Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 So I'm doing a project on renowned editor Walter Murch for my Digital Post-Production class, and have been really interested in reading about him and the ways he edits. I have several ideas of certain films and scenes to show and discuss for the project, and I wondered if anyone else has any particular films or scenes where you think Murch's editing is especially effective/significant/etc. I haven't seen many of the films he's edited, so I'm hoping to get some good ideas on which films to look at. Feel free to discuss other films and editing in general too!Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock 9 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 I never felt his biggest contribution to film was editing. His sound work was amazing, particularly on The Conversation and Apocalypse Now. As for his editing, the only job I was particularly impressed by was Apocalypse Now. He also re-edited Touch of Evil, but that was according to Orson Wells' instructions. None of the Minghella work impressed me, and he hasn't really done that many films. But, then again, the editor has quite a most thankless job. It's hard for me to say if a film was badly edited, or particularly well-edited. It all depens on what he they had to work with. That being said, there are a number of editors who's films feel well-edited time and time again. The old Michael Kahn. Thelma Schoonmaker. Anne V. Coates. Stuart Baird. Pietro Scalia. Those are the ones that come to mind. I mean, how on earth is it possible to know if any given film is edited well or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 While watching it, i noticed how well Casino Royale was edited, it didn't come to me after the fact, I realized while watching the Miami International sequence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 480 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 It's generally much easier to spot a badly edited film than a good one.Which goes for most aspects of filmmaking, actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robthehand 3 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 But with a badly-edited film, even then you're not sure whether it's the editor or director (or both) that caused the problem. If a film was inconsistently directed, it will probably appear to be badly edited as well - since there's only so much an editor can do to "fix" the problems in the direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TownerFan 4,548 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 So I'm doing a project on renowned editor Walter Murch for my Digital Post-Production class, and have been really interested in reading about him and the ways he edits. I have several ideas of certain films and scenes to show and discuss for the project, and I wondered if anyone else has any particular films or scenes where you think Murch's editing is especially effective/significant/etc. I haven't seen many of the films he's edited, so I'm hoping to get some good ideas on which films to look at. Feel free to discuss other films and editing in general too!Maybe this will be of interest: http://www.filmsound.org/murch/murch.htmI also recommend to read Murch's books on film editing (In the Blink of an Eye and The Conversations). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neimoidian 13 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 As far as I remember there was something about Murch's work in one of "The Phantom Menace" dvd documentaries. Probably, in the one about cut scenes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 480 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 Yes, there was. He talks a bit about editing on Julia, and having to massively trim down the Russian invasion in The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock 9 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 Huh? what does he have to do with TPM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 480 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 Nothing specifically, but he worked with Lucas on THX 1138, so they go back. Isn't Coppola also briefly in that documentary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted March 9, 2007 Author Share Posted March 9, 2007 Maybe this will be of interest: http://www.filmsound.org/murch/murch.htmYep, that's actually been my primary resource so far. Quite a few good, interesting articles. Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 It's generally much easier to spot a badly edited film than a good one.Which goes for most aspects of filmmaking, actually.Especially film music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker 5 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 I haven't seen many of the films he's edited, so I'm hoping to get some good ideas on which films to look at. Feel free to discuss other films and editing in general too!I would recommend Ghost and The Conversation. If I'm not mistaken, he's also on the commentary track for The Conversation.Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted March 9, 2007 Author Share Posted March 9, 2007 Thanks! I've seen parts of Ghost on TV, but not the whole thing. It looks good from what I've seen. Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendal_Ozzel 32 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 Also, even though he didn't edit it, I'd suggest going over the THX 1138 DVD (if you haven't already), since he's heavily featured there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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