When The Shooting Stops... The Cutting Begins: An Editors Story By Ralph Rosenblum and Robert Karen
The introduction to this book starts with one of the best and worst words lines in the media industry "Don't worry we'll fix it in the cutting room" Which is probably the best line to start with as it defines the tone of which the rest if the book is built. This is that the editor has the cinematic fate of the film in their fingers and are expected to produce gold thread with barrels of hay.
Looking at Chapter 16 in particular titled: My Problem With Directors the writer talks heavily about the egotistical world of the industry that has been pioneered by directors that are riding on the reputation of the classic forerunners of the industry ie. "Renoir, Fellini, Hitchcock and Bergman"
The chapter ends (after pages of jibes and snide marks at the work of directors) "Now it's alright to work on a loser but , which I knew I was doing, but it's torture to see solutions and and not allowed to attempt them." This says to me that although throughout production, an exclamation or two of "We'll fix it in post" may be uttered, the editor almost feels as if it is their job to be the knight in shining armour, riding a white house with a joust in one hand and a macbook in the other. Although the writer ends the chapter on "It's you Ralph. you will never be satisfied. You're incapable of it." it is said almost like an explanation for all the digs at the other professions surrounding post production, a insincere apology.
This book reads really well, [the line 'A Film Editor's Story' should have been a hint] and though it is at times quietly humorous and holds a few good hints and tips, they seem to be buried within what can only be described as either an highschool students Slam Book or the memoirs of a cynical old man. The book just seems to be nothing more than pages and pages of complaining about everyone in the industry who isn't an editor and sets up the readers.... the ones who are working to be an editor, to already hate everyone outside of their clique, and those who aren't aspiring to be a cutter to keep a close eye on the one they work with who will be silently judging them or cause a fuss to earn respect or a gift.
[Introduction: The Hands Behind The Seam (Page 1- 11) and Chapter 16: My Problem With Directors (Page 229 - 240)]
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