Top Film and Video Editing Mantras

Be a better film or video editor! Memorize a few of these video editing mantras to guide you as you work.

Are you a new video editor looking to improve your craft? Well, you’re in luck! There are some timeless truths about editing that can help you level up your skills. These nuggets of wisdom have been passed down by experienced editors, and they can be a shortcut to becoming a better editor in no time. But remember, it’s not just about memorizing these mantras – you need to think critically about how to apply them to your own work. In this post, I’ve gathered some of my favorite video editing mantras that can help you on your journey.

Walter Murch’s Rule of Six

1. Emotion (51%)
2. Story (23%)
3. Rhythm (10%)
4. Eye-trace (7%)
5. Two-dimensional plane of screen (5%)
6. Three-dimensional space of action (4%)

Legendary film editor Walter Murch believes that these six guidelines are crucial when it comes to making a cut. Each percentage represents the weight Murch assigns to each aspect. For example, prioritizing the emotion of a moment is more important than maintaining continuity within a scene. If you want a deeper understanding of Murch’s rule of six, check out the detailed write-up on AOTG.com.

Murch first shared these ‘rules of editing’ in his book In The Blink Of An Eye, which I highly recommend for any aspiring film editor. It’s a must-read.

‘Murder Your Darlings’

One common mistake new editors make is holding onto their favorite scenes or moments for too long. But sometimes, you have to be ruthless and remove those darlings if it improves the overall quality of the film. It requires discipline and decisiveness, but it’s essential for creating great work.

After removing a significant piece from your film, give yourself some time and distance to see if you truly miss it. Taking a break, even just overnight, can provide valuable objectivity in determining whether the removal of that darling actually enhances the film. And remember, always duplicate your sequence before making any major changes, so you can easily revert back if needed!

If you want more tips on maintaining objectivity, check out my previous post: 5 Tips To Create Better Work By Maintaining A Fresh Perspective.

#Postchat Editors Editing Mantras

If you were to name your 3 rules of editing, what would they be? #PostChat

— Jesse Averna (@Dr0id) January 14, 2015

In a recent Twitter conversation, the collective #postchat editors shared their thoughts on good editing guidelines. Here are a few of my favorites. You can check out the entire transcript of the conversation here.

@Dr0id 1) Cut for emotion and feeling as much as for story. 2) Continuity-schmontinuity 3) Sometimes rules 1&2 need to be broken — Cate Haight (@catehaight) January 14, 2015

@Dr0id 1. Don’t rush. Make your cuts deliberately. 2. Lay out audio first. 3. Argue for the cuts you believe in, but be humble.

— Jen Brooks (@jenbrooks) January 15, 2015

@Dr0id 1. Don’t say “that won’t work” unless 100% certain” 2. Watch scenes w/o sound for flow 3. Don’t put in music too early in process

— Kelly Herron (@KellyGHerron) January 15, 2015

@Dr0id 1-Off-story is okay if it’s HILARIOUS. 2-Screen it LOTS. 3-Never use any music or sfx labeled “comedy” #PostChat — Steven Rosenthal (@Rosenthaltweets) January 15, 2015

.@Dr0id 1. Be fast and reliable 2. Go outside 3. Go home — Rob Ashe, Jr. (@sirashe) January 15, 2015

@Dr0id 1- Own the project 2- Not all clients know what they want 3- Don’t let your professionalism cloud your judgment #postchat

— Jonathan St. John (@mdvideoeditor) January 14, 2015

@Dr0id #PostChat 1. Edit everything 2. Edit for everyone and with everyone 3. Edit every project like it’s your last

— Chris Bové (@heybove) January 15, 2015

Share Your Editing Mantras

These are just a few of my favorite video editing mantras, but there are plenty more out there. I’d love to hear your favorites, so please share them in the comments section!

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