The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film

Great book! I've read Murch's book "In the Blink of an Eye", and this is a perfect companion to help round out his philosophy of film. And Ondaatje, who is a masterful storyteller in his own right, is really great at bringing out Murch's thoughts. Between Ondaatje's keen insights, and Murch's alway surprising viewpoints, it really feels like the rare opportunity to eavesdrop on a conversation between two artistic masters. Even if you aren't an editor but love film, this book will expand the horizons of how you think about the medium. Highly recommend it!

A really interesting meditation on editing and storytelling. I bought this expecting a more how-to book on editing. It is not that. It is very different than that. It's more round about and indirect. It's more about the principles around the moves you might make as an editor than any particular step by step move guide. But given that, it's really interesting to hear an acclaimed and accomplished novelist talk with a really talented film editor. It's really interesting to hear about their tricks for story telling and how they relate. It's more about how to tell a story in general than how to edit or write in particular. But as far as that goes it is completely memorable and very instructional.

This is a wonderful book -- five stars for insight, not only about movie editing but about how a brilliant craftsman uses his broader knowledge to enhance his work. and as the record of a conversation, a pleasure to read. less than five stars for the quality of the paperback edition, however. the paper is cheap and the photograph illustrations, which do so much to clarify meaning in the hardback version, are blurred and flat in the paperback, a definite disappointment. i'm thinking of writing off my purchase and finding a replacement hardback.

Of all the books I have ordered about film, film making, cameras, story telling, etc, etc this one was the best. I was sad when I finished. Walter Murch is a legend and Michael Ondaatje is superb as a writer. Even if you are not passionate about the art of film this book is worth reading. If you ARE passionate about film and story telling then don't even think twice...order it.

I highly recommend this book to photographers, filmmakers, and any other creative people where editing is an essential part of the creative process. I own a copy that was given to me as a present some years ago. The two copies that I purchased recently were to give to two young film students, one in upstate New York, the other in Mexico City.Many thanks for carrying itSylvia

An excellent book for anyone interested in the king of audio in the movies. Walter Murch may no be a household name, but his movies are. I loved reading this book and the stories Walter would tell about how he discovered something or what drove him to try something. His passion really comes through in everything he says.

I don't usually like Q&A-style interviews, but this book is a notable exception because it's more like eavesdropping on a private conversation between two very savvy colleagues. Murch has some original and intriguing things to say about the ways he approaches his art (like theorizing that movie music reinforces an existing emotion--rather than inspiring one). Here's looking forward to his next book--the one in which he posits his notational scheme for cinema. It sounds like a crackpot idea, rather like that musical I wisely never wrote in which each instrument corresponded to a different bodily function. I suspect Murch can deliver on his dream, if anyone can.

Great book. An intellectual, free-form deep-dive into the art of editing, encompassing theory, philosophy, history and everything in between.

Quintessential reading. Murch is the ultimate master. He’s got it figured out. First book I’ve read that pontificates rather clearly about how and where ideas come from and about advanced conmunication

Un joya. Repaso sobre el trabajo de uno de los mejores editores de imagen y sonido del cine.Describe, de manera accesible y con buen nivel de detalle, la participación de Walter Murch en la edición de las diferentes películas en las que fue el editor (de imagen/sonido). De la mano del escritor Michael Ondaatje, repasa sus colaboraciones con G. Lucas, F. F. Coppola, etc.Similar al formato inaugurado por Truffaut con Hitchcock, recorremos la historia de algunas de las películas más importantes del cine de los últimos años, combinando anécdotas y curiosidades compartidas por Murch.El pedido en Amazon, cómo siempre, perfecto: en tiempo y en forma.J.L.

An intensely intellectual but at the same time deeply creative and intuitive artist, Walter Murch was one of the great film and sound editors. Even if you only have a passing interest in film you will find this book riveting and eye-opening - you will never watch a film the same way again. But as an independent film maker, I know what Moses must have felt like when he read the tablets of stone - there are more insights in this book than you can take in in one reading. If he was alive today, how he would love the democratic and creative influence that powerful home computers and non-linear editing software now have, something he foresaw and pioneered. And how he would laugh at the unbelievably crass irony of the book's cover - film editors rarely get a mention or credits, even less, sound editors, and yet on the cover of this book, which is all about one of the greatest editors of all time, he gets second billing to the interviewer! Buy this book. If renaissance man Murch doesn't inspire you to make or watch more films more intelligently, nothing will.

One of the best book on film editing and film making that inspired me.

Walter Murch, uno de los más grandes maestros trabajando actualmente, en pleno dominio. Murch es uno de los editores más apasionados y este libro es un ejemplo viviente de esto. Una verdadera joya. Se recomienda también leer "In the blink of an Eye" como pieza de acompañamiento. Excelente servicio por parte de amazon en cuanto a la velocidad del envío y la calidad del producto.