Linear Nonlinear

Film Editing

&

Linear Editing•Footage can only be accessed or played in the sequence recorded. •Tape is linear.•It has to be spooled for access to any material.

•Pictures can only be played in

the order they are recorded.

Nonlinear EditingFilm is digitized into a computer

and manipulated

with software programs

that provide instant

access to any shot.

Clips and frames

can be randomly

accessed and

moved quickly into any order.

Film Editing in 1959

With linear editing,

organizing footage is

challenging; keeping up with original

film reels, cut strips, and

dailies make it easy to

misplace film.

Nonlinear editing makes organization simple.

Clips are stored in digital file folders and the original videotape remains complete.

Sony's complete high-definition NLE (non-linear editing) system

George Lucas endorses Sony HD Editing System

in 2001 "I will probably never, ever

shoot another film ... on film," Lucas said. "I've been editing digitally for 15 years. It's inconceivable that I would go back to editing on a Moviola. The advantages of digital enormously outweigh the disadvantages." "Film editing is trying to catch up with what video has been doing for years."

Linear Editing makes special effects

challenging

Film editing in 1950

Work print film is marked with grease pencil and the actual appearance of the effect must be imagined.

Nonlinear Editing makes experimentation quick and

easySpecial effects like fades, dissolves, and wipes can be put in and viewed instantly.

Key TermsKey TermsLinear NonlinearAnalog DigitalChronological Random Access

Film, reels, canisters VideotapeFlatbed editor NLE systemsMoviola AVIDFilm Reader Lightworks

MoviolaMoviola•portable editing machine that stands upright and is mechanized •made by the Moviola company •can manage a single reel of film and sound track•easy to work with and relatively inexpensive•used in film schools and in some home studios.

AVID

Professionalediting software usedby moviemakers Avid Xpress runs on Dell

laptop & costs about $4K

Lightworks•Set of software components that power the world’s leading rendering applications. •Software development companies use LightWorks to provide their users - you - with high performance and high quality rendering solutions. •Company licenses LightWorks to software development companies who then integrate LightWorks into their applications

Nonlinear editing, in the context of

computer editing, is to film and video what the word

processor was to the typewriter.

References• Dove, Linda. (1994). Rhythm and Attitude, Michael Kahn

Speaks at A.C.E. Seminar. Motion Picture Editors Newsletter.15 (5). Retrieved July 21, 2004 from http://www.editorsguild.com/newsletter/kahn.html#machines

• Edit Heaven. Film Secrets-Dynamic Film Resource. Retrieved

July 23, 2004 from http://www.rivalquest.com/edit/

• Park, Joonhee (n.d.). What’s Non-linear Editing? Joonhee Park’s Interactive Film Study. Retrieved on July 23, 2004 from http://home.messiah.edu/~jpark/What's%20nonlinear%20editing.htm.

• Philip, Michael. (2003). How to Make the Director Look Good: Editing. Austin Film Festival Panel, Oct. 9, 2003.

• White, Charlie. (2002). Digital Film: The Might Oak. Digital Producer Magazine. Retrieved July 21, 2004 from http://www.digitalproducer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=7575#

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