Movie Editing

[Imaginosis]

Why is current movie editing so superior to say 30 years ago? These days, movies smoothly transition from one scene to the next. Could computers be facilitating this? The ability to instantly see what the editing results are, the impact on the viewers?

 

[mrpiddly]

Why is current movie editing so superior to say 30 years ago?

because everything is digital now.

 

[Lytmare]

^ yup!

 

[SUNSTONE]

I have books on movie making and editing.
They talk about how they use to have to edit before digital came about.
It was a long hard task.

Now you can chop that video up in seconds and put it back together again.
With the stroke of one key you can any or all of your footage into a negotive or a cartoon or black and white film.

It took me awhile to get used to all the options, but once I did movie editing became like breathing to me.

 

[Imaginosis]

I have books on movie making and editing.
They talk about how they use to have to edit before digital came about. It was a long hard task.

Now you can chop that video up in seconds and put it back together again. With the stroke of one key you can any or all of your footage into a negotive or a cartoon or black and white film.

Makes perfect sense, because now a days the editing is just amazing, so smooth, with amazing continuity.

What does it mean to have a movie digitally remastered?

 

[SUNSTONE]

Makes perfect sense, because now a days the editing is just amazing, so smooth, with amazing continuity.

What does it mean to have a movie digitally remastered?

If I had to take a guess, I would say they capture a film onto digital where they can clean up what's there.

You can do all kinds of things on digital.
Examples, you can lighten up dark spots, saturate the colors or balance them out, etc.

You can even fix the sound.

 

[Imaginosis]

If I had to take a guess, I would say they capture a film onto digital where they can clean up what's there.

You can do all kinds of things on digital.
Examples, you can lighten up dark spots, saturate the colors or balance them out, etc.

You can even fix the sound.

About what year did movies become digital, becoming mainstream for movie making?

 

[wiggbuggie]

look at George lucas's original star wars trilogy he re edited and releaseed them like 3 times. Each time adding more stuff, sound, fixing color etc. Back then it was all analog equipment now its digital. As for when it became popular not sure maybe when dvds and cd rom technology came out so like 90's im guessing

 

[Imaginosis]

look at George lucas's original star wars trilogy he re edited and releaseed them like 3 times. Each time adding more stuff, sound, fixing color etc. Back then it was all analog equipment now its digital. As for when it became popular not sure maybe when dvds and cd rom technology came out so like 90's im guessing

Apocalypse Now is an amazing movie, having stood the test of time, even by todays standards. Even w/o digital the editing was superb. How did Francis Ford Coppola pull this off?

 

[Sketcher]

Apocalypse Now is an amazing movie, having stood the test of time, even by todays standards. Even w/o digital the editing was superb. How did Francis Ford Coppola pull this off?

He didn't do it, he had a good editor.

 

[Theogonia]

Yes, in the more archaic days of cinema, one had to actually cut the strips of film to edit.

 

[revrobor]

I started in the motion picture theatre in 1945 and have owned/operated and managed theatres over the years. I have seen the changes in the motion picture industry and do not see many of them as favorable. Producers have pushed the envelope until many films have become raunchy and a destructive influence to the morals that once permeated this society. While technology has improved tremendously I believe it is no more than a matter of opinion that editing today is any better that it was 40 or 50 years ago. The OP could not have seen the many classics from the past that won awards not only for editing but for writing and acting. I am, however, more than willing to admit that today's actors are better actors than those from the past. We used to go to the movies to see personalities (Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, etc.). They were always Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, etc. Today's actors can really lose themselves in a role. It's sad (if not disgusting) that they seem to lack morals off-screen. I have been a manager at multiplexes as recently as two months ago and it has been my observation that "Hollywood" has created in many of the younger generation an appetite for blood an guts with the improved special effects and those people don't seem to care what the story line is or whether or not it's good as long as they can see the gore.

 

[SUNSTONE]

About what year did movies become digital, becoming mainstream for movie making?

They haven't fully went digital, I don't believe.
Some movies are still shot with film, if I'm not mistaken.
But then again I have never looked into when they started switching over.

Most movies are filmed in digital now from what I've seen.

I remember Jurasic Park and T2 had computer graphics, and I think those were some of the first major CPU graphics shown on film.

My first digital movie I watched was Saving Private Ryan.
But to be honest I don't know what the first one was, I just remember how odd the movie looked because it was filmed in digital.

 

[SUNSTONE]

I started in the motion picture theatre in 1945 and have owned/operated and managed theatres over the years. I have seen the changes in the motion picture industry and do not see many of them as favorable. Producers have pushed the envelope until many films have become raunchy and a destructive influence to the morals that once permeated this society. While technology has improved tremendously I believe it is no more than a matter of opinion that editing today is any better that it was 40 or 50 years ago. The OP could not have seen the many classics from the past that won awards not only for editing but for writing and acting. I am, however, more than willing to admit that today's actors are better actors than those from the past. We used to go to the movies to see personalities (Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, etc.). They were always Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, etc. Today's actors can really lose themselves in a role. It's sad (if not disgusting) that they seem to lack morals off-screen. I have been a manager at multiplexes as recently as two months ago and it has been my observation that "Hollywood" has created in many of the younger generation an appetite for blood an guts with the improved special effects and those people don't seem to care what the story line is or whether or not it's good as long as they can see the gore.

Your post has nothing to do with the topic, but I'll respond to it anyways.

Editing is far better now for the simple reason that with digital it is easier and you have a lot more options you can use.
Basicly whatever you could do in 1950 with editing, is what you can do now and then some.

Also "hollywood" is made up of human beings that Christ died for.
So I wouldn't talk about them as if they were the emeny.
They aren't the enemy, they just don't know any better.

 

[wiggbuggie]

Yes, in the more archaic days of cinema, one had to actually cut the strips of film to edit.

yes and thats also why some old video footage has some scratches or blurry quality because people put their fingers no them and it left fingerprints and such

 

[Theogonia]

Your post has nothing to do with the topic, but I'll respond to it anyways.

Editing is far better now for the simple reason that with digital it is easier and you have a lot more options you can use.
Basicly whatever you could do in 1950 with editing, is what you can do now and then some.

Exactly, in fact, I can do on my home computer more than professional studios ever could back then.

 

[Theogonia]

They haven't fully went digital, I don't believe.
Some movies are still shot with film, if I'm not mistaken.
But then again I have never looked into when they started switching over.

Most movies are filmed in digital now from what I've seen.

I remember Jurasic Park and T2 had computer graphics, and I think those were some of the first major CPU graphics shown on film.

My first digital movie I watched was Saving Private Ryan.
But to be honest I don't know what the first one was, I just remember how odd the movie looked because it was filmed in digital.

35mm is still primarily used, but the industry is beginning to go digital.

Star Wars episode 3 was shot on digital cameras, as was Zodiac.

 

[revrobor]

35mm is still primarily used, but the industry is beginning to go digital.

Of the thousands of screens in this country there are only about 100 that have digital projectors. At this point the cost of digital is prohibitive for most theatre companies and especially the independents. Your are absolutely correct 35mm is the primary source of filmed entertainment.

 

[revrobor]

They haven't fully went digital, I don't believe.
Some movies are still shot with film, if I'm not mistaken.
But then again I have never looked into when they started switching over.

Most movies are filmed in digital now from what I've seen.

Most features today are still shot in 35mm film. What is digital about them is the soundtracks and special effects.

 

[revrobor]

Yes, in the more archaic days of cinema, one had to actually cut the strips of film to edit.

Features are still edited by "cutting" the film as most are still shot on 35mm film.

There is a lot of misinformation and misconceptions in this thread and it is obvious to one who has devoted a large portion of his life to the industry that many posters don't possess the knowledge of the industry to make accurate comments.

As for the damage seen in some older prints it was caused by poorly maintained projection equipment but was not as common a you might believe as most projectionists were very careful about how the film was handled. A print was never released in damaged condition and the damage was never caused by editors handling the film. Today "damage" is added for effect in some films and commercials and has apparently left some with the impression films always looked like that.