5 Things Film Editors Literally Do - According To Science

Summary

In this insightful conversation between editor Sven Pape and Karen Pearlman, they explore the five essential steps an editor takes in the editing process: watching, sorting, remembering, selecting, and composing. They delve into how editors watch material differently, notice their emotional responses, sort footage to create knowledge, and use the material itself as part of their thinking. Emphasizing patience and the organic evolution of a scene, they highlight how an editor's role is not just technical, but deeply cognitive and creative, requiring a dynamic relationship with the footage.

Takeaways

• 😀 An editor’s work involves more than just intuitive decision-making; it’s a series of intentional, structured steps.
• 😀 The first step of editing is watching the material, but an editor watches in a way that’s different from a director or audience. They not only respond emotionally but also notice and record these responses.
• 😀 Editors make mental notes of their emotional responses to the material, allowing them to trust their initial reactions when editing becomes challenging.
• 😀 Sorting the material is crucial for the editor to organize the footage into meaningful groups, tagging it to aid cognitive processes like recognition and search.
• 😀 The concept of 'extended mind' highlights how an editor’s thinking process is not limited to their brain and body but extends to the material itself.
• 😀 Editors use non-biological resources, such as the filmed material, to aid their memory and thinking. Without the material, editing would be impossible.
• 😀 The theory of 'film thinking' suggests that the material itself can guide the editor’s decisions, and a good editor respects what the footage suggests rather than imposing their own will on it.
• 😀 Selecting footage is an iterative process. Every choice made during selection impacts the overall composition and direction of the film.
• 😀 Composing, or editing, is the final step where the editor places selected shots in a timeline, but this process may involve going back to the previous steps if the material requires it.
• 😀 Great editors exhibit patience, as they allow the material to evolve and guide the editing process, rather than rushing to shape it in a predetermined direction.
• 😀 An editor's job is like rearranging letters in a game of Scrabble, where each new combination opens up different possibilities and directions for the film.

Q & A

What is the first thing an editor literally does in the edit suite?

The first thing an editor does is watch the material. However, they do so in a specialized way that goes beyond what a regular audience member does. They watch with emotional responses, notice those responses, and begin imagining how the material might come together.

How does an editor's process of watching material differ from that of an audience or a director?

An editor not only experiences emotions while watching the footage, like an audience, but they also notice these emotions as they happen. Additionally, they start to imagine how the material will come together as a cohesive story.

What role does initial emotional reaction play in the editing process?

Initial emotional reactions help editors identify key moments in the material. They make a mental note of these reactions, which they can refer back to when assessing the effectiveness of scenes later in the editing process.

What is the importance of sorting material in editing?

Sorting material, or logging, involves organizing footage into categories, which helps the editor gain a better understanding of the material and its potential uses. Sorting not only aids in the physical organization but also shapes the editor’s memory and thought process about the footage.

How does the concept of 'extended mind' relate to editing?

In the 'extended mind' concept, thinking is not just confined to the brain but also involves external resources, like the footage itself. For editors, the material they work with is part of their cognitive process, and their thoughts are extended through their interaction with it.

What is an epistemic action in the context of editing?

An epistemic action refers to an action that helps facilitate knowledge creation. When an editor sorts footage, they are organizing the material in a way that helps them think and make decisions about how it will fit together in the final product.

How does remembering fit into the editing process?

Remembering is a crucial step in editing. Editors use their digital folders to scroll through footage, triggering memories and emotional responses. This process relies on non-biological resources, such as the material itself, to aid in the act of remembering.

What does it mean when Karen Pearlman says that the film is part of the editor's mind?

Karen explains that an editor’s mind is not only biological but also includes the film as a non-biological part of their cognitive process. Without the footage, an editor cannot perform their task, meaning the material itself becomes an extension of the editor’s mind.

What is the role of selection in the editing process?

Selection involves choosing the best shots or moments from the material. However, each selection alters the film, and editors must continuously reassess their choices. The selection process requires constant re-evaluation to ensure the film maintains its intended direction.

What distinguishes the act of composing from editing?

Composing is the final step in editing, where the selected shots are placed into a timeline and shaped in relation to each other. It is distinct from earlier stages of editing, like sorting and selecting, as it involves making the final narrative structure.