Editing is one of the most essential parts of filmmaking. It is the process in which the raw footage acquired after shooting is pieced together into what will be your final film.
Although many advancements have been achieved in film editing with regards to technology, its basic principles remain the same. These books, although not very software specific, share timeless information with editing principles that could be applied across different software and methods.
This, I believe, is a more important thing when studying film editing, as it is not with how many flashy effects you can do and how much you know a piece of computer software. Editing, although usually relying on technical equipment and software to get the job done, relies mostly on basic art principles such as movement, composition, rhythm and timing.
In this article, you will find a list of some of the most helpful and recommended books on the art and techniques of editing for film, as well as some first hand experiences of editors in the industry. We have also included some software specific film editing books, if you wish to study workflows specific to a certain software or medium.
The Art, Theory, And Techniques of Film Editing
The books in this section cover mainly the techniques and artistic principles that an editor uses on the job. These books also contain a bit of theory and history behind the craft of editing, how it has evolved through the years, with different trends and emerging technologies, and how these have resulted into different styles of editing that could influence a film’s storytelling and audiences’ responses.
In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing by Walter Murch
In The Blink of an Eye is formatted as an essay by the acclaimed film and sound editor Walter Murch, who has worked since the 1970s in films like Apocalypse Now (1979), Ghost (1990), The Godfather: Part III (1990), and The English Patient (1999).
Having worked in both mediums, the book also contains valuable knowledge in working with both physical celluloid film and digital video editing. It talks of concerns in both aesthetics and practicality of different techniques.
With the book being written in an essay form, with accessible language, you won’t be drowned by technical jargon, but instead find the artistic principles behind editing film that you could apply in your own practice. You can buy it here on Amazon.
Art of the Cut: Conversations with Film and TV Editors by Steve Hullfish
Art of the Cut by Steve Hullfish provides a good look at what editing is like across different platforms, and what principles and techniques are used by editors for film and TV.
This book contains opinions and advice from over 50 editors working in the industry, including over a dozen Oscar award winners for Best Editing, and numerous other nominees for Oscars and Emmy awards. Some of the editors interviewed were Margaret Sixel (Mad Max: Fury Road), Tom Cross (Whiplash, La La Land), and Joe Walker (12 Years a Slave, Sicario).
The book which you can buy on Amazon, covers over a hundred hours of interviews, yet Hullfish managed to organize all the relevant topics, including a glossary for film and editing terminology for the reader to easily peruse, learn from, and use as a regular reference.
Cutting Rhythms: Intuitive Film Editing by Karen Pearlman
Cutting Rhythms by Karen Pearlman discusses and focuses on one of the most important parts of film editing, which is rhythm. This book shows the reader how to develop a sense of rhythm that they could apply to film editing in order to effectively engage with the audience and hold their attention.
The book talks about developing your own creative process, and allowing yourself to make creative decisions based on how specific cuts and edits “feel” like to you and how that could enhance the film’s storytelling. Although this topic seems a bit abstract, the author does their best to explain the process in concrete terms, breaking the concepts down into how rhythm is perceived, learned, practiced, and applied. You can check it out here.
On Film Editing: An Introduction to the Art of Film Construction by Edward Dmytryk
On Film Editing is often considered as a classic book on film editing. It was first published in 1984, and yet it still continues to sell and pop up in book recommendations until today. This book is on this list precisely for that reason.
Edward Dmytryk was a film editor during the 1930s, who eventually transitioned to directing up until the late 1970’s. Due to this, he has gained a lot of experience in the film industry, and bore witness to the different trends and techniques filmmakers employed through the decades.
This book is such a crowd favorite due to its readability and the wealth of information that it contains in its pages. It is filled not only with technical definitions, it contains practical advice and a good look at effective practices in editing and the entire process of film construction.
Amazon is the best place to go get it.
Film and Video Editing Theory: How Editing Creates Meaning by Michael Frierson
This book, as the title suggests, focuses on the different theories and techniques developed through the years which apply to the practice of editing film and video, and how these are manipulated to create meaning and enhance storytelling.
Although theory heavy, the author manages to convey these topics in an easy to read, digestible manner, covering editing theories and techniques by prominent editors and scholars such as Herbert Zettl, Sergei Eisenstein, Noël Burch, Walter Murch and Edward Dmytryk.
This book, which you can get on Amazon, is recommended for editors or film enthusiasts who wish to further their understanding about film construction and criticism, and to be able to recognize different techniques used to elicit different audience reactions or storytelling techniques, which they may choose to apply to their own editing or filmmaking practice.
Technique of Film Editing by Karel Reisz and Gavin Millar
This book by Karel Reisz and Gavin Millar is another film editing book classic, its first edition being published in the 1960s.
Technique of Film Editing is a good reference for beginner or apprentice editors, or even professional editors who wish to have an easy editing reference on hand. The book explores the different techniques and styles of editing, from narrative to documentary, from smooth to jarring, as well as their merits and weaknesses.
This book, which is in its second edition, was published in 2009 and advertises itself to be an updated version of the well-loved first edition. However, the second edition seems to have retained some of its language, as some readers have noticed some dated terms.
This does not take away from its technical and informative merit, however. Some technologies mentioned may have been phased out, but it is a good peek at how things used to be, and the principles and techniques in rhythm and storytelling are still very much applicable and relevant to the modern day.
Film Editing: Great Cuts Every Filmmaker and Movie Lover Must Know by Gael Chandler
This book could be categorized as a good coffee table book for the film editing enthusiast. It is heavily illustrated and filled with over six hundred colorful pictures from popular films many audiences are already familiar with.
The book shows the different cuts and techniques often used by film editors as well as the different examples where we could see these specific techniques in action. It is a good book for visual learners, as it contains a lot of pictures and illustrations. Buy it here on Amazon.
It is a good introduction to the art and hard work that goes into every film we see. It also works well as a quick reference guide, as it identifies the different techniques used with some notes on how they are used to enhance the film’s storytelling and construction.
The Technique of Film and Video Editing: History, Theory, and Practice by Ken Dancyger
This behemoth of a book is one of my favourites on this list, it aims to cover everything a beginner needs to know about film and video editing. Its coverage of a wide variety of topics related to editing makes it a good resource for film students and professors in their film and editing classes.
This book not only teaches the reader how to edit–the techniques and tricks that could be used in practice–it also contextualizes every action and creative decision a film editor could take while working on a film. The reader will learn the history of filmmaking and editing, as well as how it has developed over the years.
It also covers different editing techniques for different genres or forms of film, such as traditional narratives, documentaries, or experimental films.
Now on its sixth edition, this latest version contains examples from more recent films that many readers may have already watched and could find relatable, thus making it easier to drive home the writer’s points.
The author, Ken Dancyger, is a professor of film and television at New York University, and has written different books on filmmaking, script writing, and editing. He also conducts regular workshops on script writing and editing.
If you want to get only one of the books on this list, the i recommend buying this one. Here’s a link to Amazon where you can buy it.
Cut by Cut: Editing Your Film or Video by Gael Chandler
Cut by Cut deeply focuses on the practical and technical process of editing. It follows the whole post production process, from completing the shoot, to transferring the footage to the editor and post production team, to editing and sound design, up until the film or video’s release to whatever platform the filmmakers intend it to go.
The book shows the different techniques that could be used in filmmaking, from the different kinds of cuts to the different approaches an editor could use when working on different kinds of films, like comedies, documentaries, dramas, music videos, etc.
The author focuses more on digital editing, especially for more modern forms other than filmmaking, like editing for YouTube and other online media. This book is a useful guide for digital filmmakers and editors, especially those just beginning to explore editing.
The Invisible Cut: How Editors Make Movie Magic by Bobbie O’Steen
This book is divided into two parts, with part one being a discussion of the different techniques that professional Hollywood editors use in the films we usually see on the big screen, and part two showing different examples in which the techniques discussed are used in different films through the years. You can buy it here on Amazon.
Most Hollywood or mainstream narrative films make use of the “invisible” edit, which stitches together the shots seamlessly, so the audience is more invested in the film’s story and does not pay much attention to the editing, which does its best not to call attention to itself. This maximizes the solidity of the narrative, which is what mainstream films usually aim to do.
The Invisible Cut is written by a veteran of the film industry. Bobbie O’Steen grew up being exposed to film and editing through her father, who was an editor, and she eventually grew up to become a screenwriter and editor herself. Due to her firsthand experience, the book is not full of hard-to-understand jargon, but is written in accessible language, while sharing deep insight into the editing practice and the film industry itself.
Grammar of the Edit by Christopher J. Bowen and Roy Thompson
The book discusses film editing as if it were a language, thus the clever title, and it is, in a way. The authors Bowen and Thompson discuss the techniques used in film editing, and how they are used in combination in order to give structure and rhythm to the final film.
It explains the different editing techniques, and the reasoning behind each editor’s creative decisions. The book shows a good overview of the entire post production process. Not only does it explain cuts and rhythm, it also discusses color grading and sound editing, which could help aspiring editors complete their films.
The Art Of The Cut: Editing Concepts Every Filmmaker Should Know by Greg Keast
The Art Of The Cut is a good introduction to film editing, its different concepts, techniques, and the different types of cuts that an editor keeps in their arsenal.
Although containing a wide variety of topics and concepts, this book is not very instructional, and should not be expected to be a complete, detailed guide on the actual practice of editing. It is more of a reference book, a dictionary or glossary of different editing terms.
It could be a good way to introduce editing concepts to beginners or film enthusiasts, or as a source of inspiration for practicing editors, helping them try different techniques to their projects.
You can buy the book on Amazon.
Montage by Jacques Aumont
This book is one for the more academic editors or film enthusiasts. It is not an instructional guide to editing, but more of an essay exploring the different editing styles and theories developed and practiced by leading editors and film scholars.
Aumont studies the techniques of editors and filmmakers who pioneered different film movements and editing styles throughout the history of film, from the use of celluloid film to digital video. Some editors and filmmakers studied are Sergei Eisenstein, Jia Zhangke, Abbas Kiarostami, André Bazin, Jean-Luc Godard and Pier Paolo Pasolini.
Editing Digital Video : The Complete Creative and Technical Guide by Robert M. Goodman and Patrick McGrath
For anyone who wishes to get into the actual practice of digital video editing, this book is a good place to start. It gives a basic exploration of different video editing programs and how to use them, without getting too software specific. Complete beginners can learn from this book with ease, and seasoned editors could use it as a quick reference. It is available to buy here.
The authors go through and explain the commonly used features and elements an editor needs, such as making cuts, titles, editing sound, organizing projects and files, keys, mattes, layering, effects, digital video formats, etc. It also provides a guide on building a post production workflow that helps with your editing quality and efficiency.
Editing and Montage in International Film and Video: Theory and Technique by Luis Fernando Morales Morante
This book effectively combines the theory, history, and practice of film editing and montage all over the world. It presents the different filmmaking and editing movements all over the world through the years, and explains why such patterns have emerged in the art of filmmaking.
The topics touched by this book could be very helpful for editors who wish to expand their creativity and explore other methods and styles of editing that are not the mainstream narrative, invisible editing that we often see in film. This could also hopefully help readers gain an appreciation of different types of editing used in different cultures in different forms of media such as film, television, documentary, music videos, commercials, etc, and how these could be effective for storytelling.
In order to help the readers put their theories and learnings into practice, the book also contains self study exercises.
Documentary Editing: Principles & Practice by Jacob Bricca ACE
Documentaries, frankly speaking, are often easily overlooked by most audiences, as most of us gravitate towards dramatic narratives and retellings when choosing films to watch. However, documentaries also deal with stories and narratives, although the form is a bit different.
This book delves into the specifics and unique aspects of editing for documentary films, which could be a bit different from editing for traditional narratives. The author makes sure to help not only with the different types of cuts and techniques that could be used, but with structuring documentaries in ways that could hold audiences’ attention, and tell the story that the filmmaker or the subject/s of the documentary needs to tell.
It is easy to read, and also shares experiences of documentary filmmakers and editors, who often need to travel far distances and talk to all sorts of people in order to capture and present the interesting stories we see in the final product.
Twilight for the Gods: The Art and History of Film Editing by Jack Tucker
This book effectively explores and conveys the rich history and technique of film editing that has developed over the years. It goes through how much editing has changed, and what art forms have influenced it, as well as its role in different film movements across history all over the world. The book also focuses on how film editing shapes a film’s story, and how much it contributes to and affects the final film.
It is filled with different examples of films in order to further drive home the writer’s point. It also contains practical advice on editing etiquette, how to interact with the director and fellow members of the crew, and a few industry anecdotes, which are useful information if one wishes to pursue a career in editing.
Experiences And Insights of Film Editors
The books in this section may not be as technical nor as particular as the ones in the previous section, but these books, written by veterans and editing practitioners, provide insight into what their creative processes and practices are, as well as some anecdotes and insights as to what working as an editor in the film industry is like.
Many of these books still provide editing tips and techniques, but they also offer a unique perspective into the world of editing and film which could be helpful if you wish to pursue editing as a career.
A Long Time Ago, in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away: My Fifty Years Editing Hollywood Hits – Star Wars, Carrie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Mission: Impossible, and More by Paul Hirsch
The title says it all–this book is a career memoir of sorts, with film editor Paul Hirsch detailing his fifty-year editing career in Hollywood. In this book, he breaks down his editing career movie by movie, explaining his creative process per film, and showing how he arrived at the different editing decisions he has made depending on the circumstances of his work.
This book is perfect for film and editing enthusiasts who want a more personal look at the different editing techniques and styles that Hirsch has used throughout his career, and at the film industry as a whole. It is less technical and instructional, but it definitely contains a lot of relevant insight for editors and creatives.
Paul Hirsch is one of the most well-known editors in Hollywood, and his portfolio and body of work definitely backs him up. He has worked on many successful and well-known films; the films in the title itself have probably already stirred something familiar.
The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film by Michael Ondaatje
This book offers quite unique insight, as it chronicles conversations and interviews between film editor Walter Murch and writer Michael Ondaatje. These conversations occurred mostly during the process of the film adaptation of Ondaatje’s novel The English Patient, which Murch edited.
The resulting book is an interesting one, covering not only the technicals and creative aspects of editing, but the principles of storytelling as a whole. It painted similarities and differences of storytelling in different mediums, with filmmaking, editing, and writing the main topics.
Here’s a link to Amazon where you can buy this delightfully entertaining book.
It also gives insight as to how films are made, and references the works of other prominent filmmakers and editors, such as Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Fred Zinneman and Anthony Minghella, whom they talk about.
When The Shooting Stops … The Cutting Begins: A Film Editor’s Story by Ralph Rosenblum and Robert Karen
This book is a firsthand account of the editor’s technical and creative processes once post-production starts. The examples used are usually from the 1960s and 1970s, when celluloid film was still used, so they may seem a bit dated. However, the principles of rhythm and what makes a good cut are still relevant to modern editing technologies commonly used today.
Ralph Rosenblum is a film editor, who worked on six Woody Allen films, The Pawnbroker, The Producers, and Goodbye, Columbus. The book heavily focuses on Annie Hall, but also discusses Rosenblum’s other works.
Together with journalist Robert Karen, they have crafted an entertaining, accessible, yet informative and insightful book on film editing, post production, and the industry as a whole.
Dream Repairman: Adventures in Film Editing by Jim Clark
This book is quite an entertaining account of Jim Clark’s editing career, which spans decades, from the 1950s up until the present.
Of course, the book details his creative and technical processes, showing how his techniques were applied from film to digital, but the main takeaway by readers is his colorful account of life in the film industry. The accounts of his professional life are wonderfully intermingled with accounts of his personal life, and showed how the two interacted and clashed at times.
Readers also noted the “gossipy” tone of the book at times, as Clark divulges industry happenings and secrets. This book is not a strict instruction book, but offers firsthand insight into the ups and downs of working in the film industry.
Cut to the Chase: Forty-Five Years of Editing America’s Favourite Movies by Sam O’Steen
This book entails the life and career of film editor Sam O’Steen who has worked as a film editor since the 1960s up until his death in 2000. Some of his notable films are The Graduate (1967), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), and Silkwood (1983).
Since he has worked mostly for Hollywood films, this book contains great insight as to what editing techniques and processes work for the mainstream studio system. It is a good mix of techniques and personal anecdotes about working as an editor in Hollywood, making it an informative yet entertaining read.
The book was written through interviews of Sam by his wife Bobbie, who also works in film, ensuring that his ideas and insights are portrayed and printed with the appropriate context. Sam O’Steen passed away shortly after this book was published.
The Making of a Motion Picture Editor by Thomas A Ohanian
This book, although not written by a film editor, offers insight into the creative processes and experiences of editors in the film industry.
For the book, Thomas Ohanian interviewed several decorated film editors through the years, spanning 551 films, 360 Academy Awards, and 785 nominations. Due to the scope of this work, this book contains a wealth of information regarding filmmaking and editing.
This also means that this book covers a diverse variety of opinions and creative processes, from the editing of musicals, to traditional narratives, dramas, science fiction, comedies, documentaries, etc. It is a good way to compare and contrast different editing methods and what practices are best for specific subjects and genres.
This book could be very useful for filmmakers, editors, and film enthusiasts who wish to explore different genres and approaches to editing and storytelling through film. There is definitely something here for you.
Software/Medium Specific Editing Books
As compared to the books discussed in previous sections, these books are less concerned about the artistic principles and theory behind using editing for storytelling, but more of the modern software that is used in editing films today.
We have included books on four of the most common editing software used by both hobbyists and professionals, and how to maximize the tools and features included in each program to help editors in whatever project they may have. These are good books to get if you have already decided on a software you are going to use, or wish to settle on one.
Avid Editing: A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users
Avid is one of the most commonly used editing software in professional filmmaking settings, and this book offers holistic instruction for the Avid user. Aside from covering the technical side of the software, the book also discusses creative principles essential to film editing.
This book provides an easy to follow editing workflow to maximize what the software can do. It teaches all the most commonly used features of Avid, including trimming, audio, effects, titles, color correction, customization, inputting, and outputting. Purchase of the book also includes an online e-resource of professionally shot clips for editing practice, and this sixth edition is updated for HD, UHD, 2K, and 4K editing workflows.
Adobe Premiere Pro CC Classroom in a Book
Adobe Premiere Pro is another very popular editing software, which comes with the Adobe Creative Suite, allowing easy use and adaptation of assets among the different programs in it.
Adobe Premiere Pro could be quite overwhelming, especially for the beginner editor, but this book aims to break down every feature and tool available in the program to help the readers build a workflow and maximize the tools offered by the program.
This book is highly recommended for students and beginners who wish to use Adobe Premiere Pro in their editing practice, be it as a hobby or for professional work. It contains clear explanations and practice exercises for the readers to learn more easily. Print editions of the book also contain a DVD with footage and other project files that could be used for practice.
Final Cut Pro X 10.4 – How it Works: A different type of manual – the visual approach
This instructional book by Edgar Rothermich is a favorite among Final Cut Pro X users, with readers raving about the detail and usefulness of this book as a reference guide in using the software.
This book is very detailed, covering every feature and tool of the program, with suggestions in building an efficient and easy workflow for editors. It also contains a lot of illustrations, which is ideal for visual learners and for learning the visual landscape of this program.
The amount of detail that this book covers does mean that this is not a quick read, but it guarantees that whatever you may be looking for with regards to the program, you could find it here.
The Beginner’s Guide to to DaVinci Resolve 16: Learn Editing, Color, Audio & Effects
This book is an official Blackmagic Design Training and Certification book by the program’s manufacturers designed for beginner users. DaVinci Resolve is quite new to the market, but it offers a wide variety of features, from editing, to color correction, audio post production, and visual effects, making it easily popular.
This book offers tutorials and instructions on how to navigate the program’s interface and how to use the different features offered by the program to maximize your project’s potential. It is extremely detailed, spanning over 400 pages, which ensures proper explanations , exercises, and tips and tricks to polish your finished project.
Conclusion
Editing is such a big part of filmmaking. It has evolved so much through the years, with different techniques and theories emerging, it is no surprise that so many books have been written about it. This list is but a fraction of all there is to know about editing, but we believe it is a good place to start. Pick up a book, get cozy, and happy reading!