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Editing

The art and craft of selecting, arranging, and assembling shots into a coherent film.


Historical Development

Early film editing emerged with the silent era, as pioneers like Georges Méliès discovered that cutaways and splices could manipulate time and space. D.W. Griffith refined continuity editing in the 1910s, establishing conventions for match cuts and parallel action.

Techniques and Styles

Editing techniques include continuity, cross-cutting, montage and jump cuts, each shaping narrative rhythm and emotional impact. Editors use software like Avid Media Composer and DaVinci Resolve to trim, layer sound and fine-tune pacing.

Narrative Functions

Good editing balances clarity and surprise—guiding viewers’ attention while maintaining narrative tension. Montage sequences condense time, whereas long takes rely on in-camera performance and blocking.

Notable Practitioners

Editors like Thelma Schoonmaker (Raging Bull), Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now) and Dede Allen (Bonnie and Clyde) demonstrate how cutting choices become integral to a film’s aesthetic and storytelling.


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