6th Edition

The Technique of Film and Video Editing History, Theory, and Practice

By Ken Dancyger Copyright 2019
    538 Pages 160 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    538 Pages 160 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This updated sixth edition of The Technique of Film and Video Editing provides a detailed, precise look at the artistic and aesthetic principles and practices of editing for both picture and sound. Ken Dancyger puts into context the storytelling choices an editor will have to make against a background of theory, history, and practice across a range of genres, including action, comedy, drama, documentary and experimental forms, featuring analysis of dozens of classic and contemporary films.

    This new sixth edition includes new chapters on the influence of other media on the editing form, on the importance of surprise in editing, on the contributions of Robert Altman to the art of editing and on the experimental documentary. This edition also includes expanded coverage in technology, creative sound, point of view, and the long take. New case studies explore Whiplash (2014), Room (2015), Lincoln (2012), Tangerine (2015), The Beaches of Agnès (2008), American Sniper (2014), Son of Saul (2015), The Revenant (2015), and many more.

    Acknowledgments 

    Introduction to the Sixth Edition

    Section 1: History of Film Editing

    1. The Silent Period

    2. The Early Sound Film

    3. The Influence of the Documentary

    4. The Influence of the Popular Arts

    5. The Influence of Other Media

    6. Editors Who Became Directors

    7. Experiments in Editing I: Alfred Hitchcock

    8. Experiments in Editing II

    9. New Techniques

    10. International Advances

    11. The Influence of Television and Theatre

    12. New Challenges to Filmic Narrative Conventions

    13. The MTV Influence on Editing I

    14. The MTV Influence on Editing II

    15. Changes of Pace

    16. Appropriation of Style I

    17. Appropriation of Style II

    18. Appropriation of Style III

    Section 2: Goals of Editing

    19. Editing for Narrative Clarity

    20. Editing for Dramatic Emphasis

    21. Editing for Subtext

    22. Editing for Aesthetics

    Section 3: Editing for the Genre

    23. Action

    24. Dialog

    25. Comedy

    26. Editing for Surprise

    27. Documentary

    28. Imaginative Documentary

    29. Innovations in Documentary I

    30. Innovations in Documentary II

    31. Innovations in Documentary III: The Experimental Documentary

    Section 4: Principles of Editing

    32. The Picture Edit and Continuity

    33. The Picture Edit and Pace

    34. Ideas and Sound

    35. The Sound Edit and Clarity

    36. The Sound Edit and Creative Sound

    37. Innovations of Sound

    38. Nonlinear Editing and Digital Technology I

    39. Nonlinear Editing and Digital Technology II

    40. Conclusion

    Filmography

    Glossary

    Index

    Biography

    Ken Dancyger is a Professor of Film and Television at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, as well as the author of numerous books on screenwriting, editing, and production, including Alternative Scriptwriting (with Jeff Rush) and Writing the Short Film (with Patricia Cooper), The Director’s Idea and Global Scriptwriting, all published by Routledge/Focal Press. Ken also conducts scriptwriting and editing workshops internationally.

    "Ken Dancyger continues to update and improve this latest edition for what is already the ‘gold standard’ of books on editing. He knows good storytelling and how editing is integral to the process. He places this in historical context with theory and practice. If you are a student of editing, you should read this book."

    —Scott Arundale, Editor; Author of Modern Post: Workflows and Techniques of Digital Filmmakers

    "Ken's additions to his book show all of us who love and study the craft of editing, a real understanding of the importance and stimulating impact editing has in helping tell a story, create mood, and shape characters."

    —Samuel D. Pollard, Academy Award Nominee, Emmy Award-winning Editor, Eyes on the Prize (1990), 4 Little Girls (1997), When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006), ACORN and the Firestorm (2017)

    "From D.W. Griffith to MTV, from silent movies to action films, Dancyger explores not only history, techniques, and the social aspects of film and video, but he also looks at how technology has affected film and video making and editing. This isn't a quick read, but definitely worthwhile if you want to gain an understanding of what it takes to be an excellent director and editor."

    —Theano Nikitas, Camcorder & Computer Video

    "Dancyger's book is an excellent introduction to the art of manipulating moving pictures and sound for students, amateurs, hobbyists and professionals alike."

    —Videomaker.com