Customer Reviews

The Technique of Film and Video Editing, Fourth Edition: History, Theory, and Practice

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The Technique of Film and Video doesn't really know what it wants to be.

It over emphasis on editing history and early theory would simply overwhelm first time editing students and outright bore those familiar with the craft.

As a film student, I know the importance of film editing, but this entry fails to generate any interest for the technique and the practical implications for film editing.

It's been said not to judge a book by its cover, and this one is no different. A screen capture of "Brokeback Mountain" does nothing to offset the heavy emphasis on film pre-1960.

Just my two cents.

I bought this book for a class and I find it to be a great resource. It doesn't teach you how to edit but goes into what successful editing is. It goes into the topics of filmaking including how sound and visuals add to and often create a movie's overall experience. It's a bit of a dry read but I find it very useful that he gives examples from movies. I only wish this book came with a CD of these scenes instead of still shots.

This book has some good insight but it seems more like a book about how to review movies. Kinda dry read!I used this bok for my editing class and learned absolutely very little about how to edit. I learned more reading Walter Murch's "In The Blink of an Eye" than this!

I think this book is an example of great initiative, but poor performance.

For someone that agrees that too much dialogue can kill a film, his book sure is unnecessarily long-winded.

Not a complete waste of time, but was it hypocrisy or "teaching by bad example" that is portrayed through this book?

This book provides an excellent overview of the history of editing - from its origins to where we are now. It also includes a substantial cross-section of specific genres: action, comedy, documentary, etc. It's true, as other reviews have pointed out, that the examples tend to be biased toward older films. I didn't have a problem with this for the most part. Many of these films are excellent and it makes for the perfect excuse for a rainy Sunday Netflix fest.

Dancyger's book is also strong on the theory of editing. I didn't agree with all his propositions, but they certainly got me thinking about my own editing projects and the editing technique of films I admire. Where the book falls a bit short is the practical side. I wasn't expecting a manual, but the book could use a few more real life examples and practical techniques - especially in the documentary chapters.

One last thing: this isn't a book to be read on its own. I gained the most from Dancyger's examples when I watched the films he refers to. If you don't borrow, buy or rent the movies and watch the referenced films you'll miss out on a major component.

M. Sean Kaminsky, Author, Naked Lens: Video Blogging & Video Journaling to Reclaim the YOU in YouTube

I had to buy this for a film editing class. I'm only about 2 chapters in so far, but I'm thoroughly disappointed. Dancyger seems to prefer directing techniques over editing techniques, and definitely theory over practice. The first two chapters are reiterating the basics of film history with many techniques used in the classics by Melies, Porter, and Eisenstein. I've learned so much about film history and SO LITTLE about editing technique I am definitely disappointed and unenthusiastic about reading more.