The Technique of Film and Video Editing: History, Theory, and Practice [Paperback]

Ken Dancyger (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240804201 | ISBN-13: 978-0240804200 | Publication Date: August 14, 2002 | Edition: 3rd

The Technique of Film & Video Editing is the best training for aspiring directors, providing a detailed, precise look at the artistic and aesthetic principles and practices of editing for both picture and sound. Analysis of photographs from dozens of classic and contemporary films and videos provide a sound basis for the professional filmmaker and student editor. Practical skills are grounded by an exposition of the ideas and styles of editing through which the director can understand the visual tools at his or her disposal. This book puts into context the storytelling choices an editor will have to make against a background of theory, history, and practice.


The current edition brought this book to the cutting edge with such topics as new technology and its influence on the art of editing, MTV style, psychoanalytic ideas, and the appropriation of style over content. The new edition furthers these discussions by highlighting the "stylistic extremes" brought about by the clash of imitative style and innovative filmmaking. It continues the examination of MTV style via a study of the full spectrum of its uses in recent years. Additionally, it examines the editing characteristics of nonlinear storytelling as evidenced in such recent films as The Ice Storm and Thin Red Line. A new chapter addresses new trends in documentary.

* Offers a deeper discussion of MTV style editing
* Includes more on the appropriation of style
* Examines innovations in documentary

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a thoroughly "reader friendly" introduction and survey of proven editing techniques and how those techniques influence the editing process...No film school or academic library film/video production instructional collection can be considered complete with the inclusion of The Technique Of Film And Video Editing as a core reference." - The Bookwatch, Sept. 2006'

"It's one of my favorite books on editing. By understanding the essence of this book, you will feel more confident, you willknow, right from psychological and aesthetic level, why some film sequences touch your heart and stir your mind"
- www.aboutvideoediting.com

From the Publisher

The new material in the second edition emphasizes how new technology has influenced the art of editing. New topics include the MTV style, psychoanalytic ideas, and the appropriation of style over content. New filmmakers whose work is examined in this edition include Spike Lee, Julie Dash, Atom Egoyan, Quentin Tarantino, and Oliver Stone. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 520 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 3rd edition (August 14, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240804201
• ISBN-13: 978-0240804200
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,107,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Different Ways of Film Editing..., December 14, 2000

By 

ilker canikligil (Istanbul Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Technique of Film and Video Editing, Second Edition: Theory and Practice (Paperback)

This book will give you a general history of editing. Also you will find in "Editing for the genre" section examples of different film editing "styles" for different genres. Honestly the principles of editing section is very weak. Also the non linear editing topic is not covered in depth. The name can be confusing for some people: This book is NOT about the technique and There is almost nothing on "video" in it. It is about creative and aesthetical sides of editing with examples from well known directors like Kubrick, Hitchcock etc.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1st class, August 17, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Technique of Film and Video Editing, Second Edition: Theory and Practice (Paperback)

film, video, non-linear, linear - it's all pictures and sound. This book was everything i was looking for. It's not an explanation of how to edit. It's about how to think, how to dig deep inside your feelings and appy those feelings to the work you do. Forget the technicalities, forget the jargon, this is about asking yourself the question - what do i want the viewer to feel? It inspires you to think beyond what you know. I have been editing for a number of years - i am a better editor after reading this book.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly "reader friendly" introduction and survey of proven editing techniques, September 9, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Technique of Film and Video Editing: History, Theory, and Practice (Paperback)

Now in an updated and expanded third edition, The Technique Of Film And Video Editing: History, Theory, And Practice by Ken Dancyger (Professor of Film and Television, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University) provides a thoroughly "reader friendly" introduction and survey of proven editing techniques and how those techniques influence the editing process, as well as presenting the history, theory, and aesthetics of editing in film and video. Nicely organized into three major sections (History of Film Editing; Editing for the Genre); and Principles of Editing), The Technique Of Film And Video Editing is enhanced with the inclusion of "Cutting Room Procedures", a filmography, a glossary, a selected bibliography for further study, and a comprehensive index. No film school or academic library film/video production instructional collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of The Technique Of Film And Video Editing as a core reference. Also very highly recommended for film students and aspiring film makers from Focal Press is Blain Brown's Cinematography: Image Making For Cinematographers, Directors, And Videographers (02-40805003, $44.99).