With a focus on craft and theory, this class will explore editing as the third and final "authoring" of a motion picture. With an emphasis on storytelling and essential techniques that will translate to any editing software, this class will start by considering the power of the simple "cut" and progress into more advanced editing methods. Using Adobe Premiere Pro and professionally produced footage from TV, Feature Films and Documentaries, students will be challenged with 6 editing assignments designed to provide valuable experience with a variety of techniques and multiple modes of production. In addition to considering image editing, we will also cover sound sweetening and basic sound design work. With the belief that the best way to learn to edit is to edit as much as possible, there will be hands-on demos and every student will be creating their own edited version of the footage for each assignment. Again, this is not a software class, this is a class about creative choices and will focus on the challenges every editor's faces while providing historical, theoretical, and methodological approaches to those challenges through lectures, demos, discussion, critique, and hands-on experience.

Course Requirements:

Students will be assessed based on: six editing assignments (70%), three quizzes (13%), reading responses (12%) and participation/critique (5%).

Intended Audience:

FTVM Majors and students who are interested in gaining a deeper theoretical and technical understanding of motion picture editing for both image and sound.

Class Format:

The course will meet twice per week for two hours per meeting and include a variety of lectures, hands on demos, and in-class critique of student work.