Phase 2: Narrative Craft
Week 21 of 52 · Day 141–147
The Editor as Storyteller — Analyzing Master Editors
Learning Objective
Develop your analytical skills by studying the work of master editors.
This Week
This week is dedicated to deep analysis. You will choose one film edited by a master editor and study it in detail, pausing on every cut and asking: why did the editor make this choice? Recommended films: Apocalypse Now (Walter Murch), Raging Bull (Thelma Schoonmaker), The Social Network (Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall), Mad Max: Fury Road (Margaret Sixel), Boyhood (Sandra Adair).
Daily Practice
Watch one scene from your chosen film three times: once for story, once for performance, and once for editing. Write notes on each viewing. (45–60 min)
Weekly Challenge
Write a 500-word analysis of a single scene from your chosen film, focusing on the editing choices and their effect on the audience.