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219th out of 286 books
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In the Blink of an Eye
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 s...more
Paperback, Revised Second Edition, 146 pages
Published
August 1st 2001
by Silman-James Press
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Not quite on par with "The Conversations," the book of interviews between Murch and Michael Ondaatje, but an absolutely stellar and essential read for anyone interested in film on a more than superficial level. It's a quick read, probably only a few hours from front to back, so there's really no reason at all not to pick it up and read it. What I like about Murch's thinking, as highlighted both in this and "The Conversations," is that he's as much a philosopher as he is a the...more
Yes, a book on film editing, it's about storytelling.
If you're interested though, I'd recommend The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film by Michael Ondaatje. It contains much the same (and more) content and is crafted by Ondaatje to emphasize not just Murch's genius, but also his humility and eager, genuine curiosity. And it's about storytelling.
p. 15
If you're interested though, I'd recommend The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film by Michael Ondaatje. It contains much the same (and more) content and is crafted by Ondaatje to emphasize not just Murch's genius, but also his humility and eager, genuine curiosity. And it's about storytelling.
p. 15
The underlying principle: Always try to do the most with the least—with the emphasis on try. You...more
This is a nice little book on film editing. Walter Murch has edited many films, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather Part II, and The Conversation. He writes about his editing process and somewhat the history of cutting films. One of the things I found most interesting is that Murch says its not obvious that film cuts should work as well as they do. Most of what we experience visually from the moment we get up is a continous stream of linked images. The "cut" would seem to go against and...more
For someone that works in the digital post production environment this book shows the progression of the craft of editing over 30 years.
If you love storytelling, you will learn that there are 3 films: the one you write, the one you shoot, and the one you edit. Nobody better to show you the latter than the man that edited Apocalypse now and The Godfather. Also one of the most proactive advocators for digital editing, you can see how some of the ideas proposed 10 years ago made it to the con...more
If you love storytelling, you will learn that there are 3 films: the one you write, the one you shoot, and the one you edit. Nobody better to show you the latter than the man that edited Apocalypse now and The Godfather. Also one of the most proactive advocators for digital editing, you can see how some of the ideas proposed 10 years ago made it to the con...more
Written by one of the great editors of one of the U.S.’s finest decades of cinema, the 1970s, Walter Murch is part psychologist philosopher and part editor in this short treatise on film editing. Written before the digital age, it talks to students about the aesthetics and psychology of editing, rather than which key on your keyboard to press, which seems to dominate so much of the education surrounding editing today, with the technology overtaking the storytelling aspect. As a teacher myself ...more
The first half of this book (mostly written in 1993) is a must-read for anyone interested in film editing, by one of the great masters of the art, but is also useful to anyone interested in conversation, or how people view the world around them.
The second half (written in 1999) of the 2nd edition is a fascinating technical and social look at the way digital editing developed, comparing it with the mechanical editors used for 70 years before, and the benefits of drawbacks of differing...more
The second half (written in 1999) of the 2nd edition is a fascinating technical and social look at the way digital editing developed, comparing it with the mechanical editors used for 70 years before, and the benefits of drawbacks of differing...more
Murch speaks in metaphors. Its wonderful how he links film editing to bees, dreams, Houdini, "referred pain," and so much more. Blinking as a kind of grammar punctuating our thoughts is a brilliant connection. I now feel hyperaware of my blinking and other people's blinking in conversations.
When I was an angsty teenager, my Dad dated had this girlfriend who, besides having been to 80-something Grateful Dead concerts, never blinked. I remember thinking she was part gecko. Mur...more
When I was an angsty teenager, my Dad dated had this girlfriend who, besides having been to 80-something Grateful Dead concerts, never blinked. I remember thinking she was part gecko. Mur...more
A great deal of the reading and information you get from it is really good; would rate it 5*. Well but not all and to be honest, a great deal of pages just slip by and it feels as nothing happened (or was read). Still, I encourage anyone interested in filmmaking or anyone in general to read it since Murch's analyses of some human physiological features, mixed with his own experience in provoking emotional responses by film editing and storytelling are very interesting even out of the filmmaking ...more
This book is really excellent if you're interested in editing films. It's not a nuts-and-bolts kind of how-to book about editing, but it is quite specific to the craft and assumes that the reader is already conversant with some of the fundamental mechanics of how film is edited. But Murch is really a wise, big-picture kind of guy (no pun intended), and he illustrates his points with very intelligent metaphors and analogies. For instance, he compares recent developments in film technology with ...more
I consider this a "must read" for anyone interested in film, film-production, or film-studies. Murch is one of the giants in film-editing, laying a lot of his story on the line. Short and informative, my copy is littered with annotations, underlines, and exclamations.
The second edition almost doubles in length, adding a large section based on the digital revolution of post production. Personally, I was more familiar with that sort of thing, and loved the first section a goo...more
The second edition almost doubles in length, adding a large section based on the digital revolution of post production. Personally, I was more familiar with that sort of thing, and loved the first section a goo...more
This was an excellent book on the art and nuances of Film Editing. It was intelligently written and at the same time read very quickly. I had to read this book for my Advanced Editing class. One of the most impressive sections was the explanation of how and why film cuts work in our minds. I am a big fan of ideas on how human perception works and how art can effect those Perceptions. I was glad to read this book and I hope to read it again some day.
- Kohl 04/27/02
- Kohl 04/27/02
Dustin Young
added it
Hands down, the best book to read on editing. This book deals strictly with logic, storytelling, aesthetic, emotion, and rhythm. This is not some technical guide about the latest software, which I find invaluable and have read many times. Murch also tells some great war stories of his work with Coppola. Must read for anyone in the industry, or who wants to learn about the craft of editing.
This book was fantastic. A must read for anyone interested in making any sort of videos. (and highly recommended for anyone who enjoys watching them).
Fascinating ideas about the connections between movie editing practices and the flow of human consciousness. The idea that we blink when we change our thoughts/focus still blows my mind (as a sort of editing of our perception of reality).
Wish I'd read this 15 years ago when I started fooling around with art movies.
Fascinating ideas about the connections between movie editing practices and the flow of human consciousness. The idea that we blink when we change our thoughts/focus still blows my mind (as a sort of editing of our perception of reality).
Wish I'd read this 15 years ago when I started fooling around with art movies.
A quick, easy read that is filled with mechanical hints into human psychology that will change the way you edit, if you do edit film or video, and probably will also change how you see people. I literally see people differently now. Not what I expected. (Here's the biggest hint: you blink when you change or finish your thought.)
One of the best books on film I have ever read. This book talks about the theory of editing, what makes an edit work, and the process of editing through the ages. You simply need to pick up this book. It's a brisk read, you can finish it in an afternoon. Read it now!
One thought: read the afterword on digital editing first, and then move to the more poetic, first seventy-ish pages (the original speech). I think the whole idea of the blink framing our personal narrative would of stuck a little more that way.
Kyle Barron-Cohen
rated it
Recommends it for:
Editors, Photographers, Directors, Actors, Interested Parties
Shelves:
2010
Wonderful and enlightening insight into a legend's process. Anyone involved in the creation and appreciation of filmic storytelling can benefit from this peek into the mind of Walter Murch: editor and sound designer extraordinaire.
I don't edit films, nor do I intend to, but I enjoyed this book. It made me think about the way films are constructed, but also the way an expert views his craft -- the combination of art and practice and habit that make up a life's work.
Since my training was mostly in screenwriting, I found this book surprisingly informative. Murch mentioned film principles from an editor's point of view, which may interest any cinephile or filmmaker.
From a lecture series, it was supposedly edited to be more book-like, but fails in this regard. Still, a look into a brilliant mind. Worth the read for the accounts of working on Apocalypse Now alone.
First half was very broad editing theory, nothing too specific. the second half was outdated information on the digital age. Just find Murch's lectures online instead, they are more informative.
Wanting to learn Final Cut Pro, I booked a one-on-one session with a filmaker, and this was the book he suggested to read. I find myself going back to it often.
Very intriguing examination on the philosophy of film editing. Insightful beyond the the world of cinema as well. It's a short quick read for anyone who's curious.
Elena
added it
Film book! This compromises what I love about reading - interviews and ideas from the filmmakers and editors themselves.
This book is certainly a useful tool for considering how to conceptualize the editing process. I only gave it two stars because it is short on information and reads like a children's book.
So amazing! I felt like W.Murch was actually standing in front of me telling and explaining things to me!
Helped to know that being an editing nerd/theorist could also end up prolific. Personally just lovely.
Occasionally spellbinding insights from one of the best film editors and sound designers around
The MUST-READ book for anyone interested in the art of film-making.
This is a must read for anyone interested in film editing.
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