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University of California Press

About the Book

First Cut 2: More Conversations with Film Editors presents a new collection of twelve interviews with award-winning film editors who discuss the art and craft of editing in the twenty-first century. As a follow-up to the successful First Cut: Conversations with Film Editors (now celebrating its 20th anniversary), this new volume explores the transition of editing from the age of celluloid to the digital age. These extraordinarily articulate editors share their passion about film, offer detailed practical examples from their films to explain their process as well as their challenges, and imbue each interview with unique personality, humor, and cinematic insights. First Cut 2 continues the tradition of the first volume by interviewing both fiction and documentary editors, contributing to a rich, holistic appreciation of editing. It also introduces a significant interview with an independent filmmaker/editor to emphasize today’s multiple opportunities for aspiring filmmakers to make their own “small films” and achieve success. Together with the first volume, First Cut 2 offers a panoramic survey of film editing and preserves its history through the voices of its practitioners. The stories told will engage students, inform general filmgoers, and even enlighten industry professionals.

About the Author

Gabriella Oldham is a freelance writer. Her books include First Cut: Conversations with Film Editors (UC Press), and Keaton’s Silent Shorts.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction

1. Keeping Beats
Mark Livolsi
2. Pushing the Envelope
Angelo Corrao
3. Cutting from the Gut
Julie Monroe
4. Sensing Psychology
Jonathan Oppenheim
5. Capturing the Feeling
Lucia Zucchetti
6. Speaking Cinema
Joe Bini
7. Editing the Self
Alan Berliner
8. Pointing to the Middle
Emma E. Hickox
9. Honoring Lives
Kate Amend
10. Weighing the Gold
Richard Chew
11. Making it Work
Victor Livingston
12. Striking the Balance
Michael Tronick

Bibliography
Index

Reviews

“The real accomplishment of Oldham’s book is her concentration on the psychology of editors rather than just their technical ingenuity . . . Let’s hope a third volume of this illuminating series will follow.”
Editors Guild Mag
“Another must-read book for a whole new generation of editors.”—Alan Heim, American Cinema Editors

"First Cut 2 is the perfect sequel to its predecessor, an entertaining and in-depth examination of the editorial process. In each riveting interview, editors invite us into their inter sanctum, revealing fresh insights and providing concrete solutions to editorial challenges and problems. Gabriella Oldham poses intelligent questions that home in on many of the concerns I share with my editing colleagues. A brilliant compendium of talents and styles."—Carol Littleton, American Cinema Editors