Editing

I am currently taking an Editing 101 class, and I must say I am learning a lot. Editors really are the so-called "gatekeepers" of digital media or any media. They have the final decision on what we get to see. As Walter Murch, one of the most well-respected editors in the business, says in his book, In the Blink of an Eye, "Good editing makes a director look good. Great editing makes a film look like it wasn't directed at all." This shows that the editors have a lot of power and influence over a piece of work. And yet, we never really know who editors are. We know the directors, the writers, the actors, but never the editors. But these people arguably have the most important job of all.

No matter how creative or how great a vision an artist has, in this society if an artist wants to make any money or be involved in popular culture he or she will have to deal with editors. And editors can alter an artist's vision in a way they feel is fit for society to view. They decide what's appropriate for audiences, what should be cut and what should be left in. Even if the artist feels something is important and should be shown, it is not the artist's decision to make. So really, the editors are a huge part in what makes it to our screens and magazines, and therefore they are in charge of shaping both our culture and our way of thinking. Now that I know they hold this much power, I have much more respect for all editors. I also realize now that choosing the right editor is an extremely important task. This is the person who will be in charge of finalizing any and all of future media. I sure hope they are treated with proper reverence in the business world, because they are certainly lacking in notoriety in the pop culture world they helped create.