The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film

The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film
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Very insightful

Great Read

"One Art"

Finally NOT about editing programs!

Copolla's wingman

The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film
Michael Ondaatje
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375709827
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Book Description

The Conversations is a treasure, essential for any lover or student of film, and a rare, intimate glimpse into the worlds of two accomplished artists who share a great passion for film and storytelling, and whose knowledge and love of the crafts of writing and film shine through.

It was on the set of the movie adaptation of his Booker Prize-winning novel, The English Patient, that Michael Ondaatje met the master film and sound editor Walter Murch, and the two began a remarkable personal conversation about the making of films and books in our time that continued over two years. From those conversations stemmed this enlightened, affectionate book -- a mine of wonderful, surprising observations and information about editing, writing and literature, music and sound, the I-Ching, dreams, art and history.

The Conversations is filled with stories about how some of the most important movies of the last thirty years were made and about the people who brought them to the screen. It traces the artistic growth of Murch, as well as his friends and contemporaries -- including directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Fred Zinneman and Anthony Minghella -- from the creation of the independent, anti-Hollywood Zoetrope by a handful of brilliant, bearded young men to the recent triumph of Apocalypse Now Redux.

Among the films Murch has worked on are American Graffiti, The Conversation, the remake of A Touch of Evil, Julia, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather (all three), The Talented Mr. Ripley, and The English Patient.

“Walter Murch is a true oddity in Hollywood. A genuine intellectual and renaissance man who appears wise and private at the centre of various temporary storms to do with film making and his whole generation of filmmakers. He knows, probably, where a lot of the bodies are buried.”

Customer Reviews:

Very insightful.......2007-01-10

An excellent book. It great to be able to read editing theory, and hard to find. At times the authors comments seemed a little wordy, but Murch is very insightful.

Great Read.......2007-01-01

This is an immensely interesting read for anyone even remotely interested in film and the film making process. Includes a lot of cool behind the scenes stories about Francis Ford Coppola and his films (The Godfather, Apocolypse Now, The Conversation) as well as insight and tips about the art of film editing.

"One Art".......2006-07-20

Walter Murch may be the greatest film editor alive, having cut classic works by Coppola (THE CONVERSATION, THE GODFATHER PARTS I, II, and III, APOCALYPSE NOW, THE RAIN PEOPLE), Minghella ( THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, COLD MOUNTAIN), Kaufman (THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING) and Zimmermann (JULIA). The novelist Michael Ondaatje, whose best-known novel THE ENGLISH PATIENT was adapted by Anthony Minghella into another a film cut by Murch, had the fine idea of sitting down for a series of conversations with Murch to ask him about his little-understood, important, and intelligent art form. The result is one of the greatest series of extended conversations on film since Truffaut's interviews with Hitchcock. Part of the pleasure of the book is getting not only to see Murch's complex work described but also getting to know him as a personality: considered one of the most intelligent men in Hollywood, he comes across not only as exceptionally erudite but also unpretentious and honest. Ondaatje may be the ideal interlocutor for Murch because he is so beautiufully versed in film history and in Murch's work; his many asides about his own writings may allow him to come across at times as a bit self-enamoured, but they do allow the reader the multiple pleasure of having a major figure in world literature give insights into his own work as we also hear about Murch's. One of the best delights the book offers is ample illustrations of the examples Murch and Ondaatje discuss, which are drawn from literature and the other arts and humanities as much as they are from film: one of the best is when the book offers side by side comparisons of the first draft and final version of Elizabeth Bishop's great villanelle "One Art," which is itself a celebration of the art of editing. It is rare to see a non-academic book about film that takes its readers' intelligence for granted. As such, it is genuinely a book everyone seriously interested in film should own.

Finally NOT about editing programs!.......2006-03-09

This book is about the insights and experiences around editing, about a lifestyle and philosophy of editing. I love the many insights and Murch is good narrator. Sometimes Michael is talking too much, but on the other hand it's a conversation, not an interview... I love this book, as it creates great mood and ambience, I read it in a single (long) shot. And then again.

Copolla's wingman.......2005-07-01

If you want to see how crticial decisions affecting key scenes in the Godfather or Apocalypse Now were made, this book has great information.
For the independent filmmaker you see the struggling efforts in making a collections of shots and scenes into a WHOLE, following a theme, with pace and tone supporting.

The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film

Average customer rating:

The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film
Michael Ondaatje
Manufacturer: Alfred A. Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N6ZUF6

Book Description

Titles include: The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea * Four Black Dragons * Welcome to Kanagwa * Someone in a Tree * Lion Dance * Please Hello * A Bowler Hat * Pretty Lady * Next and more.

Customer Reviews:

High level Sondheim.......2006-12-07

I consider this to be among Sondheim's great scores. I regard Sweeny Todd and Sunday in the Park as co-first among equals in this regard, along with all the shows starting with Company (the first in which he achieves greatness), until the present with the exception of Assassins which I found ingenious but flat overall with an even more problematic ending. (It seems no accident that the book for both came from the same author, John Weidman.) Forum is fine work and part of the biggest commercial success but does not demonstrate the musical greatness of the later scores.

I must take strong exception to the review of Mr. Briggs. This is by no means the weakest Sondheim score, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To the Forum, Anyone can Whistle, and Assassins are weaker. Nothing in these is even as good as "Someone in a Tree".

The score stands well against any but the show itself has some issues.

The main one is that the story line does not lend itself to a strong ending. After getting to a critical juncture between adaptation vs tradition (with the native Japanese character adopting new ways, the repatriated exile turning into a strictly traditional samurai then killing the other) the story stops with a quick jump to the present in the final number "Next" citing the progress and also the drawbacks of Japan's remarkable leap from closed feudal society to modern world power while never losing sovereignty. This just will never play like Maria gets the Captain crossing the alps, Curly wins Laurey after a fight to the death with Jud with a rousing tribute to Oklahoma or Nellie holding hands with Emile under the table as the curtain falls. On the other hand the degree and accuracy of cultural exposition makes the King and I (or the Mikado) look like a minstrel show.

Another issue is that the original production used an all male cast in the Kabuki tradition with songs designed around the voice ranges of this cast. Actual Kabuki actors with experience playing female roles were used. This raises major difficulties for new productions. In an SF Bay Area mixed gender staging, the changing of keys to accomodate female singers added a noticeable shrillness to the score not heard on the cast recording.

Nonetheless the show overcomes the extremely didactic nature of its subject and purpose to display effective characters, an engaging story line and outstanding musical numbers. The main thing I noticed after many listenings is that Pacific Overtures is softer with less edge than Sweeny Todd or Sunday in the Park. Show me any other show that so faithfully and deeply molds such different cultures into a composite of both that could even dream of running on Broadway (and tour as well).

Sondheim's Masterpiece.......2000-12-30

I don't tend to use the word "Masterpiece" very often because usually it's used with only "good" things. This is an Exception. "Pacific Overtures" appears to be the musical that Sondheim wrote to show the world exactly what he could do, to be a bit of a show off for his magnificent talent. The Score Succeeds in every way. The music paints pictures of the emotions it is trying to convey. The Lyrics, brilliantly written, add to the music perfectly creating an eerie feeling of completion. The Song that a previous reviewer describe as "one of his best songs ever" is a great example of the perfect melding of the music and lyrics. The Song, describing 3 british sailors attempting to lure a poor traditional Japanese girl (who they beleive is "one of them Geisha girls") to sleep with them, is Beautiful by just passing but listening deeply in the music you hear the subtle minor cords and the lyrics of growing desperation and crudness that underlay the truely unromantic and slightly disturbing scene. The music succefully attemps at utilizing, but never copies, tradional Japanese Music styles in order to create the approprtiate feel for the show (but not end up sounding pretensious).

As the story of the westernization of the japan Begins the Japanese influence is very prominent in the songs (especially "Is there no other way" and "poems"). But as the play progresses and Japan becomes more influenced the west, the Japanese music styles slowly dissapear. The number "Please Hello", describing 5 country representatives trying to persuade Japan to Trade with them (or they'll blow them up), is a humurous piece. Each Nation is represented by a certain style of music when they sing. America, rather normal indescriptive up beat music; Ductch, Funny little polka sounding; Russia, dark profound and luminous; France, follies Can-Can; and my personal favorite Britain which ingueniously parodies Gilbert and Sullivan's "I am the very pattern of a Modern Major-general". The Musical Ends With the song "Next". Many Say the song is rather inconsistant to the reast of the play but I think it works very well. It is a fast paced song depicting Japan as it hurtles itself into the mordern age. If preformed Correctly it can send tremendous shivers down your spine.

"Pacific Overtures" Was nominated for 8 tony's but only won 2. It was Robbed of it's tony for best score (loosing to A Chorus Line which, IS a fine show, does not come close to the artistic inegredy of Pacific Overtures). The Score is perhapes Sondheim most difficult, but to preform it is Very satisfying. Plus the songs are written all for men so some of these are great audition/festival peices. Like Many of Sondheim's shows, specificaly "follies", if you hear or see "pacific overtures" once you may not understand it's brilliance but after repeated listening/viewings you will to have a tremendous respect for it.

I Also recomend the Original Cast Recording of the show Available here on Amazon and, if you can find it, the Original Cast was taped and Subtitled and aired on Japanese TV it is EXTREMELY rare but if you can get a hold of it, it's worth every cent you pay for.

Pacific Review.......2000-10-04

Out of all of Stephen Sondheim's musicals, this one is definately his weakest. However, the exquisite touch that Sondheim puts into his work shines throughout this musical. The song "Pretty Lady" stands to be one of his best songs ever. Die hard Sondheim buffs will find enjoyment in this mediocre musical.

Average customer rating:

Combine the book and the CD to truly experience this work
an intercultural wonder
"Pacific Overtures" is a play for all countries to read.

Pacific Overtures
Stephen Sondheim , and John Weidman
Manufacturer: Theatre Communications Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1559360267

Customer Reviews:

Combine the book and the CD to truly experience this work.......2000-09-26

"Pacific Overtures" is the political euphemism used by Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853 when Japan was persuaded to open up trade relations because of the display of naval power put on by the United States. The clash of cultures as the "Floating Kingdom" was forced to end centuries of enforced isolation is the subject of this unique musical, which dramatizes Perry's expedition to Japan.

John Weidman's original idea, which first came to him in a Harvard lecture hall in 1966, was realized a decade later when director-producer Harold Prince decided to adapt various Japanese theatrical techniques and conventions, and Stephen Sondheim was brought in to write the music.

The cast of "Pacific Overtures" was entirely Asian or Asian-American, a casting commitment that makes "Pacific Overtures" a rare musical to see in performance, which is a shame because of not only its presentation of history but because of its imaginative use of Kabuki. Among the Kabuki traditions adapted to the show were the use of males to play the female roles, the Reciter who comments on the proceedings, stage hands completely clothed in black, and on-stage musicians. Act I ends with a Kabuki lion dance, which provides the image for the album cover.

While it would never be a very popular show, this musical is certainly a fascinating attempt that is of much interest to the Westernization of Japan as it is to devotees of the American stage. Ultimately, Prince has a bigger impact on the show than Sondheim, which takes some doing to be sure. That is why it this book might be an even better way of approaching this show than listening to the CD, although the best approach, of course, is to do both.

an intercultural wonder.......1999-10-29

Incredible piece of avant garde musical theatre. Best when seen, but great to read and listen to the cd too! Seldom produced, it combines the techniques of Kabuki Theatre with Western Musical Theatre in a way that only Sondheim could conceive.

"Pacific Overtures" is a play for all countries to read........1998-09-01

Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's musical is something that all countries around the world should read. Sometimes, though, the lyrics may seem a bit tooooo sophisticated for such a universal play. But, it is probably one of the best books for a musical you could find.

Average customer rating:

PACIFIC OVERTURES
sonDHEIM STEPHEN
Manufacturer: THEATRE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MW5Q9Q

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Pacific Overtures
John; Sondheim, Stephen, music and lyrics; Illustrations by Hirschfield, Al Weidman
Manufacturer: Dodd, Mead and Co. NY,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QLDEK6

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Pacific Overtures (Revised Edition)
Stephen Sondheim , and John Weidman
Manufacturer: Theatre Communications Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IZTKGW

ARABS-ISRAEL - Oct 12 - Syrian Overtures On Golan Heights Spark Israeli Debate.: An article from: APS Diplomat Recorder

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ARABS-ISRAEL - Oct 12 - Syrian Overtures On Golan Heights Spark Israeli Debate.: An article from: APS Diplomat Recorder
Gale Reference Team
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from APS Diplomat Recorder, published by Thomson Gale on October 14, 2006. The length of the article is 515 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: ARABS-ISRAEL - Oct 12 - Syrian Overtures On Golan Heights Spark Israeli Debate.
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: APS Diplomat Recorder (Newsletter)
Date: October 14, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 65 Issue: 15

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Asian anxieties, Pacific overtures: experiments in security for a new Asia-Pacific community.: An article from: World Policy Journal

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Asian anxieties, Pacific overtures: experiments in security for a new Asia-Pacific community.: An article from: World Policy Journal
David C. Unger
Manufacturer: World Policy Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00092XB00
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from World Policy Journal, published by World Policy Institute on June 22, 1994. The length of the article is 4524 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: East Asian countries such as South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia recorded an annual growth rate of more than 10% due to the prevalence of peace after the end of the Cold War. The end of the Cold War prompted six member association of South East Asian Nations to evolve a new security order to protect their territories. China, with its newly-acquired economic strength, is trying to emerge as a super power in the East Asian region.

Citation Details
Title: Asian anxieties, Pacific overtures: experiments in security for a new Asia-Pacific community.
Author: David C. Unger
Publication: World Policy Journal (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 1994
Publisher: World Policy Institute
Volume: v11 Issue: n2 Page: p37(8)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

PACIFIC OVERTURES. Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Additional material by Hugh Wheeler. Illustrated with a drawing by Al Hirshfeld & photographs.

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PACIFIC OVERTURES. Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Additional material by Hugh Wheeler. Illustrated with a drawing by Al Hirshfeld & photographs.
John. Weidman
Manufacturer: Dodd, Mead & Co.,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N7G19Y

Book Description

Ten of the world's leading writers speak out on the crucial issues of art, censorship, and political oppression.

Points of Departure: International Writers on Writing and Politics.

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Points of Departure: International Writers on Writing and Politics.
David Montenegro
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M3Z2BM

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Points of Departure: International Writers on Writing and Politics.

Manufacturer: 0
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ICPDJS

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