How Films Lie To You: The Truth Behind Editing

This episode explores the "editing block theory," a concept in film editing that challenges traditional approaches. The speaker, a film editor with extensive experience, including work with James Cameron, introduces the theory by contrasting the lengthy dialogue in the *Ex Machina* script with the film's concise, impactful opening scene. More significantly, the speaker analyzes a scene from a film they edited, comparing their own cut with a student's version to highlight how different editing choices can drastically alter the narrative's emotional impact. For instance, the student's innovative use of a shot significantly enhanced the scene's portrayal of a character's emotional detachment. The speaker then delves into the core principles of the editing block theory, emphasizing the importance of considering audience reaction and using shots, words, and sounds as building blocks to shape movement, story, and emotion. Ultimately, the episode advocates for a more intuitive, nonlinear approach to editing, encouraging editors to trust their instincts and the inherent storytelling potential of the footage itself.