Focal Press brings another one of the Film Craft series books to us, this time covering Editing. Much like the excellent book on Cinematography it takes an interview approach to several editing professionals, each with a different view on the critical editing process, and thankfully we get to see China and Taiwan represented. It is a mixed bag coffee table book with some questionable choices on the film frame illustrations. Several color prints from the films used to illustrate the book just seem off, from way off colors to so dark nothing in the illustration can be made out to any satisfactory clarity. One wonders what happened to the proof or even the production copy someone should have checked before final print of the product.

Though even with these annoying flaws, the book is one that a film buff or budding professional will want to have on the shelf.

First off the writer for the book seems to have been a good choice here, Mr. Justin Chang is a Sr. film critic at Variety, he edits and oversees the papers film reviews. Is also secretary of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and also hold a journalism degree from USC.

It is often said that there are several versions of a film, the writer’s version, the directors and the editors. The true value of a good film editor cannot be emphasized enough. There is a lot more to editing a film than just putting bits of scene together. There is so much more to it than that. A film editor has to pay attention to so many things. First what or who is the scene about? Both the overt and the subtext between characters, the context is also important. What scene came before this one, or what comes after? Then of course how does it all piece together in the full story? An editor can actually change the subtext in a scene depending on how they cut the scene. The editor can manipulate pacing in so many ways by the way they cut a scene.

Again, while Film Craft: Editing is not a text book, it gives so many hints and tips on how many of the top editors of the industry think and work, one can glean remarkable insights from their experiences. What comes out from the interviews are candid stories of experiences from different film projects. Most of all the sheer enthusiasm and love of film and their art of editing bursts from the page.

This is the second book in the Film Craft Series we have reviewed, each book in the series focuses on a specific aspect of the filmmaking process, and thus far they are well worth having on your shelf. If you’re a film buff, or an up and coming film maker, the insights and behind the scenes stories from the pros in this coffee table style book are well worth having. I am hoping for a stunt book and action coordinating book eventually as a focus, that being my craft. Whatever comes next in the series, it has a lot to live up to.

Have fun, play games, read this book!

Edwin Millheim

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