In the Blink of an Eye

        Walter Murch’s theories and thoughts in his novel, In the Blink of an Eye perfectly encapsulates what it means to be and the importance of the editor.  As a notable and celebrated editor, Murch presents an enjoyable and educational read.  For starters, even a person who is not an editor can appreciate the amount of work and effort the editor puts into the film making process.  The fact that the editor has to sift through over 230 hours of film and cut it down to about 2 hours is remarkable as is the point Murch raises that for every minute in the finished product there are ninety-five unseen minutes. 

            Murch’s theories for why cuts work are also very interesting because in actuality the thought of manipulating time and space the way we do in modern day film making is somewhat absurd.  As Murch brings up, 100 years ago early filmmakers would never imagine all we do in film today let alone how we cut.  It seems like it should not be able to work but it does and now, we could not have it any other way. 

            Murch brings up in his rule of six that emotion is the most important aspect in the editing process that has to be preserved at all costs.  Behind the director, the editor is the ultimate storyteller and has the ability to completely retell the story all through the emotions they choose with the cuts.  I agree with Murch as emotion being the most important aspect because how you make a cut can greatly affect how the audience perceives the scene and ultimately the entire movie.  The editor has a lot of power but also a lot of responsibility in the film making process.  They have to be somewhat objective and as Murch puts it, “seeing around the edge of the frame.”  They cannot think about how the film was made but how the audience will see it, and they are ultimately the whole point. 

            As Murch brings up, it is truly amazing how far film has come since its inception and it will be interesting to see how far it will go even in the next 50.  Murch theorized what new innovations will come to film in the future but since writing the novel, already so many changes have come.  From the DVD and digital revolution to 3D and motion capture, film making has come so far even within the last decade so who knows what the next will bring.  It is an interesting thing to think about but no matter where the film industry goes, the editor will still remain.  In all, Murch’s novel makes one appreciate the editor even more but editors still remain entirely underappreciated.  Everyone can name at least five directors but virtually no one can name five editors.  I hope in the future this will change and editors finally get the credit they deserve for all of the work they put in to making films.