# film editing > creative and technical post-production processing of film **Wikidata**: [Q237893](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237893) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_editing) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/film-editing ## Summary Film editing is the creative and technical post-production processing of film that involves selecting, arranging, and assembling raw footage into a coherent narrative. It serves as one of the most critical stages in filmmaking, transforming captured scenes into a complete story through techniques such as cutting, montage, and transitions. As both an art form and a technical discipline, film editing determines the pacing, rhythm, and emotional impact of a motion picture. ## Key Facts - **Definition**: Creative and technical post-production processing of film (Wikidata description) - **Aliases**: Film cutting, editing - **Instance Of**: Q11862829 (Wikidata classification) - **Subclass Of**: Q627436, Q194105 - **Wikipedia Title**: Film editing - **Sitelink Count**: 65 (indicating significant cross-referencing across knowledge bases) - **P373 (Commons)**: Film editing - **P244 (LCCN)**: sh85088098 - **P268 (BNF)**: 119368302 - **P646 (Freebase)**: /m/02x75 - **P691 (NKCR)**: ph135338 - **P1036 (DDC)**: 778.535 (Classification: Moving pictures) - **P1296 (LCSH)**: 0125269 - **P1417 (BHS)**: art/film-editing - **P2347 (SAB)**: 2831 - **P3827 (URI)**: film-editing - **P1417 (UAT)**: art/film-editing ## FAQs ### What is film editing in the context of filmmaking? Film editing is the post-production process where raw footage is reviewed, selected, and assembled into a final film. Editors work with directors to determine the sequence of scenes, timing, pacing, and transitions that create the finished product. This process transforms hours of captured material into a coherent narrative with emotional resonance. ### How does film editing relate to montage? Film editing and montage are closely related but distinct concepts. Montage is a specific film editing technique that condenses narrative space, time, and information, often used to show the passage of time or convey complex ideas quickly. Film editing encompasses the broader process of assembling all footage, while montage represents one of the stylistic approaches an editor may employ. ### What is a "cut" in film editing? A cut is an abrupt transition from one film sequence to another, representing the most fundamental transition technique in film editing. The cut serves as the primary building block of editorial construction, allowing editors to move between shots, scenes, and locations. Different types of cuts (hard cuts, jump cuts, match cuts) create various narrative and stylistic effects. ### Is film editing considered an academic discipline? Yes, film editing is recognized as an academic discipline and field of study within cinema and media arts programs worldwide. It is classified under academic discipline (sitelink_count: 50), indicating substantial scholarly attention and institutional recognition. The discipline combines technical training in editing software and equipment with artistic development in storytelling, rhythm, and narrative structure. ### What classification numbers are associated with film editing? Film editing carries the Dewey Decimal Classification number 778.535, which falls under the broader category of moving pictures (778). This classification places it within a systematic library categorization that relates it to other film production and media arts subjects. ## Why It Matters Film editing matters because it is the transformative process that converts raw footage into a compelling cinematic experience. Without editing, captured scenes remain disconnected fragments rather than cohesive stories. The discipline determines how audiences experience narrative flow, emotional beats, and visual rhythm—elements that define whether a film succeeds or fails artistically and commercially. The significance of film editing extends beyond individual films to shape entire genres and storytelling conventions. Editors pioneered techniques that became foundational to cinema language, from the continuity editing of classical Hollywood to the revolutionary montage sequences in Soviet cinema. Today, editing remains essential to all visual media, including television, streaming content, advertising, and digital video. As an academic discipline, film editing provides systematic training for those entering the film and media industry. Its recognition as a formal field of study ensures the transmission of both technical skills and artistic sensibilities to new generations of filmmakers. The discipline's inclusion in library classification systems and knowledge bases reflects its established place in cultural and educational contexts. ## Notable For - **Foundational Role in Cinema**: Film editing is considered one of the three primary pillars of filmmaking, alongside cinematography and direction - **Sitelink Count of 65**: High cross-referencing across knowledge bases indicates extensive documentation and cultural significance - **Technical Classification**: Assigned specific library classification numbers (DDC 778.535, LCCN sh85088098) recognizing it as a distinct subject area - **Multiple Identifier Systems**: Listed across Wikidata, Library of Congress, BnF, and other major knowledge organizations - **Alias Recognition**: Recognized under multiple terms including "film cutting" and "editing," demonstrating historical and practical terminology variations - **Academic Standing**: Formal classification as an academic discipline with sitelink_count matching that of broader fields ## Body ### Definition and Scope Film editing represents the creative and technical post-production processing of film, encompassing all work performed after principal photography is complete. The discipline involves reviewing captured footage, selecting optimal takes, arranging sequences, and assembling the final version of a film. Editors collaborate closely with directors to realize the narrative vision, often contributing significantly to the film's emotional impact and pacing. The scope of film editing extends beyond simple footage arrangement to include color correction, sound synchronization, visual effects integration, and output formatting. Modern digital editing has expanded the discipline's technical requirements while maintaining its core artistic focus on storytelling through visual arrangement. ### Relationship to Editing as a Broader Process Film editing is a specialized subset of the broader editing process (sitelink_count: 50), which refers to the general activity of revising, correcting, and preparing material for publication or distribution. While general editing applies to written content, film editing specifically addresses motion picture materials and carries unique technical and artistic considerations. The relationship to general editing establishes film editing as part of a larger family of editorial disciplines, including text editing, audio editing, and multimedia editing. This connection highlights the shared principles of selection, arrangement, and refinement that characterize all editorial work. ### Connection to Montage Film editing is intrinsically connected to montage, which is defined as a film editing technique to condense narrative space, time, and information (sitelink_count: 27). While film editing describes the overall process, montage represents specific stylistic approaches within that process. Soviet filmmakers such as Lev Kuleshov and V.I. Pudovkin developed montage theory establishing that the arrangement of shots creates meaning beyond individual images. Montage techniques include sequential montage (showing steps in a process), parallel montage (intercutting between simultaneous events), and intellectual montage (creating conceptual associations between unrelated images). These techniques have become fundamental tools in the film editor's repertoire. ### The Cut as Fundamental Element The cut represents the most basic and essential element of film editing—an abrupt transition from one film sequence to another (sitelink_count: 8). The cut serves as the primary mechanism through which editors construct narrative flow, moving audiences between shots, scenes, and locations. Different cutting styles produce different effects: continuity editing maintains narrative coherence, while discontinuous editing creates deliberate disorientation or stylistic emphasis. The development of the cut as a standard technique enabled cinema to distinguish itself from earlier visual media. Early filmmakers discovered that strategically placed cuts could suggest relationships between images, creating meaning through juxtaposition rather than relying solely on continuous recording. ### Relationship to Page Layout Film editing maintains a connection to page layout (sitelink_count: 7), reflecting the broader editorial principle of arranging elements for optimal presentation. While page layout concerns static visual arrangement on surfaces, film editing applies similar compositional principles to temporal sequences. Both disciplines require understanding how arrangement affects comprehension and aesthetic impact. ### Academic Recognition Film editing is classified as an academic discipline (sitelink_count: 50), indicating its recognition as a field of formal study within educational institutions. Universities and film schools worldwide offer degree programs and certificates in film editing, training students in both technical competencies and artistic sensibilities. The academic status ensures continued development of theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches to the discipline. Academic research in film editing examines topics including editorial history, technological evolution, aesthetic analysis, and pedagogical methods. Scholarly publications and conferences contribute to the discipline's intellectual foundation while informing professional practice. ### Classification and Identification Film editing is assigned multiple identifiers across major knowledge organization systems, reflecting its established place in information infrastructure: - **Wikidata Q-ID**: Q11862829 (instance classification) - **Dewey Decimal Classification**: 778.535 (Moving pictures category) - **Library of Congress Control Number**: sh85088098 - **Bibliothéque nationale de France**: 119368302 - **Freebase**: /m/02x75 - **National Library of Czech Republic**: ph135338 - **Library of Congress Subject Headings**: 0125269 These classification systems enable systematic organization and retrieval of information about film editing across libraries, databases, and knowledge bases. ### Subclass Relationships Film editing is classified as a subclass of both Q627436 and Q194105, establishing its position within hierarchical knowledge structures. These subclass relationships connect film editing to broader categories of creative and technical processes, enabling reasoning about its properties and relationships to other entities. ### Historical Development The discipline of film editing emerged alongside cinema itself in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early filmmakers discovered that the camera could be stopped and started, allowing for the arrangement of separate recordings into continuous narratives. This discovery established editing as an essential creative element rather than merely a technical necessity. The evolution from physical film cutting and splicing to digital non-linear editing systems has dramatically transformed the discipline's tools and techniques while maintaining its fundamental purpose of narrative construction through footage arrangement. ### Modern Practice Contemporary film editing employs digital editing software that enables non-linear editing, allowing editors to arrange and rearrange sequences without physical film stock. Digital tools provide capabilities for color correction, visual effects integration, and audio synchronization that would have been impossible or extremely time-consuming in the analog era. Despite technological changes, the core responsibilities of film editors remain consistent: collaborating with directors to select footage, arrange sequences, establish pacing, and create emotional impact through the manipulation of time and space. ### Cross-Disciplinary Connections Film editing connects to numerous related disciplines and practices within media production. Sound editing, visual effects, color grading, and digital compositing represent adjacent specializations that often involve collaborative workflows with film editors. The discipline also relates to screenwriting and script supervision, as editors work with written narratives that must be translated into visual sequences. The principles of film editing have influenced other time-based media, including television production, video game development, and interactive media, extending the discipline's impact beyond traditional cinema. ## References 1. [Nuovo soggettario](https://thes.bncf.firenze.sbn.it/termine.php?id=27333) 2. Nuovo soggettario 3. YSO-Wikidata mapping project 4. Quora 5. National Library of Israel 6. GF WordNet