Watch as oscar-winning editor Walter Murch introduces his "Rule of Six": the 6 things to focus on when editing a film project. What did you think of this theory? 

Career

Learn about the editor's "Rule of Six."

Learn how to make some of your own sound effects in this video. Do some of the projects in this video, then brainstorm 3 sounds of your own and try to create them!

Create your own sound effects!

Remake part of a show or movie you like or come up with something new of your own. You can film on your phone or digital camera. Get practical experience in what it takes to produce and direct a film. 

Start a film project with your friends.

Film and Video Editors

Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Second Interest High-Point

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

First Interest High-Point

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Third Interest High-Point

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators and Editors

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Media and Communication Equipment Workers

Cut shot sequences to different angles at specific points in scenes, making each individual cut as fluid and seamless as possible.

Study scripts to become familiar with production concepts and requirements.

Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment.

Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.

Mark frames where a particular shot or piece of sound is to begin or end.

Determine the specific audio and visual effects and music necessary to complete films.

Verify key numbers and time codes on materials.

Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.

Review assembled films or edited videotapes on screens or monitors to determine if corrections are necessary.

Review footage sequence by sequence to become familiar with it before assembling it into a final product.

Set up and operate computer editing systems, electronic titling systems, video switching equipment, and digital video effects units to produce a final product.

Record needed sounds or obtain them from sound effects libraries.

Confer with producers and directors concerning layout or editing approaches needed to increase dramatic or entertainment value of productions.

Manipulate plot, score, sound, and graphics to make the parts into a continuous whole, working closely with people in audio, visual, music, optical, or special effects departments.

Supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in film editing, assembling, and recording activities.

Trim film segments to specified lengths and reassemble segments in sequences that present stories with maximum effect.

Develop post-production models for films.

Piece sounds together to develop film soundtracks.

Conduct film screenings for directors and members of production staffs.

Collaborate with music editors to select appropriate passages of music and develop production scores.

Discuss the sound requirements of pictures with sound effects editors.

Estimate how long audiences watching comedies will laugh at each gag line or situation to space scenes appropriately.

Audio patch bays

Desktop computers

Digital video disk DVD recorders

Digital video editing systems

Laptop computers

Network routers

Personal computers

Video patch bays

YouTube.com

Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects

Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffects

Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite

Adobe Systems Adobe Director

Adobe Systems Adobe Flash Player

Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Systems Adobe Premiere Pro

AJAX

Apple DVD Studio Pro

Apple Final Cut Pro

Apple QuickTime

Apple Xsan

Autodesk Maya for Design Visualization

Autodesk Smoke

Avid Digidesign Pro Tools

Avid Technology

Boris FX Continuum Complete

Brightcove

Cascading Style Sheets CSS

Extensible markup language XML

Google Video

Hypertext markup language HTML

JavaScript

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Sorenson Media Sorenson Squeeze

Web browser software

Windows Media Services

YouTube

Film Editor / Sound Designer

<p>In Bolinas, CA, the Roadtrip Nation team gets a bit lost on their way to film editor and Academy Award winner Walter Murch's house. Then it's off to Quincy, Oregon for the High Sierra Music Festival where they interview founder David Margulies and ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. They then head north to Seattle to interview William Morris, a glassblower and artist.</p>

Walter Murch

Film Editor / Sound Designer

Videos

Walter Murch

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Film

Music

Being Creative

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Break the Norm