogue heard. It also has a great overview of the context - how to transfer production sound from the picture editing room, what you'll need from production as well, favoured/time saving procedures and the required contacts in other departments of production (a crucial though rarely covered issue).
The basic feel is somewhere between a 'how to' guide and a master-class. The book covers a lot more than which plug-in gives you what or how to use your mouse. Anyone with a few basic concepts in editing would probably be able to give it a go him/herself, or at least have a very good clue on what should be done in order to get the job done, and done well.
It's also packed with illustrative materials of most dialog boxes and written materials you should run into while working.
I'd recommend it to editors (both picture and sound) and post production facilities (in case a producer might wander in and wonder what's the big deal with dialogue).

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful book! May 30, 2007

By Bruce Tambling

Format:Paperback

Dialogue Editing for Motion Pictures, by John Purcell is an opportunity to learn a HUGE amount about dialog editing and audio post production in general. This is the type of information that can only be acquired through years of professional experience in the motion picture industry. From practical techniques of file management and workflow to the creative aesthetics of the art of sound design, Purcell delivers an incredibly dense book that will be helpful to both students and seasoned pro's.

I am not aware of any other book on the market that presents this advanced level of information on dialog editing and sound for picture. I am looking forward to using the book as a required text for my upcoming college classes, because I believe these skills are essential for success in today's digital audio job market.

Two Thumbs Way Up!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dialogue Editing on a professional level. September 18, 2007

By Brad Semenoff

Format:Paperback

This is the best book I have ever read on dialogue editing! It explains everything from budgeting time for a project all the way up to the final mix. John Purcell clearly loves his job and his enthusiasm comes through in his writing. I highly recommend this book to all filmmakers as a way to learn exactly what goes into the dialogue editing process and I consider it a must read for all sound editors.

John uses pictures and examples to demonstrate what he is talking about. He shows how to organize EDLs and how to use them to find alternate takes and locate wild sound for a particular scene. Though every film has its own quirks, John also demonstrates how to handle common problems with matching rooms tones from different angles in scenes. Those two aspects alone make the book worth getting, but there is a wealth of information in this book that makes it an excellent purchase.