First Cut: Conversations with Film Editors

From the Publisher

"The real accomplishment of Oldham's book is her concentration on the psychology of editors rather than just their technical ingenuity . . . Let's hope a third volume of this illuminating series will follow."--Editors Guild Mag

Library Journal

The film editor is usually the forgotten ingredient in the production of a film. It is the editor who takes all the bits and snippets of film and somehow combines them into a coherent movie. By the juxtaposition of images, the film editor can completely alter or improve the meaning or impact of a scene. Still, most of the 22 award-winning film editors interviewed for this book agree it is a craft understood and appreciated by few outside the profession. The subjects are all highly articulate, exhibit distinct personalities, and are clearly enthusiastic about their craft. Well-known films such as Out of Africa 1985, Ben-Hur 1926 and 1959, and Ghostbusters 1984 are cited as examples. While the book as a whole clarifies exactly what a film editor does, each interview also illustrates one aspect of the profession. Highly recommended for academic and subject collections.-- Marianne Cawley, Kingwood Branch Lib., Tex.