Nonlinear Editing: Storytelling, Aesthetics, & Craft [Paperback]

Bryce Button (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1578200962 | ISBN-13: 978-1578200962 | Publication Date: July 2002

The art of editing in a nonlinear mode cannot be gleaned from software application manuals. This book is designed to convey the artistic considerations and techniques that both new and experienced editors need to employ in editing digital stock. Readers learn the importance of timing, emotion, and art in assembling a cohesive project that tells a story with the appropriate flow and pace. Each chapter features interviews with professionals and exercises relevant to the subject matter under discussion.

Nonlinear Editing is chock full of provocative ideas, insights, resources, tools, and exercises that will inspire you to making better decisions in the edit bay and in your career. For editors, directors, producers, and screenwriters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you are serious about improving your knowledge and skills as a filmmaker, you owe it to yourself to get a copy of this book and keep it handy."
-Jim Kanter, CreativeCow.net

About the Author

Bryce Button is a co-owner and primary editor for Through Line Post, a renowned editing house located in Denver, Colorado. He has won numerous awards in the course of his 500+ editing projects. Bryce's specialty is documentary storytelling although he has edited films, commercials, and television programs throughout his career. International clients include Gale Anne Hurd, Robert Redford, Republic Pictures, NBC, ABC, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the BBC. Bryce is one of the premier Avid instructors in the US, having worked with Avid Media Composers since their beta days in 1988. He has written for DV and Computer Video magazines and is a regular lecturer at venues that include the DV Expo, the Rockport International Film School, and Moviola.

Product Details

• Paperback: 523 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578200962
• ISBN-13: 978-1578200962
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #583,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!, June 9, 2003

By 

Rodrigaz G. (New York. NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nonlinear Editing: Storytelling, Aesthetics, & Craft (Paperback)

I Bought this book as a reference for technical issues (formats, standards, procedures) but I got much more. Button gives you the whole layout of this art/craft of film editing. The topics covered range from editing equipment to film theory, color harmony&design basics to writing resumes. Light, sound - this book covers it all. Not all topics are discussed in great length, but there are excellent reference lists for further reading and websites.
Bryce Button seems to be an experienced editor and a film scholar and clearly enjoys teaching.
I have been a film editor for 10 years -I've still learned a lot. Some of the information will be redundant to the more experienced but still- very well written, packed with knowledge, insight - in short, a real inspiration. Well Done!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good advice for beginners, May 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Nonlinear Editing: Storytelling, Aesthetics, & Craft (Paperback)

The book contains tons of very good advice for novice editors. The tips on planning will save a lot of time when the real work begins. The suggestions on the practical and aesthetic (including sound) aspects of editing will speed up the process and improve the quality of the finished work, perhaps by the equivalent of at least a few month's apprenticeship. The chapters on dealing with stress and team members, clients and the business, give an idea of the work environment to be expected. After reading the whole book, chapter 13 summarizes the most important tips as "cheat sheets" - very useful.

The only thing I didn't like was a number of typos, and what I thought was an occasional lapse in a couple of explanations.