ARTS 643
An Introduction to the Art of Film Editing
Lisa Molomot
Course Description |
Film editing is perhaps the most mysterious part of the filmmaking process. What exactly does a film editor do? What are the creative decisions that go into editing a documentary, narrative film or avant-garde film? By making 3 film projects in 3 different film modes (experimental, narrative, and documentary), students will learn the differences and similarities of editing in different modes. The instructor will lecture on the editing styles in particular films-to be watched in class. The course will cover the editing theories of well known editors such as Walter Murch (The Godfather, The English Patient). The instructor and a guest film editor will also share their works and talk about their thought processes as they edit. Students will learn the editing software Final Cut Pro and put the theories from the lectures and readings into practice. |
Sources to be Studied |
Fiction and Documentary films-TBA In the Blink of An Eye, Walter Murch Handouts |
Required Equipment |
All editing can be done in the CFA lab. Feel free to use your own editing equipment if you have FCP on your own computer. If editing at the CFA, you will need to purchase an external firewire hard drive. I recommend the following brand and a minimum of 80gigs of storage. http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB You will also need to purchase a few mini dv tapes ($5/each) and blank DVDR’s which you can buy at taperesources.com and at many stores. |
Course Schedule |
September 11 Class 1: Introductions and Course Summary; Introduction to Film Editing September 18 Class 2: Intro to Non-Linear Editing and Final Cut Pro Assignment: shoot images; download images; compile and scan photos; choose music September 25 Class 3: Continue FCP Edit Music Video/Experimental Film October 2 Class 4: Critique Music Videos Fiction Film Editing and the Theories of Walter Murch October 9 Class 5: Shoot Narrative Scene in class Digitize scene October 16 Class 6: Edit narrative scene Review Scene October 23 Class 7: Documentary Editing Screen student shorts and Compañeras- discuss October 30 Class 8: Guest Speaker Assignment : shoot interview/b-roll/collect archival November 6 Class 9: Begin editing short documentary or biography November 13 Class 10: Continue editing documentary November 20 Class 11: Screen and critique rough cuts December 4 Class 12: Screen Fine Cuts December 11 Final Due |