The Technique of Film and Video Editing
History, Theory, and Practice, 6th Edition
By Ken Dancyger

Publisher: Routledge
512 pages | 160 B/W Illus.
Paperback; ISBN: 9781138628403



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.

Reviews

"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

Table of Contents
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

About the Author

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.