Customer Reviews

Film Editing: Great Cuts Every Filmmaker and Movie Lover Must Know

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(2)
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This is not so much a textbook as it is a hip coffee table book -- imagine a landscape-bound picture book of hit movie scenes, or an artsy encyclopedia of film edits. If you're looking for something deeper and more academic, check out the author's previous book, Cut-By-Cut. This new, fun book isn't software / hardware specific (definitely not a manual on Final Cut), but instead gives a brief reason for using each technique, along with corresponding screenshots that anyone can understand. When should you use a Black Out? A Flash Frame? An Insert? What is Universal Time? Without getting too philosophical, this book addresses not the "how" but the more important "why" for each, and there are over 50 of these featured techniques inside. The overall focus of this book is using film editing to serve the story, rather than distracting from it. As it says, "If you find yourself bored, confused, or suddenly aware of the movie theater or your life and not the movie, a series of bad cuts has probably led you there." It tempts me to watch a movie in slow-motion and see how many of these editing tricks I can spot. Suggestions: flip through this book often for brainstorming, or keep it in the lobby to impress your clients. Great as a gift: it's so collectible and creative-looking that anyone working in the film business would love to have it on the shelf.

When we watch a film we are usually carried along with the story and not very conscious of what goes into capturing our attention. We usually aren't aware of how the film was made, and when we are it's usually a sign that it wasn't made very well.

With a lot of pictures and not too many words this book gives film buffs a huge insight into how movies work, especially how hundreds of small pieces of film, usually just a few seconds long, are put together to keep the story going forward. Putting these pieces together is called editing and Chandler is good at explaining it. (probably because she has done a lot of it.).

Along with showing us what we are seeing on the screen she also supplies names for all the different types of `cuts'. Knowing the names will make you more aware of what you are seeing and make you sound smarter the next time you are talking about a movie.

Gael Chandler's new book "Film Editing" published by Michael Weise Productions, provides a beautiful visual reference for anyone interested in learning the visual language of film time. The numerous stills selected provide excellent examples of screen direction, parallel actions, point of view shots, matching color and much more through the selected stills from contemporary motion pictures. This is a book that beginning film students as well as professionals can refer to as a reminder as to why the cut takes place and how to abbreviate moments in a film to make them more effective or to lengthen moments to intensify the suspense. Screen direction can be particularly confusing to new directors and editors and this book addresses these issues through the use of stills. This book is a must have for directors, producers, editors, cinematographers and anyone interested in the construction of a scene shot by shot. Should be in every filmmakers library.

the book tries to summaries all kinds of cuts into virtual categories, which hardly benefit you while working or trying to obtain a certain meaning from your editing.

Maybe it is more useful if it sort the book based on the perception you need, then it gives you options of cuts to get this perception (meaning) from your edit.

Gael Chandler's Film Editing has a lot of really helpful information on editing, especially for new filmmakers and/or film lovers. While more experienced filmmakers might find much of what's in this book to be concepts they're already familiar with, nearly anyone who reads this book will find their awareness of the art of editing expanded. As such, this is definitely a book to take a look at if you want to learn more about the process of sculpting and honing film, which is editing.
-Jeremy Hanke, Editor-in-Chief, [...] , Issue 43, Final Score: 8.5/10

This is by far one of the best movie-making books I've read, from the perspective of a novice attempting to learn the trade through books and courses. I've read repeatedly about filming an action from a distance, close-up on the hands, close up on the face, side shot, POV shot, but this book actually tells you why and when. Very good, highly recommended, full of illustrations and examples.

This is a beautiful book! It must have taken a long time to gather all the info and pictures! Gael must have invested a whole lot of work into creating this book. I am learning a lot from you, Gael. I love it that it is so visual. It is easy to understand, even if you have not studied editing in school. I have just invested into a professional camera. I will be making great videos soon! I recommend this book for everyone interested in film editing :) 5 stars!

This book arrived quickly from the seller and in perfect shape. It is a great resource for at home film editing.

I will admit that I am new to the editing scene, but this book helped illustrated what my mind instinctively wanted me to do. It helped me put into words and added substance to my process in an easy to understand method. I eventually watched all of the movies used (if I didn't know them already) which helped to cement what I learned. I sent me on a search for more great editing works and is a nice companion for completing my own first feature.

Truly informative and presented in a no-nonsense format that's easily comprehensible by anyone interested in film editing, filmmaking, or simply the average moviegoer, wanting a better understanding of the genre.