Idea #115 - "Worldising" Films

We all know editing is an art the nuances of which are only considered perfect if they are seamless enough for the eye to overlook. Speaking of genius editors capable of fulfilling this need, today we learned the Walter Murch way of making films.

We first learned about his Eye Trace technique to direct the eye in the direction he wants - how he uses motion, positioning of the camera, and colour to manipulate our attention to the subject of interest. After understanding his visual approach, we learned about his approach towards sounds - something he calls “worldising” sound.

This technique essentially clubs the original audio recorded and the audio recorded by the outdoor speakers. Recording the recording of the space helps capture the acoustic qualities with more depth and clarity. This also gives the editor more control over the audio. We then watched a clip of Walter Murch editing Cold Mountain in an attempt to better understand his instinct and innate understanding of the process.

In his words, “Film editing is a dance of the eyes. Something about film, because of its sensory completeness, sound and image in this powerful fusion, gets at something deep within us.”

Written and Curated by Arya Kastwar