Art & Craft of Editing -- John Rosenberg -- Page 1

The Art and Craft of Film Editing

Instructor: John Rosenberg
(email: editucla@charter.net)
X 479.613 Film & Television 4 units
UCLA: 1222 School of Public Affairs Bldg.
Thursdays, 7pm - 10pm
March 31 - June 16, 2011 12 meetings
Editing is storytelling. Editors are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the
story and performances while working collaboratively with directors, producers,
studio executives and others. The editor is one of the few members of the
filmmaking team who sees the film through the entire process, from dailies to final
delivery. By looking at different editing styles, this course covers the elements of
storytelling, performance, pace, emotion, action, continuity, and manipulation of
time and place.
Instruction includes lectures, discussion and screenings.
Participants also learn to select the most appropriate editing systems and technology
by evaluating the limitations of budgets and time.
Class participation is encouraged. It will allow us to expand on topics as they
emerge through presentations and reading. Attendance is crucial!
Grade breakdown:
Quiz #1................................................15%
Quiz #2................................................15%
Final Exam..........................................25%
Attendance..........................................25%
Class participation.............................20%
Required reading: The Healthy Edit by John Rosenberg. Focal Press, 2011.
Following is a general overview of what we will cover each week, including assigned
reading in your textbook.

Art & Craft of Editing -- John Rosenberg -- Page 2

COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK 1:
INTRODUCTION TO MOTION PICTURE EDITING
LINEAR AND NON-LINEAR
THE EDITING TRIANGLE
Reading: The Healthy Edit, Introduction, page xvii xix and
Chapter 4, pages 29 46.
WEEK 2:
DAILIES AND PRODUCTION
THE LINED SCRIPT
Reading: The Healthy Edit, Chapter 9, pages 91 106
WEEK 3:
PRINCIPLES OF EDITING
THE ROUGH CUT
EDITING THE FIRST CUT
Reading: The Healthy Edit, Chapter 2, pages 9 - 15
WEEK 4:
PACE AND RHYTHM
Reading: The Healthy Edit, Chapter 14, pages 147 - 166
WEEK 5:
QUIZ #1
EDITING DIALOGUE SCENES
CHARACTER & PERFORMANCE
Reading: The Healthy Edit, Chapter 11, pages 121 - 129
WEEK 6:
EDITING ACTION SCENES
SOUND EFFECTS
Reading: The Healthy Edit, Chapter 7, pages 71 - 78
WEEK 7:
THE DIRECTORS CUT
TEMP DUBS
Reading: The Healthy Edit, Chapter 10, pages 109 - 119
WEEK 8:
THE FINAL CUT
TEST SCREENINGS
FILM DOCTORS
Reading: The Healthy Edit, Chapter 16, pages 177 - 183

Art & Craft of Editing -- John Rosenberg -- Page 3

WEEK 9:
SOUND EDITING AND ADR
VISUAL EFFECTS
SPOTTING, SCORING AND MUSIC EDITING
Reading: The Healthy Edit, Chapter 17, pages 190 193 (top of
page)
WEEK 10:
QUIZ #2
DELIVERING THE FILM
DISTRIBUTION
Reading: The Healthy Edit, Chapter 17, pages 193 - 196
WEEK 11:
GENERAL TOPICS: STYLE, GENRE, STORY, POLITICS
Reading: The Healthy Edit, Chapter 15, pages 167 - 176
WEEK 12:
THE IMPORTANCE OF ENDINGS
FINAL EXAM