Behind the Seen: How Walter Murch Edited Cold Mountain Using Apple's Final Cut Pro and What This Means for Cinema

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Behind the Seen: How Walter Murch Edited Cold Mountain Using Apple's Final Cut Pro and What This Means for Cinema

by Charles Koppelman, Anthony Minghella (Foreword by)

3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 · rating details · 34 ratings · 4 reviews

The first volume to reveal the post-production process of a major motion picture ("Cold Mountain") edited entirely in Final Cut Pro Offers a rare inside glimpse at the creative process of one of cinema's giants: threetime Academy Award-winning editor Walter Murch.Includes anecdotes from the director, edit staff, and producers; photos, emails, and journal entries from Murch...more The first volume to reveal the post-production process of a major motion picture ("Cold Mountain") edited entirely in Final Cut Pro Offers a rare inside glimpse at the creative process of one of cinema's giants: threetime Academy Award-winning editor Walter Murch.Includes anecdotes from the director, edit staff, and producers; photos, emails, and journal entries from Murch; and behind-the-scenes insights.Accounts from Apple's Final Cut Pro team about what they think about the future of it in feature films.

As the first software-only desktop nonlinear editing system, Final Cut Pro sat the film industry on its ear when it debuted back in 1999. Now it's shaking things up again as editor Walter Murch, director Anthony Minghella, and a long list of Hollywood heavy-hitters are proving that this under-$1,000 software can (and should) be used to edit a multi-million dollar motion picture This book tells the story of that endeavor: the decision to use Final Cut Pro, the relationship between the technology and art (and craft) of movie-making, how Final Cut Pro was set up and configured for "Cold Mountain, " how the software's use affected the work flow, and its implications for the future of filmmaking. More than anything, however, this is Murch's own story of what seemed to many a crazy endeavor-- told through photos, journal entries, email musings, and anecdotes that give readers an inside view of what the film editor does and how this particular film progressed through post-production. The book includes, in his own words, Murch's vision, approach, and thoughts on storytelling as he shapes "Cold Mountain" under the intense pressures of completing a major studio film.

With Academy Awards for his work on "Apocalypse Now" and "The English Patient," sound and film editor Walter Murch is one of the few universally acknowledged editing masters in cinema. Along with George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, he is one of the founding members of the Northern California cinema community. Author Charles Koppelman has been writing screenplays and directing video and film since the early 1980s, including the independent feature film, "Dumbarton Bridge, " award-winning documentaries, and commercials.

"An exploration inside the editorial engine-room of a major feature film - the first book of its kind ever and sure to remain the best. Charles Koppelman chronicles Walter Murch's astonishing high-wire trapeze act as he works his way through the first large-scale implementation of Apple's Final Cut Pro editing software. Must be read by anyone interested in film, computers, or how the creative process unfolds." -- Francis Ford Coppola, director of The Conversation, The Godfather, Apocalypse Now

"This is probably the subtlest and most tender account of what a craftsman brings to a motion picture ever written. It is fascinating in its detail and awesome in its gradual uncovering of the ear, the eye and the soul of Walter Murch. The book may seem technical, or 'professional, ' but any reader will be thrilled by the description of a struggle and the necessary commitment to it. To be read by anyone who has ever thought it might be fun to make a movie." -- David Thomson, film critic and author of The Biographical Dictionary

"BEHIND THE SEEN is not only revelatory in terms of technical innovation, but it reads like a thrilling suspense novel. Superbly written and paced, the book captures the brilliant and daring film/sound editor-scientist Walter Murch in all his passionate and creative glory. Charles Koppelman has crafted a truly unique addition to the canon of film history, delivering a must-read for anyone interested in how movies are made." --Barry Gifford, author of Wild at Heart, Lost Highway and City of Ghosts

..". excellent, original and tremendously informative book... Koppelman's account reads like a thriller... Behind the Seen achieves something remarkable: a chronicle about technology and data, machines and methodologies which also manages to record a story of friendships and dreams-not least the dreams I have been lucky enough to share with my friend and editor over three films and for almost a decade." --from the book's foreword by Anthony Minghella, writer and director of Cold Mountain, The English Patient, and The Talented Mr. Ripley(less)

Paperback, 360 pages

Published October 21st 2004 by New Riders Publishing

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 83)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jul 05, 2008 Connor rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: film

Not nearly as groundbreaking as the title would like you to believe but as with any book by or about Murch, this is less about the subject at hand and more about the mental acrobatics of Murch connecting his film work to the million of things that fascinate him.

Certainly more beneficial to someone who has seen Cold Mountain (more so if you liked it) but not a requirement. Rather than reflecting on his work in the film, the book docuements the editor's journey from pre-production to final mix an...more

like · see review

Feb 04, 2012 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the best books that I have read about the filmmaking process. It focused on the editing process and final cut pro in particular, but I found it to be relevant to the other aspects of filmmaking as well. Walter Murch has a really fascinating personality and work process, and he also is quite the philosopher. So many things from this book are quotable for film and many other artistic disciplines. Charles Koppelman delved very deep into the making of Cold Mountain, and his thorough r...more

like · see review

May 04, 2012 Paul rated it 5 of 5 stars

Amazing, inspiring book - and beautifully designed/presented.

like · see review

Dec 29, 2008 Eugene rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm loving this book so far... it's kinda geeky, but it talks about Apple and Final Cut Pro, and Walter Murch who is amazing, and the film Cold Mountain...

like · see review

May 19, 2013 Alex rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: film

May 09, 2013 Adam Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 04, 2013 Morfaw David marked it as to-read

Mar 18, 2013 Roberto marked it as to-read

Feb 24, 2013 Cathryn Hrudicka marked it as to-read

Feb 22, 2013 Madhulika marked it as to-read

Jan 28, 2013 Singleton Makin added it

Shelves: books-i-wish-to-study

Jan 12, 2013 Matt added it

Dec 12, 2012 Gabriele Cassia added it

Dec 09, 2012 Dan marked it as to-read

Nov 17, 2012 Jeff marked it as to-read

Sep 19, 2012 Nada Gabry added it

Aug 26, 2012 Mark marked it as to-read

Aug 19, 2012 Will marked it as to-read

Aug 05, 2012 Sharon marked it as to-read

Aug 05, 2012 Peejeedee marked it as to-read

Aug 01, 2012 Casey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jul 24, 2012 Casey Jones rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jun 21, 2012 Vishnu Satya marked it as to-read

Apr 19, 2012 Ed added it

Apr 16, 2012 Renee marked it as to-read

Shelves: filmmaking

Mar 28, 2012 Boon Fox rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 03, 2012 Christopher marked it as to-read

Jan 20, 2012 Igraine marked it as auf-gar-keinen-fall

Jan 09, 2012 Zak rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jan 08, 2012 Ethan Bartholomae marked it as to-read

Shelves: self-film-course-to-read

« previous 1 2 3 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

Genres

Culture > Film

7 users

See top shelves...

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Behind the Seen: ...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Behind the Seen: How Walter Murch Edited Cold Mountain Using Apple's Final Cut Pro and What This Means for Cinema
avg rating	preview: Behind the Seen: How Walter Murch Edited Cold Mountain Using Apple's Final Cut Pro and What This Mea Goodreads rating: 3.97 (34 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42646.Behind_the_Seen?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348141170l/42646.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42646.Behind_the_Seen?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Behind the Seen: How Walter Murch Edited Cold Mountain Using Apple's Final Cut Pro and What This Means for Cinema by Charles Koppelman[/url]

Behind the Seen: How Walter Murch Edited Cold Mountain Using Apple's Final Cut Pro and What This Means for Cinema

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

Genres

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Behind the Seen: ...

new topic
Discuss This Book