Practical Guide to Documentary Editing

Sam Billinge, GBFTE is a documentary editor with more than a decade's worth of experience editing prime-time documentaries for British and international television.

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction PrefaceThe Power of DocumentaryWho are Film Editors and What Do They Do?Part 1: The Fundamentals Storytelling 1.0Editing 1.0Setting Up the EditPreparing to View RushesTrack Laying the EditViewing InterviewsViewing ActualityViewing B-roll Part 2: Starting to Edit Understanding the Task AheadDeciding What to Cut FirstAppraising a New SceneStructuring a New SceneOrdering Interview ClipsTrimming InterviewsWorking with ActualityWorking with VoiceoverDeciding Where Voiceover is NeededVoiceover Writing BasicsManaging a Voiceover RecordPart 3: Picture Editing Visual StorytellingThe Kuleshov EffectTypes of Picture SequenceTypes of ShotStructuring a Picture SequenceSequencing ShotsA Practical Method for Building a SequenceThe Art of the CutWhat Makes a Good Cut?What Shots Cut Well Together?Judging Pacing and the Rhythm of SequencesEnhancing the Visual Style of a SequenceWorking with CutawaysWorking with Stock FootageWorking with Still ImagesPart 4: Using Sound Working with Sound Design and MusicUnderstanding SoundWorking with MusicWhy We Use Music in Filmmaking Some Good Ways to Use MusicA Practical Method for Working with MusicAuditioning MusicComposed, Library or Commercial Music?Working with a ComposerWorking with Library MusicWorking with Commercial MusicPart 5: Story Structure Ordering and Connecting ScenesCommon Documentary Story StructuresThe Three-Act StructureThe EpisodicThe Parallel NarrativeWorking with Shooting Scripts & Paper EditsChoosing a Running OrderScene CardsWorking to a DeadlineMaking ImprovementsViewing a Film for the First TimeWorking to a Final DurationReaching Picture LockThe Cutting Room RelationshipWorkflow SummaryConclusionGlossaryIndex

"A brilliant introduction to the art of editing. You need process to create and method to find clarity. This book shares the secrets that allow ideas to flow and magic to happen. Documentary editing is the best job in the world. Sam Billinge's book helps you understand why."—Sean Mackenzie, Two-time BAFTA TV Award-winning Editor; Arena (1975), Amish: A Secret Life (2012)"This thorough and informative work written by Sam Billinge, an actual practitioner in the art form of which he writes, will be my go-to book recommendation for anyone interested in learning or expanding the craft of documentary editing. When I’m asked, 'How do I learn about documentary editing,' this is the book I will be recommending to people."—Colin Goudie, GBFTE, Editor, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Monsters (2010)"If you’re looking to learn how to edit documentaries well, then Sam offers professional expertise and insight that will help you at every stage of the creative and collaborative process."--Jonny Elwyn, freelance film editor and creator of jonnyelwyn.co.uk