There was an earlier post asking if I thought Hillman’s book would help with the video editing. In my opinion, his book is not a how-to-video-edit book but it’s a book for experiencing the senses with ideas and imagination. He is teaching us how to create a database of resources in our minds that we can pull from when a project presents itself. That is why I enjoyed his book so much because as an editor that is very valuable.
The definition for video editing from Wikipedia states that video editing is the process of re-arranging or modifying segments of video to form another piece of video. The goals of video editing are the same as in film editing — the removal of unwanted footage, the isolation of desired footage, and the arrangement of footage in time to synthesize a new piece of footage.
To me that is a very accurate definition but it does not define the editor. The editor is part of the new media design team. The editor works hand-in-hand with the director to transfer the director’s vision to film. I consider editors to be artists; they paint with motion. The definition above describes the mechanics and process of editing. The editor moves one piece of film in front of the other but it’s the style, pacing, color, texture, sound, and feeling that the editor adds to the piece to be interesting, engaging, and informative.
So, in my opinion Hillman’s book helps with the aesthetics of editing. I suggest the book “Nonlinear editing: storytelling, aesthetics, and craft. Publisher: Lawrence, KS:CMP Books; (2002)” by Bruce Button. Bruce was an instructor at the Colorado Film School.
To find more books on filmmaking, editing… visit http://www.studentfilmmakers.com. They have a comprehensive list of great books.
