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

From Book News, Inc.
Arguing that even the most recently innovative practices in film editing have a genealogy rooted in earlier editing practices, Dancyger (film and television, New York U.) stresses the historical development of editing in the new edition of a textbook for aspiring directors. There is also a greater emphasis on the aesthetics and theory of practice rather than on technologies, with a concomitant stress on story telling. This new edition has been revised to include greater discussion of nonlinear editing techniques and the "MTV Revolution."Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Book Description
The Technique of Film & Video Editing is the best training for aspiring directors, providing a detailed, precise look at the artistic and aesthetic principles and practices of editing for both picture and sound. Analysis of photographs from dozens of classic and contemporary films and videos provide a sound basis for the professional filmmaker and student editor. Practical skills are grounded by an exposition of the ideas and styles of editing through which the director can understand the visual tools at his or her disposal. This book puts into context the storytelling choices an editor will have to make against a background of theory, history, and practice.


The current edition brought this book to the cutting edge with such topics as new technology and its influence on the art of editing, MTV style, psychoanalytic ideas, and the appropriation of style over content. The new edition furthers these discussions by highlighting the "stylistic extremes" brought about by the clash of imitative style and innovative filmmaking. It continues the examination of MTV style via a study of the full spectrum of its uses in recent years. Additionally, it examines the editing characteristics of nonlinear storytelling as evidenced in such recent films as The Ice Storm and Thin Red Line. A new chapter addresses new trends in documentary.

Offers a deeper discussion of MTV style editing
Includes more on the appropriation of style
Examines innovations in documentary


From the Publisher
The new material in the second edition emphasizes how new technology has influenced the art of editing. New topics include the MTV style, psychoanalytic ideas, and the appropriation of style over content. New filmmakers whose work is examined in this edition include Spike Lee, Julie Dash, Atom Egoyan, Quentin Tarantino, and Oliver Stone.


About the Author
Ken Dancyger is the author of numerous books on screenwriting, editing, and production. He conducts screenwriting forums and workshops in North America, Europe, and Asia. A past chair of Undergraduate studies in the Department of Film and Television at NYU, he is currently Professor of Film and Television at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.


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Ken Dancyger is Chairman of the Undergraduate Department of Film and Television, New York University, one of the leading programs in Film/TV in the United States, and a past president of the University Film and Video Association. He has edited a number of his own productions for film and television and is a screenwriter of numerous documentaries and dramas for film and television. Mr. Dancyger co-authored Alternative Scriptwriting: Writing Beyond the Rules, and Writing the Short Film, and authored Broadcast Writing: Dramas, Comedies, and Documentaries (all with Focal Press).


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