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Jeffrey Bartsch
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Edit Better: Hollywood-Tested Strategies For Powerful Video Editing Kindle Edition

by Jeff Bartsch (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 106 ratings
Imagine pushing a magic button in your video editing software labeled “BETTER.” Any project you edit turns out exactly how you planned, every single time. Your audience is absolutely spellbound, wiping tears from their eyes, laughing out loud, or sitting in stunned silence as they see the world in a different way for the first time.

Bad news: that button doesn’t exist. Good news: EDIT BETTER shows you how to get there anyway.

EDIT BETTER was written for video editors who consider themselves advanced hobbyists or growth-minded professionals, artists who know that the tools of editing matter far less than the knowledge of how to use those tools powerfully. This book does not illuminate the workings of Avid, Final Cut, or Premiere, and is not a meditation on film editing. What it is: a provocative, wide-ranging collection of strategies and tactics for the creative application of TV and video editing, no matter your editing tools.

Author Jeff Bartsch lays out both big picture strategies and practical, boots-on-the-ground tactics for powerful communication. Going far beyond mere button pushing, Jeff good-naturedly blends communication theory, marketing, behavioral psychology, neuroscience, and nuts-and-bolts details of editing application from years of experience in Hollywood, the storytelling capital of the world.
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  1. Print length
    227 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    June 18, 2014
  4. File size
    1.4 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00L4L9M2G
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Resolve Entertainment, Inc.; 1st edition (June 18, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 18, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 227 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 106 ratings

About the author

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Jeffrey Bartsch

Jeffrey Bartsch

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Jeff Bartsch is the author of Two Across, and an award-winning copywriter who has worked on campaigns for many major brands. He studied creative writing at the University of Wisconsin, and held the Katey Lehman Fellowship in the MFA program at Penn State University. He lives in Brooklyn, with his daughter.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
106 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this editing book incredibly helpful, with one noting it's full of advice from a real editor. Moreover, the book serves as required reading for anyone who edits, and customers find it easy to read and worth the price. Additionally, the writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting its conversational tone. However, the pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it fun while others disagree.

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22 customers mention "Editing tips"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's editing tips incredibly helpful and informative, with one customer noting it provides great advice for all levels.

"...Although it's written in a laid-back voice ,the book covers several interesting topics that would be beneficial to editors at any level...." Read more

"...It's an inexpensive book, it's a quick read, and it's useful. It should be a no-brainier for people wanting to up their game as editors...." Read more

"...I've been telling all my editor friends about this book. It WILL IMPROVE YOUR EDITING and make you more likely to get recommended for more jobs." Read more

"Edit Better is a fantastic 'best practices' book for people beginning in the world of editing, or for experienced professionals looking at a new way..." Read more

13 customers mention "Readability"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, describing it as a quick and fun read that is required reading for anyone who edits.

"...It's an inexpensive book, it's a quick read, and it's useful. It should be a no-brainier for people wanting to up their game as editors...." Read more

"Edit Better is an excellent book and should be required reading for anyone who edits...." Read more

"...It's genuinely worth reading and paying full price...." Read more

"...in today's lingo and not just dry knowledge, therefore making it a fun read. I found myself smiling in several spots...." Read more

7 customers mention "Value for money"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth its price.

"...Easily worth the price and time that it takes to finish. I walked away with insights and plenty of notes. Highly recommended...." Read more

"...It's an inexpensive book, it's a quick read, and it's useful. It should be a no-brainier for people wanting to up their game as editors...." Read more

"...It's genuinely worth reading and paying full price...." Read more

"...Don't let this announce bother you. It's still very much worth the price. Make sure you watch the linked resources for the best experience." Read more

6 customers mention "Language"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's language, finding it easy to read, with one customer noting its conversational tone that uses today's lingo.

"...implement transitions, the importance of using music & text to direct viewer attention, and some simple rules that govern the use of subtitles...." Read more

"...This book lays out the practical ways that you can make your editing stand out above the other editors...." Read more

"...He writes for anyone to understand. The concepts are not for professionals only. I am a beginner and I could easily understand what he was saying...." Read more

"...editor or a seasoned professional, Jeff lays it all out for you, clearly, concisely, with solid description and anecdotes that provide you with the..." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"2 positive1 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it engaging and fun, while others describe it as nonsensical.

"...and also excelled at conveying his experience in a way that was both engaging and easy to comprehend...." Read more

"...That stuff is nonesense imo, and it makes a bad first impression, and greatly reduces the probability that the reader is going to make it to the..." Read more

"Excellent, fun and quick read on the art of the craft. Some of the best tips I've found on editing came from this book. Well worth it." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Vinay Raval
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Informative & Fun to Read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    TL;DR:
    Buy this book. Although it's written in a laid-back voice ,the book covers several interesting topics that would be beneficial to editors at any level. Easily worth the price and time that it takes to finish. I walked away with insights and plenty of notes. Highly recommended.

    Longer Review:
    Jeff mentioned this book when introducing himself during a pre-recorded virtual summit a few weeks ago. I wrote it down without much of a thought - as I often do whenever someone mentions that they are an author. Over the course of his presentation, I realized that Jeff both knew his craft intimately and also excelled at conveying his experience in a way that was both engaging and easy to comprehend. His presentation was dynamite and buying his book was a no-brainer.

    Fast forward to today and I've just finished reading his book, Edit Better. The book is directed towards anyone that wishes to get better at their craft. This spoke directly to me and I loved learning about both editing strategy (the "telescope") and techniques (the "microscope").

    There were several useful nuggets of information in this book that will completely change the way that I edit future videos. In particular, his approach to sequencing attention magnets blew my mind. It's powerful yet simple and makes you wonder why you didn't always approach editing this way!

    At a technical level, I appreciated that he covered when to cut between shots, how to best implement transitions, the importance of using music & text to direct viewer attention, and some simple rules that govern the use of subtitles. The sections about audio compression, sound EQ, color correction and the organization of footage were also helpful.

    I'll recommend this book to as many folks as possible going forward. It's perfect for anyone who is transitioning from talking-head videos to more of a shot-based approach, or simply wants to make their videos more visually engaging.

    In my case, I've been holding off on a beast of a project, daunted by the intensity of editing and mixing dialogue/story with visual elements. This book has saved my project and given me the courage to tackle this project in the right way!

    Thanks to the author for having taken time to write such an incredibly helpful book!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • MovieGuy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended, But Bloated
    Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I do recommend this book. I graduated from film school a couple years ago, and I keep myself busy making independent films, which I edit myself. I've taken a couple of editing classes, and have now edited a dozen films or so. I consider myself a competent editor, but I'm always reading, researching, listening to others, and looking for ways to improve my craft.

    First off, I'm glad that I found this book, and have learned some things that I consider valuable from it. Mostly the author's extensive list of "rules" (along with explanations, anecdotes, and in many cases accompanying videos on his website). These rules make up the second half of the book. Great stuff! Yes, some of them are things that I already had ingrained into me from school, some of them were things that were intuitive, and I just "did" without really giving it much thought, and some were new concepts that I look forward to exploring in my next editing project (which I'm just starting now). It's an inexpensive book, it's a quick read, and it's useful. It should be a no-brainier for people wanting to up their game as editors.

    My criticism of the book though, and why it loses one star in rating (and I very nearly deducted 2 stars from it), is that ironically it needs, well, better editing! The author badly needs to take Walter Murch's advice and cut out the "bad stuff". In this case, the "bad stuff" is the first 20 or so chapters. That stuff is nonesense imo, and it makes a bad first impression, and greatly reduces the probability that the reader is going to make it to the really good stuff before setting down the book in frustration. It's a bunch of abstract, weird, questionable, and non-useful discussion. No, editing is not like building a house. No, it's not like Newton's laws of motion. No, it's not like any of the other bizarre things that you are comparing it to, and even if it were, all those bizarre comparisons are not really helpful, and nor is the rest of that discussion imo. That's just my opinion though, others may disagree. But in any case, the rest of it is really good, so I'm going to just forget those first 20 chapters exist, lol. Get the book, it's good, and it will very likely help you with your editing.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Jeremiah E Daws
    5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ for anyone who edits. Not just for beginners. Great advice for all levels. GREAT BOOK!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Edit Better is an excellent book and should be required reading for anyone who edits. As a working TV editor, I've found the advice, tips, and tricks Jeff lays out in this book to be extremely helpful and effective. Some of what Jeff says in the book I had to discover for myself over several years. I wish I had this book earlier in my career. And even with my years of experience editing, I found so many good nuggets of wisdom that I am eager to apply. I know this book will improve my editing and also my reputation with the producers I work with.

    This book isn't about what buttons to push. Go to Creative Cow or Lynda.com and take tutorials for that. This book lays out the practical ways that you can make your editing stand out above the other editors. It'll teach you the most effective way of working with producers, how to address notes with the right attitude, how to focus on the details. Plus general tips of how to approach a project and time management while working with deadlines. It has tips on working with music, dialogue, mixing, color, and transitions. All of these things will make you very appealing to producers and directors.

    Buy this book NOW. Beginner or seasoned professional, you won't regret reading this book! I've been telling all my editor friends about this book. It WILL IMPROVE YOUR EDITING and make you more likely to get recommended for more jobs.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Martin Weidner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must have
    Reviewed in Germany on December 5, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Diese Ansammlung von persoehnlichen Erfahrungen des Authors sollte man lesen, wenn man sich ernsthaft fuer professionelle Filmbearbeitung interessiert. Als Kindle-Edition ist der Preis kein Thema und wer bei den englischen Begriffen Fragen hat, kann per Klick auf den Begriff im Oxford-Lexikon (in Kindle integriert) schnellstens eine Erklaerung finden.
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