"The Editor"

“The Editor,” By: Breanna Scott

What do editors do?

They do not just cut film; they bring the story to life.

During the beginning of the film industry there were no editors. People filmed until they were bored or ran out of film. The Lumieres thought the world of cinema had no future. But guess who was wrong…  The invention of editing allowed films to take off and give birth to a new art and language. Editing can slow down and speed up time, evoke emotions, and sometimes startle or amuse us. Editing can also make or break a film, so each frame is important. Even if you miss an edit by one frame, you can screw up the entire scene. You want to make sure the scene flows seamlessly in order to create the perfect edit. In order to help the story flow perfectly, you need to do an invisible cut. Griffith understood the significance of editing, and he popularized techniques which defined proper editing.

In editing, it’s all about the rhythm. When you have the right rhythm down, you can start to focus on the musical score. The musical score can also make or break a film. Sometimes music is placed in a certain scene, which helps evoke a certain emotion, and makes it Oscar worthy. Or music can be placed somewhere and it does not make any sense at all. Sometimes you do not need music in a shot. Sometimes the natural sounds are a better fit for the cut. As an editor, you have to ask yourself; when not to cut, when to have silence, when to drag out the scene.

 For years, editors were the best kept secret of the movies. The editor and director spend the most time together. Basically they are the Batman and Robin in the film industry. Together they create the stars we know today. The editor helps enhance a great actor’s performance and the director helps capture it. Great directors and editors such as Michael Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Michael Kahn, George Lucas, Dede Allen, just to name a few, have done just that.  

Editing can shape hearts and minds of an audience. Sure minute details are important in film editing, but you also have to look at the big picture as well.

Throughout “The Cutting Edge: The Making of Movie Magic,” they referenced some of my favorite films of all time, such as Star Wars, Jaws, and Titanic. Films, such as these, made me want to go in the film industry to begin with. At first I wanted to be a director or an actress, but now I know where the real story develops from. The Editor.