WALTER MURCH's Guide To Cutting

(From The Avid Yahoo User's Group)

WALTER MURCH described how he decides when to cuts in
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE in an excellent way.

In order of importance:

1. Emotion
The cut is true to the emotion of the moment.

2. Story
The cut advances the story.

3. Rhythm
Is the pace rhythmically interesting?

4. Eye-trace
Where and how the audience perceives what's in the frame.

5. Two-Dimensional Plane Of Screen
How does the photography capture a three dimensional world on
a two dimensional screen.

6. Three-Dimensional Space Of Action
Where characters are in the scene in relation to one another.

Of course, the first three are liable to interpretation.

Which makes it all the more interesting, really.