The Technique of Film and Video Editing: History, Theory, and Practice

This seventh edition of The Technique of Film and Video Editing provides a detailed, precise look at the artistic and aesthetic principles and practices of editing for both picture and sound.

Industry veteran Ken Dancyger puts into context the storytelling choices an editor will have to make against a background of theory, history, and practice across a range of genres, including action, comedy, drama, documentary, and experimental forms, featuring analysis of dozens of classic and contemporary films. This seventh edition includes new chapters on the developments of different genres and how these changes have affected editing decisions. This includes the recent predominance of biopic films, such as Oppenheimer (2023) and Maestro (2023), which will both be compared with earlier precedents, such as The Life of Emile Zola and Elizabeth. Then the book will also consider the changes and movements with melodrama, comedy, and soft satire.

This is an essential resource for students and professionals seeking both a contextual background as well as a practical guide for the best editing tips and tricks.

Ken Dancyger is a Professor Emeritus of Film and Television at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, as well as the author of numerous books on screenwriting, editing, and production, including Alternative Scriptwriting (with Jeff Rush) and Writing the Short Film (with Patricia Cooper), The Director’s Idea and Global Scriptwriting, all published by Routledge/Focal Press. Ken also conducts scriptwriting and editing workshops internationally.