In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing

click here for more details, find new or used items	Walter Murch Our price £7.10 New from £2.99 Used from £4.71 Pages: 148 (Paperback) ISBN: 1879505622 Pub: Silman-James Press,U.S. Pub date: 2001-09-01 Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 4521

Reader Reviews:

A necessity for any film editor in training (0/0 people found this helpful)

I found this insight to Walter Murch and the world of editing truly remarkable. Once I'd started the book I wanted to know more, whether it was about the techniques of editing or how to judge audience reactions of screenings or what is going on in the editing world in terms of what software is out there and available with the advantages and disadvantages clearly listed for you.
Overall, a truly enjoyable read and a useful insight into the mind of an editor.
A must-read for any trainee film editor.

The editing Bible (0/0 people found this helpful)

An absolute must for anyone even remotely interested in film and film practice. If you haven't read it, read it! and if you have read it, read it again!

A bit too simple (0/0 people found this helpful)

Although this book starts well it ends with a wimper. The advice and information in the first few short chapters is precise and to the point and so obviously written by someone who knows his art.
However the main theory of the book, that you can edit on an actors blinks is too simple and banal. The theory is based on some ad hoc anecdotal evidence that is lacking in credibility or any scientific rigour. The idea that we finish each idea with a blink is a good undergraduate psychology project but not much else. The idea is used to explain Murchs' whole philosophy of editing and soon wears very thin.
Otherwise a great little book!

SUPERB (5/5 people found this helpful)

If you want to get into video / film editing then buy this book as its a wonderful insight into the editing process - this guy has been editing since the 60s-present and its written in a really freindly, matey sort of way - very ingrossing and intriguing. The book is also fairly short so can be read quite quickly.

Really good if film editing is of interest to you (8/8 people found this helpful)

Really good and very interesting.
Walter Murch is a film hero and this book goes some way to explain why. It tells in his own words how and why he works and is refreshing in that the writer talks about new technology in a positive light, despite being grounded in traditional methods.
Going in to detail about when and why we blink he takes this and talks about when to cut and how blinking so important. If the audeince blinks at the wrong time then you've lost them. ie Don't cut when the actor blinks - cut when the audeince blinks.
Stuff like that and lots more.
A modest book, jam packed with stuff to think about.
I think I'll edit my next film standing up - see if his advice helps my film.

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