Editing - An Introduction

Editing is one of the most important parts of filmmaking.  The job of the editor requires a lot of hard work and originally didn’t get much appreciation, but nowadays editors often work closely with the director during postproduction.  It is responsible for creating the tempo and rhythm of a film, and is a valuable device for coordinating sequences to inspire emotional responses such as sadness and suspense.  It determines the length of every shot and the flow of every scene. 

Not only is the film cut in terms of visuals, but audio must also be edited – this includes voices, music and other sound effects.  The editor needs to allow train of thought but not allow viewers to lose attention. If a scene is improvised then cutting it is even harder, like a jigsaw puzzle.  There are also several rules to be followed such as the 180° Rule and ensuring that invisible cuts are in fact invisible.