THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DOCUMENTARY EDITING: Techniques for TV & Film

Editing is the defining skill of documentary film making.  It shapes the direction and flow of the story line, sets the tone and style of the finished film and largely determines its success or failure.  The editor is the last and most fundamental link in the filmmaking chain, deciding what the audience will see and how it will experience what it sees.

Written by a seasoned professional, The Practical Guide to Documentary Editing is a comprehensive guide to the art of documentary film editing, setting out in the clearest language the techniques, the systems and the craft required to make compelling professional documentary films.  Starting with the basics of project organisation, and the assembly of rushes and other vital materials, the book proceeds through sequence editing, story construction and the deployment of music and sound design, ending with an insightful exploration of the vital cutting room relationship between director and editor.

A unique guide to the craft of documentary film making, The Practical Guide to Documentary Editing is an essential read for the novice and young professional alike as well as an insightful guide to anyone interested in how the best documentary films are made.

The Practical Guide to Documentary Editing (Focal Press, 2017) is available through Amazon, Waterstones and various other retailers.