Video editing for web: Walter Murch’s “Rule of 6”

Walter Murch is widely recognized as one of the leading authorities in the field of film editing, as well as one of the few editors equally active in both picture and sound.

[vimeo 13583958 w=750 h=422]

1. Emotion (51%)

How do you want the audience to feel?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjqi-0UmBeI?rel=0]

2. Story (23%)

Does the edit move the story forward in a meaningful way?

3. Rhythm (10%)

Is the cut at a point that makes rhythmic sense?

4. Eye Trace (7%)

How does the cut affect the location and movement of the audience’s focus in the frame?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR7ejkmf8Y4?rel=0&w=750&h=422]

5. Two Dimensional Plane of Screen (5%)

Is the axis followed properly?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4wX_dmh8_g?rel=0]

6. Three Dimensional Space (4%)

Is the cut true to established physical and spacial relationships?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcBpXLNmS3Q?start=310&w=720&h=405]