Synopses & Reviews
In the Blink of an Eye is celebrated editor Walter Murch's vivid, multifaceted, thought-provoking essay of film editing. Starting with what might seem to be the most basic editing question Why do cuts work? he treats the reader to a marvelous "ride" through the esthetics and practical concerns of cutting film. Along the way, he offers his insights on such subjects as continuity and discontinuity in editing, dreaming, and real life; the criteria of a good cut; and the blink of the eye as both an analog to and an emotional cue for the cut. New to this second edition is Murch's lengthy meditation on the current state of digital editing.
Review
"Nothing is as fascinating as spending hours listening to Walter's theories of life and cinema and his countless tidbits of wisdom, which he leaves behind him like Hansel and Gretel's trail of bread: guidance and nourishment." Francis Ford Coppola
Review
"An incredibly lucid trek into the formidable craft of film editing, which in my opinion is the core of the cinematic art form. Walter Murch's depth of insight into this subject is astonishing, and the book is a must for anyone who is interested in truly understanding the filmmaking process." George Lucas
Review
"The first time I saw Murch he was asleep on his KEM, having worked all night on The Conversation. He's the only editor I know who actually sleeps with his films. In fact, Murch has a love affair with every film he's involved with. In the Blink of an Eye is his chronicle of passions it's where he finally tells us some of the intimate details of these affairs. Not for those who cannot love film." PHilip Kaufman
Review
"This small book contains a wealth of first-hand knowledge about the mysteries of giving birth to a film. I think it is of immense value to professionals and film buffs alike." Fred Zinnemann
Synopsis
Comprises a revised second edition of film editor Walter Murch's thought-provoking essay on the art and process of film editing. Originally published in 1992, revisions take new technologies such as digital editing into account.
About the Author
Walter Murch is an editor, sound designer, director, and screenwriter who has been honored repeatedly by both the American and British Motion Picture Academies for his picture editing and sound mixing. Among the many notable films he has edited and/or mixed are The Conversation, American Graffiti, Julia, Apocalypse Now, all three Godfather films, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, House of Cards, Ghost, Crumb, The English Patient, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Cuts and Shadow Cuts 1
Why Do Cuts Work? 5
"Cut Out the Bad Bits" 10
Most with the Least 15
The Rule of Six 17
Misdirection 21
Seeing Around the Edge of the Frame 23
Dreaming in Pairs 26
Team Work: Multiple Editors 29
The Decisive Moment 32
Methods and Machines: Marble and Clay 43
Test Screenings: Referred Pain 52
Don't Worry, It's Only a Movie 57
Dragnet 64
A Galaxy of Winking Dots 70
Afterword: Non-Linear Digital Editing: The Unbearable Lightness 73