In the blink of an eye walter murchs editing theory. Each cut and transition is a storyteller that can inform your audience about the story, characters, and emotion of a scene. All of those will be presented in the coming weeks. It was on the set of the movie adaptation of his booker prizewinning novel, the english patient, that michael ondaatje met the master film and sound editor walter murch, and the two began a remarkable personal conversation about the making of films and books in our time that continued over two years.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 114 pages and is available in paperback format. His book describes many of his notable techniques used in his film editing. In the blink of an eye is celebrated film editor walter murchs vivid, multifaceted, thought provoking essay on film editing. A perspective on film editing is a nonfiction filmmaking book on the art and craft of editing authored by walter murch. From those conversations stemmed this enlightened, affectionate book a mine of wonderful, surprising observations and information about editing, writing and literature, music and sound, the. He talks about the experiences he been through his career and it gives the readers an idea of a revolution of editing.
In this book, walter murch talks about editing film when you actually edited film but his focus is so much on the theory of editing that even in todays digital age it is relevant. This a non fiction book interviews the movie editor walter murch, it talks about how important does editing means in a movie, and what kind of effects will shows by different editing. Editing is a lovely balance of technical expertise, artistic license, and pure instinct. A wonderful book written by one of the greats of modern cinema. Walter murch is extraordinary even within his own field. It was on the set of the movie adaptation of his booker prizewinning novel, the english patient, that michael ondaatje met the master film and sound editor walter murch, and the two began a remarkable. Some of the chapters get technical especially when murch talks about the shift from analog to digital but mostly his style is straightforward and accessible. From one of americas most acclaimed directors comes a book that is both a professional memoir and a definitive guide to. May 23, 2016 in his highly regarded book, in the blink of an eye, murch offers film and video makers a wonderfully succinct guide to approaching the craft and philosophy of editing. Oct, 2011 editing is a lovely balance of technical expertise, artistic license, and pure instinct. In his book, in the blink of an eye, walter murch details the rule of six, discussing the six categories that make for a great cut. Dont be, as murch reassures in the name of his next chapter.
Aug 03, 2018 a book that discusses film editing in a philosophical yet practical way. There was another entire series of questions i presented to him, posted by members from the editing social group, blue collar post collective. The conversations paperback walter murch and the art of editing film. Ondaatje was so struck by his personality and methods that he decided to write a book about him. Murch approaches editing by looking beyond basic human instinct. Aug 10, 2018 walter murch on editing the restaurant scene from the godfather on editing. An excellent book for anyone interested in the king of audio in the movies. Part ii 1974, won his first academy award nomination for the conversation 1974, won his first oscar for apocalypse now 1979, and won an unprecedented. Free download or read online in the blink of an eye. Walter murch, ace clarifies concepts from in the blink of. Chapter 1 first conversation san francisco in the spring of 2000, walter murch, at the suggestion of francis ford coppola, began to reedit apocalypse now, a. Apr 14, 2016 murchs theory of assigning the human blink as emotional punctuation is a great editing technique to keep in the back of your mind as your deciding where to make a cut. Walter murch, ace and steve hullfish at the san francisco screening of coup 53.
The book is half walter murch insights and half another guy forget his name but a book writers insight the book writer guy more prompts walter into giving information by directing questionsconversation topics at him. Starting with what might seem to be the most basic editing question. Walter murch can write so compellingly well while delivering an exteremly great portrayal of the artistry behind editing film. The conversations is a treasure, essential for any lover or stud. You the editor have been alone or with a director in an editing room for months, developing your own theories about how the film should be. In the blink of an eye is celebrated editor walter murchs vivid, multifaceted, thoughtprovoking essay of film editing. Ive not read in the blink of an eye or that would probably be on this list too as it is on most others michael ondaatje is the writer of the english patient and it was during the making of that film that he and walter. In the blink of an eye is celebrated editor walter murch s vivid, multifaceted, thoughtprovoking essay of film editing. As the subject of michael ondaatjes offbeat, exhilarating new book, walter. According to the film stage, the book is often considered the essential literary source on film editing. Walter scott murch born july 12, 1943 is an american film editor, director, writer and sound designer.
Rule of six murchs rule of six is a nice hierarchical breakdown to keep in mind when deciding upon where to make a cut, and lists the decisionmaking factors in this. Art of the cut with walter murch, ace, on editing coup 53. When i watched walter murch at work during my peripheral involvement with the film of the english patient, i knew that this was the stage of filmmaking that was closest to the art of writing. There are some cool examples from his work on apocalypse now and thx 18 if youd prefer to hear from the man himself, have a look at this video presentation, where murch talks about making the right editing. Walter murch has been editing sound in hollywood since starting on francis ford coppolas film the rain people 1969. The main characters of this culture, film story are. Walter murch and the rule of six go into the story. Walter murch and the art of editing film the second walter murch book on this list, and another beauty.
If weve learned anything from the forefathers of montage, its that editing can be used for so much more than. The first edition of the novel was published in january 1st 1995, and was written by walter murch. The conversations is a treasure, essential for any lover or student of film, and a rare, intimate glimpse into the worlds of two accomplished artists who share a. The book is half walter murch insights and half another guy forget his name but a book writers insight the book writer guy more prompts walter into giving information by directing questionsconversation topics at him the book. San francisco in the spring of 2000, walter murch, at the suggestion of francis ford coppola, began to reedit apocalypse now, a. With a career stretching back to 1969, including work on apocalypse now, the godfather i, ii, and iii, american graffiti, the conversation, and the english patient, with three academy award wins from nine nominations. About a decade ago, transom ran a great article by walter murch about his perceptions on sound design. In the blink of an eye is celebrated film editor walter murchs vivid, multifaceted, thoughtprovoking essay on film editing.
He was six times oscarnominated for film editing, three times nominated for sound mixing, winning for mixing on apocalypse. Enlarge this image walter murch at a new york postproduction facility where the final edit of jarhead was made. Click here to listen to the story behind how in the blink of an eye got made. In shot a, a man opens a door, walks halfway across the. In shot a, a man opens a door, walks halfway across the room, and then the film cuts to the next shot, b, picking him up at that same halfway point and continuing with him the rest of the way across the. In the blink of an eye is celebrated film editor walter murch s vivid, multifaceted, thoughtprovoking essay on film editing. Walter murch on editing, cinematography and the change to. Aug 01, 2001 in the blink of an eye is celebrated film editor walter murch s vivid, multifaceted, thoughtprovoking essay on film editing. Walter murch may no be a household name, but his movies are. In this post, were going to take a temporary step back from this blogs usual emphasis on the technical aspects of editing in favor of a discussion about art and instinct, as inspired by walter murch.
Michael ondaatje first met veteran editor walter murch during the filming of his novel the english patient, and he. His work as both editor and sound designer on classic. Murch likes to quote robert bresson to the effect that a film is born three timesin the writing of the script, in the shooting, and in the editing. Much not only explains the art of editing and his approach to it but he also looks into real life and tells stories. In the blink of an eye is celebrated film editor walter murch s vivid, multifaceted, thought provoking essay on film editing. Walter murch s rule of six the first thing discussed in filmschool editing classes is what im going to call threedimensional continuity. Walter murch and the art of editing film by michael ondaatje, murch explains why viewers arent disturbed by sudden transitions and other forms of editing in. Starting with what might seem to be the most basic editing question why do cuts work. Buy a cheap copy of in the blink of an eye book by walter murch. Its partly a book about film and partly a book about the experience of walter murch. Starting with what might be the most basic editing. In walter murch s, in the blink of an eye book, the rule of six chapter discusses how to create the best cut possible. Trust me, its a treasure trove for walter murch fans and editors in. The conversations is a treasure, essential for any lover or student of film, and a rare.
In the blink of an eye walter murchs editing theory tested. In the states, film is cut, which puts the emphasis on separation. In the blink of an eye a perspective on film editing book. Let twotime oscar winner walter murch tell you what makes an edit a good one. Walter murch and the art of editing film ondaatje, michael. Walter murch on editing the restaurant scene from the. This book makes a perfect companion piece to the classic murch book the conversations. You could say the book is interested in where this art borders on a kind of science. Murch s theory of assigning the human blink as emotional punctuation is a great editing technique to keep in the back of your mind as your deciding where to make a cut. He breaks it down in the order of their importance, and ive laid them out below. He has the knowhow of film editing in his pocket that he shares in his book in the blink of an eye. May 30, 2018 walter murchs rule of six the first thing discussed in filmschool editing classes is what im going to call threedimensional continuity. This is something iconic editor and sound designer walter murch understood when wrote in the blink of an eye, in which he details how to use editing to build a story, a concept he calls the rule of six. A book that discusses film editing in a philosophical yet practical way.
Jan 29, 2020 walter murch, ace and steve hullfish at the san francisco screening of coup 53. Starting with what might be the most basic editing question. In this post, were going to take a temporary step back from this blogs usual emphasis on the technical aspects of editing in favor of a discussion about art and instinct, as inspired by walter murch s text, in the blink of an eye. Walter murch and the rule of six film editing video. Walter murch is one film editor whose profile is much higher than most. Over the years, i have blogged several times about walter murch see links below whose work as a sound designer and film editor is notable in such movies as julia, apocalypse now, ghost, the english patient, and the talented mr. The treats the reader to a marvelous ride through the esthetics and practical concerns of cutting film. A book that will make you stop and think after every chapter. Walter murch and the art of editing film book online at best prices in india on. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. He edited sound on american graffiti 1973 and the godfather. From how he gets along with directors to the platonic editing ideal, murch makes use of his forty plus years of. In this video essay, we get to learn about each of the elements murch talk about in his book, and how they can be used to inform your decisions while editing. Walter murch dialogue does not sound so good in stereo.
Starting with what might be the most basic editing question why do cuts work. Murch has written one book on film editing, in the blink of an eye 1995, which has been translated into many languages including chinese, italian, hebrew, spanish, french, german, hungarian and persian. Murch states that there are six elements needed to make a cut work. In the blink of an eye, book by walter murch paperback. Murchs seminal book on editing, in the blink of an eye. I loved reading this book and the stories walter would tell about. Art of the cut walter murch, ace with clarifications on his books.
Aug 01, 2019 in walter murchs, in the blink of an eye book, the rule of six chapter discusses how to create the best cut possible. In this book, walter murch talks about editing film when you actually edited film but his focus is so much on the theory of editing that even in todays digital age it. In the blink of an eye is editor walter murchs essay of film editing. Murch s seminal book on editing, in the blink of an eye. How to edit effectively with walter murchs eye trace. The book suggests editors prioritize emotion over the pure technicalities of editing.