Selected Takes: Film Editors on Editing

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Description

Interviews with 21 prominent feature film editors highlight this look at the role of film editors, the importance of their work, and the nature of their craft. Organized to provide historical continuity and to trace professional collaborations among the subject, "Selected Takes" features editors whose credits include such diverse films as "Ben Hur", "The French Connections", "The Godfather", and "E.T.". Each chapter includes a brief introduction to the artist, background information, a filmography of feature-length works, and personal recollections of specific films, producers, and directors, as well as helpful comments on editing techniques. A glossary of terms commonly used in film editing and pertinent references found in the interviews complement the work. Film students, scholars, and educators, as well as film industry professionals and moviegoers, should find "Selected Takes" both entertaining and instructive.

Reviews

"A rich store of information about the mysterious creative process of editing films. A rare chance for the beginning filmmaker or the veteran to compare the methods of leading film editors and the directors with whom they collaborate. A valuable addition to the growing library of books on cinema."- George Stevens, Jr. Filmmaker and Founder of the American Film Institute
"Completely fascinating. These lively interviews disclose the intricacies in a film profession of first importance that is usually last to be considered. A very welcome book."-Stanley Kauffmann Film critic for The New Republic
This book will be fascinating to those who study the filmmaking process or who have seen most of the major films released since 1955; it will have limited appeal for general readers. LoBrutto has interviewed 21 editors, the best in the business. He prefaces each interview with a brief biography and filmography. This framing device adds context and allows readers to gauge the degree of their interest in the films edited. The author has asked certain questions of each editor, so one learns for example how all of them entered the profession of editing, while other questions on equipment use or working style are asked of only two or three persons, thus avoiding tiresome repetition. The work is informative and crafted carefully, clearly a labor of love by a writer who himself is an editor. It more than fulfills its objective "to let editors speak in their own voice about the art and craft of feature film editing." Concludes with a helpful glossary and solid bibliography for further study. Although not for everyone, this book will impel readers to look at films with new respect and understanding.-Choice
"This book will be fascinating to those who study the filmmaking process or who have seen most of the major films released since 1955; it will have limited appeal for general readers. LoBrutto has interviewed 21 editors, the best in the business. He prefaces each interview with a brief biography and filmography. This framing device adds context and allows readers to gauge the degree of their interest in the films edited. The author has asked certain questions of each editor, so one learns for example how all of them entered the profession of editing, while other questions on equipment use or working style are asked of only two or three persons, thus avoiding tiresome repetition. The work is informative and crafted carefully, clearly a labor of love by a writer who himself is an editor. It more than fulfills its objective "to let editors speak in their own voice about the art and craft of feature film editing." Concludes with a helpful glossary and solid bibliography for further study. Although not for everyone, this book will impel readers to look at films with new respect and understanding."-Choice

Author Bio

Vincent LoBrutto has been involved in film editing for over twelve years. His film credits include a television series for the Fox Network, as well as several projects for HBO Cable Network. LoBrutto is currently working on a future book for Praeger, By Design: Interviews with Film Production Designers, to be published in 1992.