The Grammar of Documentary Editing: Art, Technique and Visual Narrative

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The Grammar of Documentary Editing discusses in depth how an editor approaches a wide range of documentary styles, detailing how many hours of rushes become a concise, coherent, dynamic and engaging story. This unique masterclass in editing is taught by an editor of award-winning documentaries and includes extensive interviews with directors and other industry professionals with whom he has worked closely. A complete course in the art of documentary editing, Steve Stevenson brings to life the visual language of film - the grammar of editing. With video examples included on a DVD the following craft skills are explored: telling a story - shaping your material into a narrative arc; finding the appropriate cutting style; texture, pace and dynamics; emotional effect, layering sound and music; ethics and artiface. Interviews include: Directors: Henry Singer (Last Orders, 9/11: The Falling Man, Planet 12), Srik Narayanan (What We Still Don't Know, Human Zoo), Graham Johnston (Extreme Pilgrim, Lifeboat), Bob Bentley (Art Crimes, Secret Life of a Masterpiece). Producers: Angus MacQueen, former head of documentary Channel 4 (The Last Peasants, Gulag, Loving Lenin), Tom Roberts, founder October Films (Afghanistan's Dirty War, A Company of Soldiers). Composers: Dario Marianelli (Pride and Prejudice, Atonement), Debbie Wiseman (Catherine the Great).

Author Bio

Steve Stevenson's work as an editor ranges widely across observational films, long-form documentaries and drama docs. He was nominated for a BAFTA for his editing of George Orwell - My Life in Pictures. He teaches the grammar of editing at media institutions and for the Documentary Filmmakers Group. Steve has produced and directed films for the BBC, Channel 4, and National Geographic and occasionally shoots environmental films for BBC World and UNESCO.